25 Easy Flowers to Grow for Novice Gardeners

Do you think that you can’t grow flowers? Maybe you’re not sure what the easy flowers to grow are, and this leads to frustration on your part because you get stuck with challenging species that refuse to bloom like they should. Whatever the reason, you’ll need to start out with easy flowers to grow to help build your confidence levels in the garden. There are annuals and perennials that fit the bill as easy flowers to grow that require very little in the form of maintenance or care, and some will return again and again without a lot of input from you. You can start with one or two and add more as your confidence levels grow.

However, it all starts at square one. Which are the easy flowers to grow and which aren’t? Do you want annuals, perennials, or both? Where do you plan to plant them and do you have time to take care of them once you get them in? I’ll list out 25 easy flowers to grow, and you can mix and match them to create stunning arrangements while growing your confidence as a gardener at the same time.

1. Morning Glory

This annual easy flower to grow comes in red, pink, white, purple, and shades of blue that pop against the bright green foliage. They can grow between 6 and 15 feet tall, and this makes them excellent for any sunny bare spots you have in your yard or garden. They’re a readily self-sowing plant that will spread unless you keep an eye on them, and they work wonderfully in trellises or on walls. The seeds are highly toxic, so you want to keep them away from pets. They need a well-drained soil with a higher nutrient content, and the plant will bloom in the early fall or late summer months.

Morning Glory by Anders Sandberg / CC BY 2.0

2. Sunflowers

Sunflowers are easy flowers to grow that pay off huge in the sheer size as they can grow between 3 and 16-feet at full maturity. They come in browns, yellows, and tri-colored mixes, and they bloom during the summer months. They’re heat and drought-tolerant, and they make beautiful fall decoration ideas in bouquets or gifts. They need full sun and they can do well in any soil type as long as it’s semi-dry, and they’ll attract butterflies, birds, and bees. If they grow extremely tall, they’ll need support to prevent them from breaking, and they can create a gorgeous natural fence to help block any views.

Sunflowers by Michael / CC BY-ND 2.0

3. Daylilies

Growing in zones 3 to 10, Daylilies are an easy flower to grow that will flower over months without interruption. They come in shades of purple, melon, pink, red, or yellow, and they can grow between 12 and 48-inches tall at full maturity. This is a pest-free plant that makes them very hardy for new gardeners, and they can easily cover larger areas in your yard. You should use rich, well-draining soil in full sun, and they’re heat and humidity tolerant. They need deep watering at least once a week during the hot summer months, and they make beautiful cut flowers.

Daylilies by Renee Grayson / CC BY 2.0

4. Zinnia

As far as easy flowers to grow goes, Zinnias make the list. This bright annual flower comes in shades of yellow, orange, red, white, and pink, and it can grow to be between 20 and 24-inches tall at the full height. It blooms during the summer months, and you get a host of unique shapes to choose from like a pom, spider, daisy, or dahlia. This plant will attract butterflies to your yard, and you should plant it in full sun with a well-drained soil that you enrich with organic matter. It does have more moderate water requirements that kick the care levels up a notch or two.

Zinnia by Peter Miller /  CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

5. Dahlia

Dahlias are easy flowers to grow if you live in zones 7 to 10. They can get between one and six-feet high, and they have larger flowers that come in white, yellow, orange, red, pink, and purple. They don’t do well in hot or humid climates, but they’ll thrive just about anywhere else. It’ll bloom in as little as eight weeks after you plant the tubers, and you can get pom poms, anemones, spiky, single, or double blooms. They need a sandy but well-drained soil with full sun. After you plant them and they poke up from the ground, give them two or three deeper waterings each week to keep them healthy.

Dahlia by yewchan / CC BY-SA 2.0

6. Begonia

Many begonias are grown as annuals in zones 10 or 11, and many people are surprised to see this entry on the easy flowers to grow list because they look finicky. They come in yellow, white, pink, or orange coloring, and the leaves can be dark green, light green, or have a slightly red hue with a waxy look and feel. They get up to a foot tall and start blooming in the late summer months into the early fall. They need amended, fertile soil with consistent watering, and they do best in shade or partial sun. You can put them in containers, flower beds, or in hanging baskets and have them grow well.

Red Wax Begonias by Purrrpl_Haze / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

7. Coneflower

Growing in zones 3 to 9, the Coneflower is on the easy flowers to grow list, and it’s an impressive pick that can grow up to six feet tall. It comes in pink, purple, orange, white, yellow, and bicolored options, and this plant will bloom continuously for months. It makes excellent cut flowers for your table or a bouquet, and it’ll attract both birds and pollinators. You can sow the seeds in the spring or fall to kickstart the growth period, and they like full sun with well-drained, rich soil. This plant also tolerates drought, so it’ll forgive you if you forget to water it once or twice.

Coneflowers by alvaroeguly / CC BY 2.0

8. Geranium

As far as easy flowers to grow goes, Geraniums are at the top of the list. You can grow them as perennials in zones 10 or 11, and they grow well as annuals in other zones. They come in rose, magnets, purple, lavender, pink, red, or white coloring, and they can get between 3 and 24-inches tall. They give you color starting in the spring and going until the first frost hits, and they attract birds. This plant will need well-drained but rich soil with full sun and afternoon shade in more humid climates. They like to be watered regularly, and the work in beds, boxes, containers, and hanging baskets.

Geranium by Jean-Paul Tonnelier / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

9. Cosmo

Cosmos are easy flowers to grow if you want bright annuals that produce white, pink, or orange flowers. There are several different varieties available that can grow between 18 and 60-inches tall, and they bloom in the summer before continuing on into the cooler fall months. They can grow very quickly from seeds, and they’re a natural mosquito repellent that is excellent around your patio or entertainment area. They will grow in sandy or dry soil, but they prefer a well-drained mix with full sun. You have to water them well, but let them dry out between watering sessions.

Cosmo by Peter Miller / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

10. Lavender

Lavender is a fragrant easy flower to grow, and it does well in zones four to nine. You can get white or pink varieties, but the most popular ones come in different purple and lavender hues. It can get between 20 and 24 inches tall, and it needs very little in the way of care once you establish it. It’ll blue in June and continue through August if you plant it in well-drained soil under full sun. It’s drought-tolerant, so all you have to do is water it deeply once a week or so for it to thrive. It’ll attract butterflies and bees, and some species can help to keep the mosquitos away.

Lavender by Thomas Quine / CC BY 2.0

11. Fuschia

Fuschia is an easy flower to grow that gives you gorgeous, bright blooms. You can grow it as an annual outside zones 10 and 11 and as a perennial inside it, and it offers shades of magenta, purple, white, pink, or red when it blooms. It can get between one and eight-feet tall, depending on the variety. You can overwinter it indoors, and it grows well in hanging baskets. This plant will attract hummingbirds, and it grows best in the shade without a lot of humidity, heat, or drought. So, this plant requires a little more care. Plant it in moist, well-draining soil, and you can prune it back to encourage new flowers.

Fuschia by flakyredhead / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

12. Pansy

Pansies work well for companion planting because of their versatility, and this makes them one of the easiest flowers to grow. They’re commonly grown as annuals, but you can grow them as biennials and perennials in zones 6 to 10. They come in a huge range of colors, and they grow between six and nine-inches tall. They’ll bloom from the spring to the early winter and through the winter in mild climates, and they like well-drained soil that is rich in nutrients. They’ll need regular watering with partial shade to the sun, and they do best when they’re in the temperature range of 45°F to 75°F.

Pansies by oatsy40 / CC BY 2.0

13. Snapdragon

If you want to add a little height and drama to your garden, try this easy flower to grow. Snapdragons come in a huge range of sizes and colors, including violet, purple, peach, pink, orange, red, white, and yellow. You can grow them as perennials if you live in zones 5 to 10, and they bloom from the early spring months into the early fall. They’ll attract butterflies, and they’re immensely popular in cottage-style gardens. They need full sun with well-drained soil, and you want to water them at the plant’s base regularly. You may need to stake taller species for support.

Snapdragons by Dorian Wellender / CC BY-SA 2.0

14. Nasturtium

People who live in areas where there are a lot of deer or rabbits should try this easy flower to grow because Nasturtium is rabbit and deer-resistant. It comes in shades of cream, yellow, red, or orange, and it can quickly grow between 8 and 10 feet tall. It’ll bloom in May and go until September under the correct growing conditions, and it offers edible flowers and leaves. Plant it in full sun with a well-drained soil, and make a point to water it lightly and regularly to avoid over-watering. You can plant them by trellises to give them support, or by a fence.

Nasturtiums by the real Kam75 / CC BY-SA 2.0

15. Sweet Peas

This easy flower to grow is an annual that comes in white, red, pink, purple, or blue. Depending on the species, it can grow between three and eight feet high, and it produces very fragrant flowers that bloom all spring, summer, and fall long. The seeds on this plant resemble edible peas, but they can be very toxic if you ingest them. So, you want to keep your kids and pets away. They like well-drained but loamy soil with full sun. You should try to keep the soil moist at the base of the plants at all times, but not soaked. This plant will need a supportive trellis or fence to grow.

Sweet Peas by A.Davey / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

16. Impatiens

Impatiens are one easy flower to grow if you live in zones 10 or 11 and want perennials, but you can grow them as annuals anywhere else. They come in a huge range of colors that allows you to mix and match your choices to create stunning flower beds or pots, and they get between 6 and 24-inches tall. As a bonus, these plants will bloom non-stop starting in June and going until the first hard frost hits. They like loamy soil that is very moist but not soaked, and they grow the best if you put them in part or full shade. If you plant them closer together, they’ll grow much taller.

Impatiens by chrisforsyth / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

17. Lupine

Lupine will add drama and height to your landscape, and it needs minimal maintenance to make it an easy flower to grow. It can grow well in zones four to eight, and it comes in purple, pink, white, yellow, or blue hues. It works well for borders as it grows up to four-feet tall, and it produces a lot of seeds that allows it to self-sow. This plant attracts butterflies, and it grows the best in well-drained average soil without any fertilizer. You’ll need to water it deeply and let it dry between watering sessions, and you should deeply loosen the soil when you plant it because it has longer roots. For hot climates, it likes filtered light, and for cool climates, put it in full sun.

Lupine by thatedguy / CC BY-SA 2.0

18. Marigold

Marigolds grow easily in a pot or flower bed, and this easy flower to grow comes in bright colors. They come in shades of gold, red, yellow, and mixed, and you want to plant them in full sun. They can get between 6 and 36-inches tall, and they bloom from the spring until the fall months. They’ll grow very quickly from seed, and they can help repel mosquitos around your yard. They like well-drained soil, and they can grow surprisingly well in sandy or dry gardens. You should water them deeply but allow them to dry out between sessions.

Marigolds by E. Strathmeyer / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

19. Daffodil

Thriving in zones three to nine, this easy flower to grow comes in white, orange, and bright yellow. It can grow between 6 and 30-inches tall under the correct conditions, and it’ll bloom in the early spring or late winter months in mild climates. You can plant it in a container or a bed, and it mixes very well with other spring flowering bulbs. You’ll need to give your plant well-drained soil and full sun or partial shade. They like regular watering in the fall and spring, and you should plant the bulbs in the fall to encourage spring blooms.

Daffodils by Anna Hesser / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

20. Allium

This easy flower to grow is actually an ornamental onion, but it grows nicely in zones four to eight. Allium comes in white, pink, purple, or lavender, and it’ll grow large spherical-shaped flowers on top of thin stalks for a striking look. They can get between 6 and 36-inches tall, and it works well in meadows, cottage gardens, or rock gardens. You should plant the bulbs in the fall for them to bloom when the season changes from spring to summer, and they need well-drained soil in full sun. They also like dry to medium moisture, so you won’t have to water them often and they’ll forgive you if you forget a few times.

Allium Aflatunense by Rob Hodgkins / CC BY-SA 2.0

21. Dianthus

Dianthus make the list of easy flowers to grow as long as you live in zones three to nine. Most of these plants will get between 10 to 20-inches tall, but there are ones that can grow upwards of three feet high. You’ll get fragrant, showy flowers that smell like cloves when they bloom, and the flowers will bloom from May until the end of August. This is a deer-resistant plant that offers attractive evergreen foliage, and it works well as edging or in rock gardens. It needs light shade to full sun in well-drained soil that you water when it dries out.

Colorful Dianthus by Doug McAbee / CC BY-NC 2.0

22. Peonies

Peonies are colorful and cheerful easy flowers to grow. They give you fragrant, show-stopping blooms that will come out in full show in both warm and cool climates. You should shelter them from the wind to prevent breakage, and you want to plant them in a rich, well-drained soil. They also need full sun, and they can grow in the ground or in containers. You want to water them regularly when the soil dries out, but take care not to over-water them. Deadhead the flowers as they begin to wilt and fade, and cut the plant down to the ground in the winter to encourage new growth in the spring.

23. Shasta Daisy

Shasta Daisies are easy flowers to grow that offer cheerful white faces with a pop of vibrant yellow in the center. Once you establish this easy flower to grow,it needs almost no input from you to stay healthy and thrive. They can grow up to four feet tall on thin stems before opening up into larger flowers, and they can easily spread over your yard. They like well-drained soil, and they do well in sandy or loamy soil with full sun and a minimal amount of water. You can easily cut them for summer bouquets, and they’ll continue to bloom into the late summer months.

DSC_2087 by JB / CC BY-NC 2.0

24. Hosta

While not exactly a flower, hostas are pretty foliage that can sprout flower spikes, and there are several varieties to choose from. This easy flower to grow likes a lot of shade, and you can plant them straight in the ground or in containers. Do pay attention to the type of hostas you have though since some can get to giant proportions. They bloom in the summer months into the fall, and they like a decent amount of moisture. You’ll need well-drained but rich soil, and you can plant them in dappled shade. The lighter the leaves, the more sunlight they need to thrive.

Hostas by Dianna Ott / CC BY 2.0

25. False Indigo

The final plant on my easy flowers to grow list is the False Indigo or Baptista. It does very well if you plant it in zones five to nine, and you’ll get deep purple, green, or blue spikes for flowers with lighter green foliage. This plant is almost pest and disease-free, and they can grow up to four feet tall before spreading out to fill in any dead areas. They like full sun with a well-draining soil, and they’ll start to bloom in the late spring before continuing on into the middle of summer. They’ll come up again and again with no input from you, and you should water them regularly.

Bottom Line

These 25 easy flowers to grow can help you fill in your landscape or liven up your garden in any season. They require very little maintenance, and this makes these easy flowers to grow perfect for novice or busy gardeners who don’t have the experience or time to dedicate to caring for high-maintenance plants. I invite you to mix and match, plant a few, and see how your garden turns out this year.