Low-Maintenance Perennials for Sunny, Dry Gardens (Bee-Friendly Options)

A backyard dining/kitchen window area needs color, ≤3 ft height, full sun, low water, low maintenance.

Top Picks (Attract Bees)

• Echinacea 'Tiki Torch' – orange, 2–3 ft, drought-tough.
• Echinacea 'Pink Double Delight' – double pink, compact.
• Sedum 'Autumn Joy' – fleshy leaves, rosy-burgundy heads in fall, 2 ft.

If Bees Are a Concern (Kids Play Nearby)

All showy sun perennials attract pollinators. For zero blooms, use textural foliage plants:

• Ornamental grasses: Festuca glauca (blue fescue), Pennisetum 'Hameln' (dwarf fountain grass).
• Yucca / Agave – architectural, spiky (place away from play).
• Sedum (non-flowering cultivars) – 'Angelina' (golden), 'Blue Spruce' (blue).
• Artemisia 'Powis Castle' – silver feathery foliage.

Compromise

Plant bee-attractors away from high-traffic zones; use foliage plants near windows and paths.