Your reference for choosing and growing garden plants. Browse by type, check growing requirements, and find the right plant for the right place.
Plants that come back year after year — the backbone of any garden.
One-season wonders that bloom their hearts out all summer long.
From tomatoes to kale — growing your own food, one season at a time.
Culinary and medicinal herbs for every garden, big or small.
The structural elements that give a garden its bones.
Plants indigenous to North America — easy, resilient, and wildlife-friendly.
A quick guide to common garden plants and their key requirements. Use this to match plants to your conditions.
| Plant | Light | Soil | Zones | Bloom Time | Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purple Coneflower | Full sun | Dry-medium | 3–9 | Jul–Sep | 2–4 ft |
| Black-eyed Susan | Full sun | Dry | 3–9 | Jul–Oct | 2–3 ft |
| Hosta | Part-full shade | Medium | 3–9 | Jul–Aug | 6–36 in |
| Daylily | Full sun–part shade | Adaptable | 3–9 | Jun–Aug | 1–3 ft |
| Peony | Full sun | Medium, well-drained | 3–8 | May–Jun | 2–3 ft |
| Tall Garden Phlox | Full sun | Medium | 4–8 | Jul–Sep | 3–4 ft |
| Shasta Daisy | Full sun | Medium | 5–9 | Jun–Aug | 2–3 ft |
| Heuchera (Coral Bells) | Part shade | Medium | 4–9 | May–Jul | 1–2 ft |
| Astilbe | Part-full shade | Moist | 4–8 | Jun–Aug | 1–3 ft |
| Bleeding Heart | Part-full shade | Medium | 3–9 | Apr–Jun | 2–3 ft |
| Plant | Light | Soil | Bloom Time | Height | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zinnia | Full sun | Medium | Jul–Frost | 1–4 ft | Cut-and-come-again |
| Cosmos | Full sun | Dry-medium | Jul–Frost | 2–5 ft | Self-seeds |
| Marigold | Full sun | Medium | Jun–Frost | 6 in–3 ft | Pest deterrent |
| Sunflower | Full sun | Medium | Aug–Sep | 3–10 ft | Branching types for cuts |
| Sweet Alyssum | Sun–part shade | Medium | Spring–Frost | 4–6 in | Beneficial insect attractor |
| Crop | Light | Spacing | Season | Days to Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Full sun | 24" | Warm | 60–90 |
| Pepper | Full sun | 18" | Warm | 60–85 |
| Lettuce | Sun–part shade | 8–10" | Cool | 45–55 |
| Bush Beans | Full sun | 4–6" | Warm | 50–55 |
| Radish | Full sun | 2–3" | Cool | 25–30 |
| Kale | Full sun–part shade | 12–18" | Cool | 55–65 |
| Zucchini | Full sun | 36" | Warm | 45–55 |
| Herb | Light | Soil | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Full sun | Moist, rich | Annual | Pinch tops to bush out |
| Rosemary | Full sun | Dry, well-drained | Perennial (Z8+) | Mediterranean; hates wet feet |
| Mint | Sun–part shade | Moist | Perennial | Always pot — invasive |
| Thyme | Full sun | Dry, well-drained | Perennial | Great between stepping stones |
| Chives | Full sun | Medium | Perennial | Comes back reliably |
| Parsley | Sun–part shade | Moist, rich | Biennial | Grow as annual |
Start with your conditions — know how much sun your spot gets, what your soil is like, and your USDA hardiness zone (see our hardiness zone guide). Then match plants to those conditions using the tables above.
Remember: "right plant, right place" is the most important principle in gardening. A plant growing in conditions it likes will thrive with minimal care. The same plant in the wrong spot will struggle no matter how much attention you give it.
For deeper information, explore our articles on shade plants, native plants, cut flowers, and garden design. The garden journal has the full collection.
