Gardening enthusiasts across America have been drawn to specific plants that thrive in various climate conditions while adding beauty to outdoor spaces. These popular garden plants have earned their status through reliability, visual appeal, and the joy they bring to home gardens nationwide. From colorful annuals to hardy perennials, understanding which plants Americans love most can help you make informed choices for your garden paradise.
Creating a stunning garden starts with selecting the right plants. The following ranking showcases the most beloved plants in American gardens based on sales data, garden center popularity, and gardening forum mentions. These garden favorites have repeatedly proven themselves in landscapes from coast to coast.
15. Sedum (Stonecrop)
Sedum has become a staple in American gardens due to its remarkable drought tolerance and minimal maintenance requirements. This succulent perennial comes in various forms, from low-growing ground covers to upright varieties up to two feet tall. Sedums store water in their thick, fleshy leaves, perfect for dry and rock gardens where other plants might struggle.
Garden enthusiasts appreciate sedum for its late-season blooms, which provide essential nectar for pollinators when many other plants have finished flowering. The star-shaped flower clusters typically appear in shades of pink, red, or yellow, creating a stunning display from late summer into fall. As a bonus, many sedum varieties maintain attractive foliage year-round, adding winter interest to the garden.
14. Peony
Peonies reign as garden royalty with massive, fragrant blooms reaching up to 10 inches in diameter. These long-lived perennials often become family heirlooms, with some plants living productively for over 100 years when properly maintained. Their impressive blooms arrive in late spring to early summer in shades of white, pink, coral, and deep red, often filling the garden with sweet perfume.
American gardeners particularly value peonies for their reliability and disease resistance once established. They require minimal care beyond a yearly cleanup and occasional division every decade. Peonies also make exceptional cut flowers, lasting up to a week in vases, allowing gardeners to bring their garden's beauty indoors during the blooming season.
13. Lilac
Lilacs capture the hearts of American gardeners with their intoxicating fragrance, which signals that spring has truly arrived. These deciduous shrubs produce cone-shaped clusters of small, tubular flowers in various shades of purple, pink, white, and even yellow. A single mature lilac bush can perfume an entire yard during its blooming period in mid- to late spring.
Traditional lilacs can grow quite large, reaching 15 feet tall, but newer compact varieties fit perfectly into smaller modern gardens. Gardeners appreciate lilacs' longevity, with some specimens living and blooming for over a century. They're also remarkably cold-hardy, thriving in northern states where winter temperatures regularly dip below freezing.
12. Zinnia
Zinnias have earned their place among America's favorite annual flowers due to their vibrant colors and exceptional ease of growth. These sun-loving annuals bloom continuously from early summer until frost, providing months of color in garden beds and containers. Available in nearly every color except true blue, zinnias range from thumb-sized blooms to dinner-plate varieties exceeding six inches across.
Gardeners particularly value zinnias for their heat tolerance and ability to thrive during the hottest summer months when many other flowers struggle. They're also champion attractors of butterflies and other pollinators, making them valuable additions to wildlife gardens. Cut frequently for indoor arrangements, zinnia plants respond by producing even more blooms, creating a win-win situation for gardeners.
11. Impatiens
Impatiens have become the go-to annual for shaded garden spots across America, brightening dark corners with continuous blooms from spring until frost. These versatile flowers come in a rainbow of colors, including white, pink, red, orange, purple, and bicolors. Their ability to flower profusely in conditions where most blooming plants struggle makes them invaluable to gardeners with shade.
Traditional impatiens faced challenges with downy mildew in recent years, but new resistant varieties have reclaimed their popularity. Gardeners appreciate their self-cleaning nature—no deadheading required—and their adaptability to in-ground planting and containers. Their shallow root systems make them perfect for underplanting trees and shrubs where deeper-rooted plants might struggle.
10. Hosta
Hostas have revolutionized shade gardening in America with stunning foliage ranging from tiny miniatures to massive specimens with leaves larger than dinner plates. These perennials come in countless varieties featuring blue, green, gold, or variegated leaves with different textures and shapes. While primarily grown for foliage, many hostas produce attractive lavender or white flower spikes in summer.
Gardeners value hostas for their exceptional shade tolerance and ability to thrive in challenging spots beneath trees and along north-facing foundations. Once established, they're remarkably low-maintenance, needing only occasional division every few years to maintain vigor. Their only significant vulnerability is to deer and slugs, which find their succulent leaves irresistible in some regions.
9. Marigold
Marigolds have earned their status as garden workhorses through generations of American gardens, offering reliable color from spring until frost. These annual flowers produce pompom-like blooms in warm shades of yellow, orange, and red that capture sunshine even on cloudy days. Their distinctive spicy scent may deter some garden pests, adding practical value beyond their ornamental qualities.
Gardeners appreciate marigolds for their extreme ease of growth from seed, making them perfect for introducing children to gardening. They perform exceptionally well in hot, sunny locations where many other annuals might falter. And as companion plants in vegetable gardens, marigolds have long been believed to help repel certain harmful nematodes and insects from valuable crops.
8. Hydrangea
Hydrangeas capture gardeners' hearts with their massive flower heads that create dramatic summer displays in gardens across America. These deciduous shrubs produce blooms in shades of blue, pink, white, or green, with some varieties changing color based on soil pH. The flowers often persist well into fall, gradually evolving to attractive antique tones as they age.
Modern breeding has dramatically expanded hydrangea options, with varieties now available for every garden situation, from full sun to deep shade. Gardeners value reblooming varieties that produce flowers on both old and new wood, ensuring blooms even after harsh winters or improper pruning. Their excellent vase life as cut flowers and ability to be dried for permanent arrangements add to their enduring popularity.
7. Petunia
Petunias remain among America's favorite garden flowers due to their incredible bloom power and versatility in the landscape. These annual flowers produce trumpet-shaped blooms in virtually every color imaginable, including stripes, stars, and picotee patterns. Modern breeding has created varieties that resist stretching, shrug off rain damage, and continue blooming without deadheading.
Gardeners value petunias for their adaptability to containers, hanging baskets, and in-ground plantings. Wave petunias revolutionized landscape use with their spreading habit, covering up to four square feet per plant with continuous color. Their ability to bloom from spring planting until hard frost provides exceptional value for gardeners seeking long-lasting floral displays.
6. Daylily
Daylilies have earned the nickname "perfect perennial" thanks to their adaptability to nearly any growing condition across America. These hardy plants produce lily-like blooms in an astonishing range of colors, patterns, and forms, with modern hybrids offering ruffled, doubled, or spider-form flowers. While individual blooms last just one day, each plant produces dozens of buds that open in succession for weeks of display.
Gardeners value daylilies for their remarkable resilience in the face of drought, poor soil, and neglect once established. They require minimal maintenance beyond occasional division every few years when clumps become overcrowded. Depending on the variety, bloom times range from early summer to fall, and strategic selection can provide continuous color throughout the growing season.
5. Coneflower (Echinacea)
Coneflowers have surged in popularity as American gardeners embrace native plants that support local ecosystems. These prairie natives produce daisy-like flowers with raised central cones that serve as landing pads for butterflies and bees. While purple was once the only color option, modern breeding has introduced white, yellow, orange, red, and even green-flowered varieties.
Gardeners particularly appreciate coneflowers for their exceptional drought tolerance once established and their long blooming period from midsummer into fall. The seedheads remain attractive through winter, providing food for goldfinches and other birds while adding architectural interest to the winter garden. Their medicinal properties as immune-boosting herbal remedies add another dimension to their garden value.
4. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)
Black-eyed Susans bring a splash of sunny yellow to American gardens with cheerful daisy-like flowers featuring distinctive dark central cones. These native prairie plants bloom profusely from midsummer into fall, creating masses of color when many other perennials have finished flowering. Their natural meadow look complements both formal and informal garden styles.
Gardeners value Black-eyed Susans for their remarkable adaptability to different soil types and ability to thrive despite heat, humidity, and drought. They self-seed readily without becoming invasive, gradually forming naturalized colonies that require little maintenance. Their strong stems make them excellent cut flowers, and their seed heads provide valuable winter food for songbirds.
3. Tomato
Tomatoes consistently rank as America's most popular edible garden plant, with more home gardeners growing tomatoes than any other vegetable or fruit. These versatile plants produce fruits ranging from tiny cherry varieties to massive beefsteaks weighing over two pounds each. Colors span the spectrum from traditional red to yellow, orange, purple, and even striped varieties.
Gardeners appreciate tomatoes' exceptional flavor compared to store-bought alternatives and the incredible diversity of varieties unavailable through commercial channels. Even in small spaces, tomatoes can be grown successfully in containers on patios and balconies. And the satisfaction of harvesting sun-warmed fruits directly from the vine represents the essence of the home gardening experience for millions of Americans.
2. Rose
Roses maintain their status as garden royalty despite their reputation for demanding care. Modern breeding has created varieties that combine classic beauty with improved disease resistance. These iconic flowering shrubs now come in low-maintenance landscape varieties alongside the traditional hybrid teas prized for cutting. Colors range from pure white to yellow, pink, red, orange, and even lavender blends.
American gardeners particularly value roses for their unmatched fragrance and ability to flower repeatedly throughout the growing season. Knock-out roses revolutionized landscape use by providing months of color with minimal maintenance requirements. Roses' emotional and cultural significance, from romance to remembrance, adds depth to their garden presence that few other plants can match.
1. Heirloom Tomato
Heirloom tomatoes have claimed the top spot among American garden plants by combining edible practicality with extraordinary diversity and flavor. These open-pollinated varieties passed down through generations offer unique characteristics that mass-produced hybrids can't match. With names like 'Brandywine,' 'Cherokee Purple,' and 'Green Zebra,' these tomatoes bring history and personality to the garden.
Gardeners treasure heirloom tomatoes for their exceptional flavor profiles, which range from intensely sweet to rich and complex with balanced acidity. Their unusual colors, shapes, and patterns create visual interest that makes vegetable gardens as ornamental as they are productive. The ability to save seeds from year to year, unlike with hybrid varieties, appeals to gardeners seeking self-sufficiency and connection to agricultural traditions.
Creating Your Dream Garden with America's Favorites
America's most popular garden plants have earned their status through proven performance in diverse growing conditions nationwide. From the practical joy of harvesting your own tomatoes to the sensory delight of fragrant roses and lilacs, these garden favorites offer something for every gardener, regardless of experience level or available space.
Your personal plant selections should reflect both regional growing conditions and your unique gardening goals. Mix several of these tried-and-true favorites with experimental choices to create a garden that expresses your personality while providing reliable beauty throughout the seasons. Start small, learn as you grow, and discover which of America's favorite garden plants will become your own personal classics.
If you're hoping to support nighttime pollinators, check out 17 Beautiful Plants That Attract Moths and Nighttime Pollinators.