Having a beautiful garden doesn't have to take a lot of effort - you just need to pick the right plants. Want a garden full of flowers without too much work? We can help with that! We've put together a list of low-maintenance flowering plants that are perfect for temperate gardens - think Sydney and the Hunter region.

Ready to discover your new favourite plants? Keep reading!

 

Flower Power's top 7 low-maintenance flowering plants

The plants in the below list are reliable, versatile, easy-care options that will add colour and vibrance to your temperate climate garden. Once established, each one is:

  • Relatively drought-tolerant;
  • Hardy enough to tolerate most weather conditions, including heat, cold and rain;
  • Not bothered greatly by pests or diseases; and
  • In need of little maintenance other than an occasional prune to keep neat and tidy.

Crepe Myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica)

Iconic fixtures of a Sydney summer, crepe myrtles are instantly recognisable with their masses of delicate, paper-like blooms. Flowers appear in a range of colours from whites and very soft pinks through to vibrant corals, magentas and even deep reds. Most varieties display deep green foliage through spring and summer, however the 'Diamonds In The Dark' series has deep burgundy leaves. These deciduous favourites make reliable street plantings and offer lots of summer shade in your garden. As summer fades and the flowers disappear, crepe myrtles offer stunning autumn leaf colour before they defoliate. Click here for more info on crepe myrtles.

Flowering season: Summer.

Ideal conditions: Full sun to part shade.

Growth potential: Up to 8m high x 6m wide, but this is highly dependent on variety. Plants in the 'Diamonds in the Dark' series reach up to 3m high x 2.5m wide, while some other dwarf varieties such as the 'With Love' and 'Infinitini' ranges are closer to 1m high and wide.

Suggested uses: Feature garden tree. Some dwarf varieties may be grown in large containers, but check the plant label on your individual variety for suitability.

 

Indian Hawthorns (Rhaphiolepis indica)

Rhaphiolepis is known for being almost bulletproof, such is its tolerance to a range of weather conditions. It's great in coastal areas as it will withstand heat, wind and salt spray, and works a treat on exposed balconies. This dense evergreen shrub with deep green, glossy foliage is absolutely covered in white or pink flowers all through spring and early summer. It's a favourite of pollinators including bees and a range of other insects. Get the scoop on rhaphiolepis.

Flowering season: Spring to early summer. Flowers are followed by non-toxic blue berries.

Ideal conditions: Full sun to part shade.

Growth potential: Up to 2.5m high and wide. Some popular named varieties such as 'Oriental Pearl', 'Little Bliss' and 'Snow Maiden' are more compact and closer to 1m high and wide.

Suggested uses: Hedges and garden borders, container-grown shrub, general garden feature.

 

Grevilleas (Grevillea)

With over 350 varieties of grevillea known to exist, this would have to be one of the most versatile plant families in the known world! Popular Australian natives, grevilleas are perfectly adapted to the unique weather and growing conditions found in temperate gardens. Most fall into two flower types - "spider" or "toothbrush" depending on their shape - and offer flowers in a broad range of colours over a long period. Some even flower all year long. They offer a valuable food source for nectar-loving Australian native animals including birds, butterflies and possums. Click here for the low-down on grevilleas.

Flowering season: Generally from winter right through spring. Some varieties offer year-round flowering, while others will have their main flowering flush from winter to spring and then spot-flower repeatedly.

Ideal conditions: Full sun with some shelter from strong winds.

Growth potential: This varies significantly from variety to variety, so always check the plant label! Silky Oak (Grevillea robusta) varieties are trees reaching up to 30m high and 10m wide. Our most popular grevillea, 'Robyn Gordon', is a shrub reaching approximately 1.5m high and wide. There are also prostrate varieties such as 'Poorinda Royal Mantle', which reaches just 25cm high but will spread up to 6m wide.

Suggested uses: With such a variety of sizes available, there are grevilleas for all garden purposes, including hedges, borders, groundcover, feature shrubs, trees and container plantings.

 

'Perpetual Perfection' Petunias (Petunia x hybrida)

Generally we treat petunias as annuals (plants that last for one season only) - but not these ones. New to Australia and exclusive to Flower Power, our Perpetual Perfection range of perennial petunia hybrids has been bred with longevity and hardiness in mind. These plants are perfect for a range of landscape uses and will stand up to even the harshest weather conditions, bouncing back quickly after rain. The plants themselves are larger than your average petunia, with masses of even larger flowers in a range of pink and purple shades. Add these to your garden and experience reliable, vibrant colour for seasons to come.

Flowering season: Spring through to autumn - up to 10 months of the year.

Ideal conditions: Full sun to part shade.

Growth potential: 30cm high x 40cm wide.

Suggested uses: Adding colour to garden beds and feature pots, cascading from hanging baskets, creating low garden or path borders.

 

Hebes (Hebe buxifolia)

If you're looking for plants that will stay looking neat and tidy with minimal effort, hebes are a great choice. Hebes are relatively small-growing evergreen shrubs with fine but densely-packed green foliage. Their foliage responds well to trimming and shaping. They make excellent hedging plants, but some of the more eye-catching varieties with variegated foliage are more popular as potted statement plants. These neat and tidy plants produce flower spires in a range of colours from whites and pale pinks through to blues, purples and even burgundy hues. Some varieties, such as 'Wiri Cloud', have been bred specifically for resistance to powdery mildew. Learn more about hebes here.

Flowering season: Late winter to autumn - some varieties flower early, others late, but generally they have a long flowering season.

Ideal conditions: Full sun is ideal, though they will afternoon shade as long as they get morning sun.

Growth potential: Up to 1.5m high and wide for most varieties.

Suggested uses: Hedging, mass planting or as feature shrubs in garden beds or large containers.

 

Evergreen magnolias (Magnolia grandiflora)

Unlike their deciduous cousins, Magnolia grandiflora varieties don't defoliate during winter - but their creamy-white flowers are just as fragrant! With their dense, glossy green leaves featuring rusty-red reverse sides, these plants make a striking statement in the garden all year long. Some varieties such as 'Teddy Bear' are bred for their more compact nature and are favoured for pots. Others, such as 'Little Gem' and 'Kay Parris' are grown as feature trees, reaching heights of up to 6 metres and providing valuable summer shade alongside that iconic floral scent.

Flowering season: Early summer through to autumn.

Ideal conditions: Full sun to part shade.

Growth potential: Depending on the variety, up to 6m high x 4m wide. Dwarf varieties may reach only half of this size.

Suggested uses: Potted features, privacy screens, hedges, large feature trees.

 

Bottlebrush (Callistemon)

A beloved and iconic Australian native, the bottlebrush is an incredibly reliable plant that's frequently used by councils for street planting. Its nectar-filled flowers offer a plentiful food source for native pollinators. These eye-catching, spindly blooms come in a range of shades from white and lemon yellow through to mauve, pink and the iconic bright red. Bottlebrush's hardy branching structure makes it popular for a range of uses. Bottlebrush trees make great specimen plantings, but can also be used as windbreaks or trimmed into informal hedges or privacy screens - 'Slim' is a great variety for creating a screen in a narrow space. Small or dwarf varieties such as 'Better John' can become striking potted features.

Flowering season: Spring and summer.

Ideal conditions: Full sun to part shade in specialist native potting mix or very well-drained soil.

Growth potential: Up to 5m high x 4m wide. Some dwarf varieties reach as little as 50cm high and wide.

Suggested uses: Feature tree, informal hedge, privacy screen.

 

How long do low-maintenance flowering plants take to establish?

This is an important question to ask! Generally, plants can take one to two years (depending on the variety, of course!) to properly establish themselves with a strong root system and healthy growth. While they're still establishing, you'll need to water them regularly. Once they're fully established, that's when you can take your foot off the pedal a bit.