What Are the Best Plants for a Nashville Low-Maintenance Garden?
Nashville’s USDA zone 7a is the perfect climate for many low-maintenance plants. We’re often asked what the best low-maintenance shrubs, trees, perennials and annuals are to use in new landscaping. So, we created this list and hope it serves as a great resource for you when researching plants for your Nashville landscaping project!
Shrubs
Dwarf Burford Holly (Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii Nana'): This evergreen shrub is very low maintenance, with a slow growth rate and requiring little pruning. It also produces beautiful red berries in the fall.
Knock Out Rose (Rosa 'Radrazz'): This popular shrub rose requires minimal pruning and is disease-resistant. It blooms from spring until frost and comes in a variety of colors.
Blue Rug Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltonii'): This low-growing, drought-tolerant evergreen shrub is perfect for ground cover or mass planting. It requires little to no pruning.
Inkberry (Ilex glabra): This native evergreen shrub is easy to grow and requires little maintenance. It also produces black berries in the fall.
Redtwig Dogwood (Cornus sericea): This deciduous shrub produces beautiful red stems in the winter, and its leaves turn red in the fall. It requires little pruning and can be used for erosion control.
Sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus): This native deciduous shrub requires little maintenance and produces fragrant, reddish-brown flowers in the spring and summer.
Dwarf Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii): This deciduous shrub produces fragrant, white bottlebrush-like flowers in the spring and beautiful fall color. It requires little pruning and is disease-resistant.
Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica): This native deciduous shrub is easy to grow and produces fragrant white flowers in the spring and beautiful red foliage in the fall.
Dwarf Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria 'Nana'): This evergreen shrub is drought-tolerant and requires little maintenance. It is also disease-resistant and produces red berries in the fall.
Spirea (Spiraea): This deciduous shrub comes in a variety of cultivars, including Goldflame, Little Princess, and Snowmound. They all require little pruning and produce beautiful flowers in the spring and summer.
Dwarf Nandina (Nandina domestica 'Compacta'): This evergreen shrub is drought-tolerant and requires little maintenance. It also produces red berries in the fall.
Boxwood (Buxus): This evergreen shrub comes in a variety of cultivars, including Green Velvet, Green Mountain, and Wintergreen. They all require little pruning and are disease-resistant.
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia): This native deciduous shrub requires little maintenance and produces beautiful white flowers in the summer and beautiful fall color.
Weigela (Weigela florida): This deciduous shrub requires little pruning and produces beautiful flowers in the spring and summer. It comes in a variety of cultivars, including Wine & Roses and My Monet.
Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia): This drought-tolerant perennial shrub requires little maintenance and produces beautiful purple flowers in the summer. It is also deer-resistant.
Trees
Red Maple (Acer rubrum): This native deciduous tree is easy to grow and requires little maintenance. It produces beautiful red foliage in the fall.
Serviceberry (Amelanchier): This native deciduous tree produces beautiful white flowers in the spring and edible fruit in the summer. It is also disease-resistant and requires little pruning.
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis): This native deciduous tree produces beautiful pink or purple flowers in the spring and requires little maintenance.
American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana): This native deciduous tree is easy to grow and requires little maintenance. It produces beautiful fall color and interesting bark.
Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum): This deciduous tree is easy to grow and requires little maintenance. It produces beautiful fall color and is tolerant of wet soil.
River Birch (Betula nigra): This native deciduous tree is easy to grow and requires little maintenance. It is also tolerant of wet soil and produces interesting peeling bark.
Littleleaf Linden (Tilia cordata): This deciduous tree is easy to grow and requires little maintenance. It produces fragrant flowers in the summer and is tolerant of urban conditions.
Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora): This evergreen tree produces beautiful fragrant flowers in the summer and requires little maintenance. It is also tolerant of urban conditions.
Japanese Zelkova (Zelkova serrata): This deciduous tree is easy to grow and requires little maintenance. It produces beautiful fall color and is tolerant of urban conditions.
Kousa Dogwood (Cornus kousa): This deciduous tree produces beautiful white or pink flowers in the spring and requires little maintenance.
Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica): This native deciduous tree is easy to grow and requires little maintenance. It produces beautiful fall color and is tolerant of wet soil.
Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus): This evergreen tree is easy to grow and requires little maintenance. It is also tolerant of urban conditions and produces interesting cones.
Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba): This deciduous tree is easy to grow and requires little maintenance. It produces beautiful fall color and is tolerant of urban conditions.
Crabapple (Malus): This deciduous tree produces beautiful flowers in the spring and edible fruit in the fall. It is also disease-resistant and requires little pruning.
Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia): This deciduous tree produces beautiful flowers in the summer and requires little maintenance. It is also drought-tolerant and disease-resistant.
Perennials
Perennials live for more than one growing season. Unlike annuals, perennial plants go dormant in the winter and return the following year.
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia): This native perennial produces bright yellow flowers in the summer and requires little maintenance.
Coneflower (Echinacea): This native perennial produces beautiful pink or purple flowers in the summer and requires little maintenance.
Daylily (Hemerocallis): This perennial produces colorful flowers throughout the summer and requires little maintenance.
Sedum (Sedum): This low-growing perennial is drought-tolerant and requires little maintenance. It produces beautiful foliage and flowers in the fall.
Coreopsis (Coreopsis): This native perennial produces bright yellow or red flowers in the summer and requires little maintenance.
Bee Balm (Monarda): This native perennial produces beautiful pink, red or purple flowers in the summer and attracts pollinators. It is also disease-resistant and requires little maintenance.
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia): This native perennial produces beautiful red and yellow flowers in the summer and requires little maintenance.
Russian Sage (Perovskia): This drought-tolerant perennial produces beautiful lavender-blue flowers in the summer and requires little maintenance.
Catmint (Nepeta): This drought-tolerant perennial produces beautiful lavender-blue flowers in the summer and requires little maintenance.
Yarrow (Achillea): This native perennial produces beautiful pink, red or yellow flowers in the summer and requires little maintenance.
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): This native perennial produces beautiful pink or purple flowers in the summer and requires little maintenance.
Ornamental Grasses (Miscanthus, Pennisetum, etc.): These drought-tolerant perennials add texture and interest to any garden or landscape and require little maintenance.
Hosta (Hosta): This shade-loving perennial produces beautiful foliage in a variety of colors and requires little maintenance.
Baptisia (Baptisia): This native perennial produces beautiful blue or purple flowers in the spring and requires little maintenance.
Cranesbill (Geranium): This native perennial produces beautiful pink or purple flowers in the summer and requires little maintenance.
Annuals
Annuals are the top choice when you're looking for instant gratification and beautiful intense color. However, you'll need to replace them every year. Unlike perennials, annuals last for one growing season and must be replanted the following year.
Zinnia (Zinnia elegans): This annual produces large, colorful flowers in a variety of shades and requires little maintenance.
Marigold (Tagetes): This annual produces bright, colorful flowers and is known for its pest-repellent properties.
Petunia (Petunia x hybrida): This annual produces bright, colorful flowers in a variety of shades and requires little maintenance.
Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus): This annual produces tall spikes of colorful flowers and is relatively low maintenance.
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus): This annual produces large, cheerful flowers and is relatively easy to care for.
Calendula (Calendula officinalis): This annual produces bright orange and yellow flowers and is known for its medicinal properties.
Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus): This annual produces delicate, daisy-like flowers in a variety of colors and requires little maintenance.
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum): This annual produces edible flowers in a variety of colors and is relatively easy to care for.
Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima): This annual produces delicate, fragrant flowers in shades of white and pink and requires little maintenance.
Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum): This annual produces fluffy, blue or pink flowers and is relatively low maintenance.
Pansies (Viola x wittrockiana): This annual produces colorful flowers in a variety of shades and is relatively easy to care for.
Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana): This annual produces colorful flowers in a variety of shades and is relatively low maintenance.
Lantana (Lantana camara): This annual produces clusters of colorful flowers and is known for its ability to attract butterflies.
Portulaca (Portulaca grandiflora): This annual produces bright, colorful flowers in a variety of shades and requires little maintenance.
Salvia (Salvia splendens): This annual produces tall spikes of bright red, pink or purple flowers and is relatively easy to care for.