Many starting gardeners want the beauty of a garden without the fuss of tending to one. Easy-to-care-for flowers and plants can help make that wish a reality. These low maintenance plants can provide a garden that's visually satisfying without requiring a Herculean effort in order to maintain.

Scarlet Sage

Scarlet Sage, or Salvia coccinea, is from the Lamiaceae/Labiatae, or mint, family. It is a fast growing perennial that attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. It will get 2 to 3 feet tall with red inch long flowers. Plant a scarlet sage plant in full sun. It is drought tolerant but for best flowering supplemental watering should occur. Propagate via seed.

Blue Anise Sage

Blue Anise Sage, or Salvia guaranitica, is from the Lamiaceae/Labiatae, or mint, family. It is a perennial that will attract hummingbirds and butterflies to the landscape. It will get 3 to 5 feet tall with 2 to 5 inch long dark green leaves. Tubular flowers are 2 inches long and appear summer to fall. Plant a blue anise sage plant in partial shade to full sun with moderate watering. Propagate spring tip cuttings or semi-hard tip cuttings in summer and fall.

Cockscomb

Cockscomb, or Celosia spp., is from the Amaranthaceae, or amaranth, family. It is an annual. It will get 6 feet tall with 2 to 6 inch long leaves and tiny white silverish flowers. Plant a cockscomb plant in full sun with a well drained soil. Propagate via seed.

Pentas

Pentas, or Pentas lanceolata, is from the Rubiaceae, or madder, family. It is a fast growing perennial that will attract butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden. It will get 3 feet tall with red, purple, pink, white, or purple flowers. Plant a pentas plant in well worked fertile soil in sun to shade. Propagate via spring and summer cuttings.

Larkspur

Larkspur, or Consolida ajacis, is from the Ranunculaceae, or buttercup, family. It is an annual that will attract hummingbirds to the garden. This will get 2 to 3 feet tall with white, blue, pink, or lilac flowers. Plant a larkspur plant in full sun with supplemental watering. Propagate via seed in fall or early spring.

Common Sunflower

Common Sunflower, or Helianthus annuus, is from the Asteraceae/Compositae, or aster/daisy, family. It is an annual that is fast growing and will attract butterflies and birds. The sunflower can get 8 to 15 feet tall with large flowerheads full of seed. Yellow blooms are ray flowers. Plant a sunflower in well drained soil in full sun. Propagate via seed.