Top 20 Low-Maintenance Plants Perfect for Effortless Landscaping

Mahonia

Mahonias are delightful evergreen shrubs perfectly suited for shaded areas. They are an excellent choice for low-maintenance, minimalist landscaping due to their elegant, bamboo-like foliage. While some mahonias have spiky leaves, 'Soft Caress' graces your garden with its slender, blue-green foliage. During the late fall to early winter, it adorns itself with bright yellow blossoms that serve as a magnet for birds and butterflies. This particular mahonia thrives in partial shade to full shade, reaching a modest height and width of 3 to 3 1/2 feet. It's robust in Zones 7 to 9.

Mahonias can be grown as striking focal points, in containers, or as mass plantings within your landscape. They offer year-round visual interest and require fertilization only once a year, typically in spring. When planting, choose either early spring or fall, and ensure the soil is well-drained and moist. Pruning is best done in spring.