Low-Maintenance Summer Flowers for Easy Outdoor Beauty

Want garden beauty without the hassle? These low-care flowers deliver visual impact with minimal effort.

Scarlet Sage (Salvia coccinea)

Mint family. Fast-growing perennial. Attracts hummingbirds/butterflies. 2–3 feet tall, red 1-inch flowers. Full sun. Drought-tolerant; supplemental water improves bloom. Propagate by seed.

Blue Anise Sage (Salvia guaranitica)

Mint family. Perennial. Hummingbirds/butterflies. 3–5 feet tall, 2–5 inch dark green leaves. Tubular 2-inch flowers summer–fall. Partial shade to full sun, moderate water. Propagate: spring tip cuttings or semi-hard cuttings summer/fall.

Cockscomb (Celosia spp.)

Amaranth family. Annual. Up to 6 feet tall, 2–6 inch leaves, tiny white-silver flowers. Full sun, well-drained soil. Propagate by seed.

Pentas (Pentas lanceolata)

Madder family. Fast perennial. Butterflies/hummingbirds. 3 feet tall, red/purple/pink/white flowers. Well-worked fertile soil, sun to shade. Propagate: spring/summer cuttings.

Larkspur (Consolida ajacis)

Buttercup family. Annual. Hummingbirds. 2–3 feet tall, white/blue/pink/lilac flowers. Full sun, supplemental water. Propagate: seed in fall/early spring.

Common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Aster/daisy family. Fast annual. Butterflies/birds. 8–15 feet tall, large seed-filled heads. Yellow ray flowers. Well-drained soil, full sun. Propagate by seed.