In today’s fast-paced world, many homeowners are looking for ways to enjoy beautiful landscapes without dedicating countless hours to upkeep. For residents in Ada, MI, the local climate provides opportunities to enjoy a variety of plants that thrive with minimal care. If you’re looking for low-maintenance plants that can elevate the curb appeal of your home without adding more tasks to your to-do list, Master Gardner, LLC is here to help. We've put together a list of the top five low-maintenance plants perfect for busy homeowners in Ada, MI.

If you have shaded areas in your yard that need a pop of color and texture, hostas are an excellent option. These hardy perennials are incredibly easy to care for and thrive in partial to full shade, making them ideal for those tricky areas beneath trees or along the shaded sides of your home.

Why Hostas Are Great for Busy Homeowners:

• Low Water Needs: Once established, hostas are drought-tolerant and require minimal watering.
• Variety: With a range of sizes, colors, and textures, there’s a hosta for every taste, whether you prefer bold, large-leaved varieties or delicate, smaller ones.
• Low Pest Problems: Hostas are relatively pest-resistant, though you may need to occasionally guard against slugs in wet conditions.

In addition to their beauty, hostas are perennials, meaning they’ll return year after year with little effort on your part. They also pair well with other shade-loving plants such as ferns or astilbes, creating a lush, low-maintenance garden that thrives in Michigan's cooler, shaded areas.

Sedum, often called stonecrop, is one of the most drought-tolerant plants you can add to your garden. With thick, succulent leaves, sedum stores water, making it the perfect plant for homeowners who want vibrant garden beds without constant watering.

Benefits of Sedum for Ada Homeowners:

• Drought-Tolerant: Sedum’s water-retaining leaves mean you won’t need to water frequently, even in the hot summer months.
• Low Maintenance: It requires little attention beyond the occasional trimming to maintain its shape.
• Seasonal Interest: Sedum blooms in late summer to early fall with bright clusters of flowers, providing color late into the growing season.

Sedum is also versatile in design. It works beautifully as a ground cover, in rock gardens, or even in containers. There are many varieties available, from short, creeping types to taller, more upright varieties like ‘Autumn Joy,’ which produces bright pink flowers in the fall.

Daylilies are the epitome of a low-maintenance flowering plant. Their striking, colorful blooms and tolerance of various soil conditions make them a fantastic choice for busy homeowners looking for effortless beauty in their gardens.

Why Daylilies Stand Out:

• Minimal Watering: Once established, daylilies are drought-resistant and don’t require much supplemental water.
• Thrives in Different Soils: Whether your soil is sandy, loamy, or clay-heavy, daylilies will adapt and grow with ease.
• Long Blooming Period: While each individual bloom lasts only a day, daylilies produce a steady stream of flowers over several weeks or even months.

Daylilies come in a wide range of colors and sizes, and they grow well in both full sun and partial shade, making them a flexible addition to any landscape. For a truly maintenance-free experience, choose reblooming varieties like ‘Stella de Oro,’ which continue flowering throughout the growing season.

Lavender isn’t just beautiful; it’s also wonderfully fragrant and incredibly low-maintenance. Known for its striking purple flowers and silvery foliage, lavender thrives in full sun and poor soil, making it a perfect option for busy homeowners in Ada, MI.

What Makes Lavender a Great Choice:

• Drought-Tolerant: Once established, lavender requires very little water, especially if planted in well-draining soil.
• Pest and Deer Resistant: Lavender’s fragrant oils deter many common pests and animals, including deer, which can be a concern for Michigan homeowners.
• Long-Lived: Lavender is a perennial that will come back year after year with minimal care.

Lavender can be used in a variety of garden designs, from formal herb gardens to wildflower meadows. It’s also a great choice for attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies, making it a beautiful and beneficial addition to your landscape.

If you’re looking for a plant that offers a year-round structure with very little maintenance, boxwood is a classic choice. This evergreen shrub is ideal for creating neat hedges, borders, or even topiary, all while requiring minimal care.

Why Boxwood Is a Must-Have:



• Year-Round Interest: Unlike many other plants, boxwood remains green and lush even during the winter months.
• Easy to Shape: Boxwoods are slow-growing, meaning they only need occasional pruning to maintain their shape.
• Low Water and Fertilizer Needs: Boxwoods thrive with minimal watering and don’t require frequent fertilization.

Boxwood’s dense foliage also makes it an excellent backdrop for flowering perennials or a feature in formal garden designs. Its ability to withstand pruning and shaping means you can use it to create clean lines and structure in your garden without a lot of upkeep.