Garden Plants - Discover the Best Plants for Your Garden - Garden Design (2024)

From seeds to vines, discover the right plants and get tips for bringing your garden to life.

Plants are like people, each one has a personality of its own. Some are quite eye-catching and showy, while others are humble and dependable. For gardeners, getting to know the various personalities of the plants they grow is half the fun.

Selecting garden plants is a journey of discovery. Whether you're beginning a completely new planting design, or you are just looking for a seasonal refresh, you must consider the plants needs and the look you are trying to achieve. Be careful not to pick one of everything you like at the nursery, instead start with a plan so that you will end up with colors, textures, and forms that work together.

This collection of articles will help familiarize you with some of the most prized plants for the garden. From flowers to trees, you’ll find plenty of information on how to design with plants.

On this page:

  • TYPES OF PLANTS
  • POPULAR PLANTS
  • PLANT LISTS

TYPES OF PLANTS

AnnualsAdd seasonal personality to your garden with a variety of annual plants. PerennialsUse perennial plants and flowers for year-after-year color in your garden. ShrubsMaintain structure, add color in spring, summer, and fall and provide winter interest with shrubs.
FlowersDiscover beautiful flowers to add color and cheer to your garden. BulbsBrighten your spring and summer garden with fantastic flowering and foliage bulbs. VinesDiscover the best flowering climbers for your garden.
SucculentsDiscover eye-catching succulents and learn how to grow and care for them in your home and garden. GrassesAdd year-round beauty to your landscape with ornamental grasses. Discover 18 popular types. TreesFind the perfect tree for any spot in your garden and read how to incorporate them into your landscape.
ConifersLearn about these ancient and intriguing trees and shrubs. VegetablesGet ideas for creating a veggie garden that will produce fresh vegetables all year. HouseplantsTurn your home into an oasis with a variety of houseplants. Learn which ones are right for you and how to care for them.

POPULAR PLANTS

National Plants of the YearDiscover 8 exceptional plants to grow in your garden this year.RoseCreate a beautiful rose garden. Learn about the different types of roses, how to care for them and what to plant with them. HydrangeaLearn about growing hydrangeas, pruning and design tips, and find which type is best for your garden.
PeonyLearn about peony care and how to grow beautiful peony flowers with advice from the pros.LavenderGrowing tips for this fragrant, easy-care plant that thrives in sunny locations. CaladiumWith an infinite array of variegated leaf patterns, these tropical beauties bring drama to summer garden beds and containers.
BegoniaPlanting, growing and caring for these shade garden and houseplant superstars.ColeusColorful coleus varieties add pizzazz to shady beds, sunny borders and containers. MilkweedHelp monarch butterflies while beautifying your flower garden with this native perennial.

There are many more plants featured throughout the site. Use the search bar above or explore the plant lists below.

PLANT LISTS

Mosquito-Repellent PlantsUse these 12 plants for their colorful display and the keep mosquitoes away. Deer-Resistant PlantsIf you have a garden full of plants and flowers that deer love to eat, replace them with these attractive, easy-care alternatives. Shade PlantsChoose the right shade perennials, annuals, flowers, shrubs, and trees.
Low-Maintenance PlantsDiscover 21 of our favorite low-maintenance shrubs, perennials, annuals, and groundcovers.Drought-Tolerant PlantsReduce your water usage with these 20 beautiful drought-tolerant plants.Native PlantsCreate a beautiful landscape that benefits wildlife and the environment.
24 Plants for HummingbirdsInvite delightful hummingbirds to your garden with these flowering plants.14 Flowers for a Bee-Friendly GardenBees help your garden thrive, so treat them well by growing some or all of these bee-friendly plants. 25 Butterfly Garden PlantsAttract butterflies to your yard with these nutrient-rich plants and flowers.
Outdoor Foliage PlantsAdd plants with interesting foliage to your landscape.Ground Covers for Shade or Sun14 easy-care plants that solve a multitude of problems while carpeting your garden with beautiful color and texture. 20 Fragrant Flowering PlantsTurn your garden into a perfumed paradise with these sweetly scented annuals, perennials, shrubs, and vines.
Structural PlantsUnlock the power of structural plants and design a garden with year-round interest.Pollinator PlantsSupport pollinators by including these annuals, perennials, and shrubs in your yard or pollinator garden. Top Evergreen ShrubsBring life to your landscape with these 15 bushes that keep their leaves all year.

OTHER POPULAR PLANT LISTS:

  • 16 Best Flowering Shrubs for Season-Long Color
  • Top 24 Purple Flowers for Your Garden
  • 20 Blue Flowers for Your Garden
  • 32 Types of Red Flowers
  • Annuals for Sun
  • Annuals for Shade
  • Best Container Plants for Full Sun
  • Container Plants Made for the Shade
  • Full-Sun Perennials
  • Shade Perennials
  • Deer-Resistant Perennials
  • 21 Easy Flowers for Beginners
  • 24 Best Flowers for a Cutting Garden
  • 20+ Cottage Garden Plants
  • Fire-Resistant Plants
  • Purple-Leafed Plants
  • Common Poisonous Plants for Dogs and Cats
  • Common Plants Safe for Cats and Dogs
  • 21 Best Indoor Houseplants

PLANT LISTS BY SEASON:

  • Popular Spring Flowers
  • 20 Spring-Flowering Bulbs to Grow
  • Summer Flowers for Your Garden
  • 20 Best Summer Bulbs to Grow
  • The Best Fall Flowers for Your Garden
  • Winter Flowers for Your Garden
  • Top 20 Winter Plants

PLANT LISTS BY GARDEN STYLE:

  • Great Plants for Small Gardens
  • Modern Plants for a Bold and Beautiful Garden
  • Mediterranean Plants for Your Garden
  • 20+ Rain Garden Plants
  • Desert Plants for Arid Landscapes
Garden Plants - Discover the Best Plants for Your Garden - Garden Design (2024)

FAQs

How do I find the right plant for my garden? ›

Aesthetic considerations for plant selection include:
  1. growth habit, i.e. pyramidal, columnar, spreading, etc.
  2. season and color of bloom.
  3. foliage color, texture, and shape.
  4. winter interest of bark, fruit, or structure.
  5. benefits to wildlife.
  6. fall color.
  7. longevity.

What is the best layout for a vegetable garden? ›

As a general rule, put tall veggies toward the back of the bed, mid-sized ones in the middle, and smaller plants in the front or as a border. Consider adding pollinator plants to attract beneficial insects that can not only help you get a better harvest, but will also prey on garden pests.

What is the best plant directory? ›

PlantFiles is the most complete plant database online, with information for new and expert gardeners alike.

What is the best plant app to identify plants? ›

iNaturalist
  • Platforms: iOS, Android, Web.
  • Pricing: Free.
Jan 4, 2024

What should tomatoes not be planted with? ›

Companion Plants To Avoid Growing Near Tomatoes
  • Brassicas. Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, and kohlrabi can stunt the growth of your tomato plant because they out-compete them for the same nutrients. ...
  • Corn. ...
  • Fennel. ...
  • Dill. ...
  • Potatoes. ...
  • Eggplant. ...
  • Walnuts.
Feb 1, 2022

What is the most low maintenance outdoor plant? ›

Herbs like sage, rosemary, and thyme are great plants that require little maintenance and continue to grow despite neglect. They are all hearty plants that will repeatedly return, no matter how much you cut them back.

What are the most resilient garden plants? ›

Sunstar pentas boast extra-large flower clusters - some nearly the size of hydrangea blooms - atop well-branched plants. They have excellent summer durability, blooming well through high heat and humidity, and they make ideal bedding and container plants for hot climates.

What is the right plant right place theory? ›

"Right plant, right place" is a short phrase that embodies many art- and- science based concepts for landscapes. The fundamental concept is choosing plant species, varieties, cultivars, provenances, or genotypes that are adapted to the location and situation in which they are placed.

How can I identify a plant without an app? ›

If you are dealing with a flowering plant in bloom, identification can be as easy as counting the number of the flower's petals, sepals, pistils, or stamens. You can note these quantities and combinations to look up later, and cross reference with other information you have gathered.

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