GrowingHQ

Perennials that look after themselves

Plant once, water rarely, and do not replace annually. Three filters that each narrow substantially, which is what makes this a genuinely selective list rather than a synonym for 'plants'.

How this list was built

Generated from the catalogue by the same engine that powers What can I grow? — 96 of the 170 perennials qualify. It is published because it names a question people ask, returns enough plants to be useful, does not return most of the group it is about, and rests on fields that are actually populated. Lists that fail any of those are on the coverage page instead.

96 plants
PlantTypeLightSpacingMin. pot depthIn a container
Aloe veraAloe veraHouseplantStraightforwardFull sun—15 cmwell suited
BayLaurus nobilisHerbStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade150–300 cm35 cmwell suited
BerberisBerberis thunbergiiOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade60–120 cm35 cmworkable
Blue fescueFestuca glaucaOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun25–35 cm20 cmwell suited
BuddlejaBuddleja davidiiOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun150–300 cm45 cmmarginal
ChamomileChamaemelum nobileHerbStraightforwardFull sun20–30 cm15 cmwell suited
Christmas boxSarcococca confusaOrnamentalStraightforwardFull shade, Dappled shade, Partial shade75–100 cm40 cmwell suited
CotoneasterCotoneaster horizontalisOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade, Dappled shade120–180 cm50 cmworkable
CrocusCrocus vernusOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade5–8 cm15 cmwell suited
DaffodilNarcissusOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade, Dappled shade10–15 cm25 cmwell suited
Dragon treeDracaena marginataHouseplantStraightforwardPartial shade, Dappled shade—25 cmwell suited
EchinaceaEchinacea purpureaOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun45–60 cm35 cmworkable
EpimediumEpimedium × versicolorOrnamentalStraightforwardDappled shade, Full shade, Partial shade30–45 cm30 cmworkable
EscalloniaEscallonia rubraOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade75–150 cm60 cmmarginal
FirethornPyracantha coccineaOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade, Dappled shade120–200 cm70 cmmarginal
Golden-scaled male fernDryopteris affinisOrnamentalStraightforwardFull shade, Dappled shade, Partial shade80–100 cm40 cmworkable
Grape hyacinthMuscari armeniacumOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade, Dappled shade8–10 cm15 cmwell suited
Hard shield fernPolystichum aculeatumOrnamentalStraightforwardFull shade, Dappled shade, Partial shade50–70 cm30 cmwell suited
Hardy cyclamenCyclamen hederifoliumOrnamentalStraightforwardDappled shade, Full shade, Partial shade15–20 cm15 cmwell suited
Hardy geraniumGeranium × oxonianumOrnamentalStraightforwardPartial shade, Full sun, Dappled shade45–60 cm35 cmworkable
HaworthiaHaworthiopsis attenuataHouseplantStraightforwardPartial shade, Full sun—8 cmwell suited
HawthornCrataegus monogynaTree or shrubStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade30–500 cm120 cmmarginal
HebeHebeOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade45–120 cm25 cmwell suited
HollyIlex aquifoliumTree or shrubStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade, Dappled shade, Full shade50–400 cm100 cmworkable
HyacinthHyacinthus orientalisOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade10–15 cm15 cmwell suited
HyssopHyssopus officinalisHerbStraightforwardFull sun40–50 cm25 cmwell suited
IvyHedera helixOrnamentalStraightforwardFull shade, Dappled shade, Partial shade, Full sun100–200 cm50 cmworkable
Jade plantCrassula ovataHouseplantStraightforwardFull sun—15 cmwell suited
Jerusalem artichokeHelianthus tuberosusVegetableStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade30–45 cm40 cmwell suited
MahoniaMahonia × mediaOrnamentalStraightforwardPartial shade, Dappled shade, Full shade150–250 cm40 cmmarginal
Maidenhair spleenwortAsplenium trichomanesOrnamentalStraightforwardFull shade, Dappled shade15–25 cm15 cmwell suited
Male fernDryopteris filix-masOrnamentalStraightforwardFull shade, Dappled shade, Partial shade60–90 cm35 cmworkable
Mexican feather grassNassella tenuissimaOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun30–45 cm30 cmwell suited
Mexican orange blossomChoisya ternataOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade120–180 cm50 cmworkable
MiscanthusMiscanthus sinensisOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun90–120 cm50 cmworkable
Mock orangePhiladelphus coronariusOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade150–200 cm60 cmmarginal
OreganoOriganum vulgareHerbStraightforwardFull sun30 cm20 cmwell suited
Ornamental alliumAllium hollandicumOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun15–20 cm30 cmworkable
OsmanthusOsmanthus × burkwoodiiOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade, Dappled shade75–150 cm60 cmworkable
PeriwinkleVinca minorOrnamentalStraightforwardFull shade, Dappled shade, Partial shade, Full sun45–60 cm25 cmworkable
PothosEpipremnum aureumHouseplantStraightforwardPartial shade, Dappled shade, Full shade—15 cmwell suited
RosemarySalvia rosmarinusHerbStraightforwardFull sun90 cm30 cmwell suited
SageSalvia officinalisHerbStraightforwardFull sun60 cm25 cmwell suited
Salad burnetSanguisorba minorHerbStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade30–40 cm25 cmwell suited
SalviaSalvia nemorosaOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun40–60 cm25 cmwell suited
Snake plantDracaena trifasciataHouseplantStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade, Dappled shade, Full shade—15 cmwell suited
Spider plantChlorophytum comosumHouseplantStraightforwardPartial shade, Dappled shade—15 cmwell suited
String of heartsCeropegia woodiiHouseplantStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade—12 cmwell suited
ThymeThymus vulgarisHerbStraightforwardFull sun30 cm15 cmwell suited
Virginia creeperParthenocissus quinquefoliaOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade, Dappled shade300–500 cm70 cmmarginal
Winter savorySatureja montanaHerbStraightforwardFull sun30–40 cm25 cmwell suited
YewTaxus baccataTree or shrubStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade, Dappled shade, Full shade50–400 cm120 cmworkable
ZZ plantZamioculcas zamiifoliaHouseplantStraightforwardPartial shade, Dappled shade, Full shade—18 cmwell suited
AglaonemaAglaonema commutatumHouseplantStraightforwardDappled shade, Full shade—18 cmwell suited
AmelanchierAmelanchier lamarckiiTree or shrubStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade400–600 cm100 cmmarginal
BlackberryRubus fruticosusFruitStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade250–450 cm40 cmmarginal
Chinese money plantPilea peperomioidesHouseplantStraightforwardPartial shade, Dappled shade—12 cmwell suited
ChivesAllium schoenoprasumHerbStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade20–30 cm15 cmwell suited
Crab appleMalus sylvestrisTree or shrubStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade400–600 cm100 cmmarginal
CrocosmiaCrocosmia × crocosmiifloraOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade15–25 cm30 cmworkable
DeutziaDeutzia gracilisOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade90–120 cm45 cmworkable
FatsiaFatsia japonicaOrnamentalStraightforwardFull shade, Dappled shade, Partial shade150–250 cm40 cmwell suited
Feather reed grassCalamagrostis × acutifloraOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade45–60 cm45 cmworkable
ForsythiaForsythia × intermediaOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade150–200 cm60 cmmarginal
FoxgloveDigitalis purpureaOrnamentalStraightforwardPartial shade, Dappled shade30–45 cm30 cmmarginal
GarlicAllium sativumVegetableStraightforwardFull sun15 cm20 cmworkable
Garlic chivesAllium tuberosumHerbStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade20–30 cm20 cmwell suited
GooseberryRibes uva-crispaFruitStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade150 cm35 cmworkable
Hart's tongue fernAsplenium scolopendriumOrnamentalStraightforwardFull shade, Dappled shade35–50 cm25 cmwell suited
Heartleaf philodendronPhilodendron hederaceumHouseplantStraightforwardPartial shade, Dappled shade—15 cmwell suited
HelleboreHelleborus × hybridusOrnamentalStraightforwardPartial shade, Dappled shade45–60 cm30 cmworkable
Henry's honeysuckleLonicera henryiOrnamentalStraightforwardFull shade, Dappled shade, Partial shade, Full sun200–300 cm50 cmworkable
HeucheraHeuchera villosaOrnamentalStraightforwardPartial shade, Dappled shade, Full sun30–40 cm25 cmwell suited
Kentia palmHowea forsterianaHouseplantStraightforwardPartial shade, Dappled shade—30 cmwell suited
Lemon balmMelissa officinalisHerbStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade, Dappled shade45–60 cm25 cmwell suited
LoganberryRubus × loganobaccusFruitStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade300 cm40–60 cmmarginal
LovageLevisticum officinaleHerbStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade60–90 cm60 cmmarginal
MonsteraMonstera deliciosaHouseplantStraightforwardPartial shade, Dappled shade—25 cmwell suited
Parlour palmChamaedorea elegansHouseplantStraightforwardPartial shade, Dappled shade, Full shade—20 cmwell suited
PassionflowerPassiflora caeruleaOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade200–300 cm50 cmworkable
PeperomiaPeperomiaHouseplantStraightforwardPartial shade, Dappled shade—10 cmwell suited
PlumPrunus domesticaFruitStraightforwardFull sun300–450 cm45 cmmarginal
QuinceCydonia oblongaFruitStraightforwardFull sun400 cm50–80 cmnot assessed
RedcurrantRibes rubrumFruitStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade150 cm35 cmworkable
RowanSorbus aucupariaTree or shrubStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade500–700 cm120 cmmarginal
RudbeckiaRudbeckia fulgidaOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade45–60 cm35 cmworkable
Silver birchBetula pendulaTree or shrubStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade700–1000 cm60 cmmarginal
SnowdropGalanthus nivalisOrnamentalStraightforwardDappled shade, Partial shade, Full shade8–10 cm20 cmworkable
Soft shield fernPolystichum setiferumOrnamentalStraightforwardFull shade, Dappled shade, Partial shade60–80 cm35 cmworkable
SpiraeaSpiraea japonicaOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade75–120 cm45 cmwell suited
Swiss cheese vineMonstera adansoniiHouseplantStraightforwardPartial shade, Dappled shade—15 cmwell suited
SyngoniumSyngonium podophyllumHouseplantStraightforwardPartial shade, Dappled shade—15 cmwell suited
TayberryRubus fruticosus × idaeusFruitStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade300 cm40–60 cmmarginal
ViburnumViburnum tinusOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade, Dappled shade150–250 cm45 cmworkable
WeigelaWeigela floridaOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade120–180 cm50 cmmarginal
WhitecurrantRibes rubrumFruitStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade150 cm35 cmworkable