Perennials that multiply themselves are a gardener's dream come true. These self-propagating plants save time, money, and energy while creating lush, beautiful gardens that improve yearly.
They spread through various methods, such as rhizomes, seeds, or naturally dividing themselves. Look for low-maintenance plants that will fill your garden with minimal effort.
These 21 perennials do the hard work for you, multiplying year after year without needing to be replanted. They're perfect for busy gardeners or anyone who wants more beauty with less work.
1. Black-Eyed Susan
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) plants are sunshine in flower form, with golden petals and distinctive dark centers. These cheerful perennials are incredibly resilient, thriving in zones 3 to 9 with minimal care.
They spread rapidly through self-seeding and rhizome expansion, filling garden spaces with their bright blooms. These versatile flowers grow 1 to 3 feet tall and bloom from early summer through fall, providing months of color.
They attract butterflies, bees, and other beneficial pollinators to your garden. Black-Eyed Susans tolerate drought once established and aren't fussy about soil, making them perfect for beginner gardeners.
2. Daylily
Daylilies (Hemerocallis) are among the most reliable and prolific multipliers in the perennial world. These tough plants form expanding clumps that can be divided every few years, giving you free plants to spread throughout your garden.
They flourish in zones 3 to 9 and produce abundant trumpet-shaped blooms. Available in thousands of varieties and colors, daylilies offer something for every garden style.
Though each individual flower lasts just a day (hence the name), each plant produces many buds in succession for a long blooming period. They thrive in full sun to partial shade and adapt to most soil conditions, even tolerating road salt and poor drainage.
3. Hosta
Hostas are the undisputed champions of shade gardens, multiplying steadily into impressive clumps over time. These foliage superstars come in hundreds of varieties with leaves ranging from tiny to enormous and colors spanning blue-green, chartreuse, variegated, and more.
They're perfect for zones 3 to 9 and require minimal maintenance. Each spring, hostas emerge from the ground larger than the previous year, eventually forming substantial mounds.
They produce tall flower stalks in summer with white or lavender blooms that attract hummingbirds. Dividing hostas every 4 to 5 years keeps them healthy and gives you plenty of new plants to share or expand your collection.
4. Iris
Irises multiply through underground rhizomes that spread outward, creating new fans of foliage and flowers each year. These classic perennials offer some of the most intricate and beautiful blooms in the garden, with distinctive falls, standards, and beards creating their signature look.
Most varieties thrive in zones 3 to 9 and prefer full sun. Bearded iris varieties are particularly vigorous multipliers, often needing division every 3 to 4 years to maintain good blooming.
Their sword-like foliage provides vertical interest even when not in bloom. For best results, plant iris rhizomes just below the soil surface where they can bask in the sun, which helps prevent rot and disease.
5. Lily of the Valley
Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) spreads vigorously through underground rhizomes, quickly forming dense patches of lush green leaves and fragrant white bell-shaped flowers.
These shade-loving perennials thrive in zones 2 to 7, making them excellent ground covers for difficult spots under trees or along north-facing foundations. Lily of the Valley's sweet, intoxicating fragrance makes it a garden favorite despite its relatively short spring blooming period.
After flowering, the attractive foliage remains green through fall. Be mindful that this enthusiastic spreader may need boundaries to prevent it from overtaking more delicate plants; all parts are toxic if ingested.
6. Shasta Daisy
Shasta Daisies (Leucanthemum x superbum) bring classic charm to perennial gardens with their crisp white petals surrounding golden centers. These cheerful multipliers form expanding clumps and self-seed modestly, ensuring ongoing displays in zones 5 to 9.
They bloom profusely from early summer into fall, especially when deadheaded regularly. Standing 1 to 3 feet tall, Shasta Daisies make excellent cutting flowers and reliable garden performers.
They prefer full sun but tolerate partial shade, though with fewer blooms. Dividing the clumps every 2 to 3 years maintains their vigor and provides new plants to spread around your garden or share with friends.
7. Yarrow
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a vigorous self-spreader that combines feathery foliage with flat-topped flower clusters in white, yellow, pink, or red. This drought-tolerant perennial multiplies through root expansion and self-seeding, quickly filling spaces in zones 3 to 9.
Native varieties are particularly beneficial for pollinators and wildlife. The medicinal and ornamental qualities of yarrow have made it a garden staple for centuries.
It grows 2 to 3 feet tall and thrives in hot, dry conditions where many other plants struggle. Yarrow's naturalization ability makes it perfect for meadow gardens and low-maintenance landscapes, though occasional division helps control its spread.
8. Sedum
Sedums, particularly the low-growing varieties often called stonecrop, multiply readily by sending out stems that root wherever they touch soil. These succulent perennials offer incredible drought tolerance and year-round interest with their fleshy leaves and star-shaped flowers.
Most varieties perform well in zones 3 to 9 and prefer full sun. Taller sedum varieties like 'Autumn Joy' form expanding clumps that can be easily divided every few years.
Their late-season blooms provide crucial nectar for butterflies and bees when many other flowers have faded. Sedums require virtually no care once established, making them perfect for busy gardeners or neglected spots.
9. Bee Balm
Bee Balm (Monarda) creates spectacular displays of red, pink, or purple flowers while spreading enthusiastically through underground runners. This native perennial attracts pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, to gardens in zones 4 to 9.
The aromatic foliage adds another dimension of sensory appeal. Growing 2 to 4 feet tall, Bee Balm forms expanding patches that benefit from division every 2 to 3 years to maintain vigor and prevent center die-out.
It prefers moist, rich soil but adapts to various conditions. Some varieties are more resistant to powdery mildew than others, so look for these if your area has high humidity.
10. Coreopsis
Coreopsis (tickseed) multiplies through self-seeding and root expansion, creating daisy-like blooms throughout summer. These reliable perennials come in various heights and colors, primarily yellows and reds, making them versatile additions to zones 4 to 9.
Their finely cut foliage adds textural interest even when not in bloom. Once established, most coreopsis varieties are extremely drought-tolerant and attract beneficial insects to the garden.
They bloom for months, especially when deadheaded regularly. The thread-leaf varieties tend to be shorter-lived but self-seed so prolifically that they maintain their presence year after year without any effort on your part.
11. Lamb's Ear
Lamb's Ear (Stachys byzantine) spreads steadily through creeping stems that root as they grow, forming lush mats of velvety, silver-gray foliage. This tactile perennial is beloved for its soft, touchable leaves, which resemble a lamb's ear in texture.
It thrives in zones 4 to 8 and tolerates poor soil and drought conditions. While primarily grown for its distinctive foliage, Lamb's Ear also produces tall purple flower spikes in summer that attract bees.
The fuzzy leaves naturally repel deer and rabbits, making this an excellent choice for problem areas. Its spreading habit makes it perfect for ground cover, though it may need occasional thinning to prevent overcrowding.
12. Creeping Phlox
Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata) creates cascades of star-shaped blooms in spring, spreading to form dense mats of needle-like evergreen foliage. This low-growing perennial gradually expands through creeping stems that root along the ground, making it ideal for rock gardens, slopes, and edges in zones 3 to 9.
Available in white, pink, purple, and bi-colors, creeping phlox creates stunning spring displays, especially when allowed to spill over walls or between stepping stones.
It prefers full sun but tolerates partial shade, though flowering may be reduced. Once established, it requires minimal care and, with its dense growth habit, naturally suppresses weeds.
13. Ajuga
Ajuga (bugleweed) rapidly multiplies through runners, creating dense carpets of attractive foliage in shades of green, bronze, or variegated patterns. This vigorous ground cover thrives in zones 3 to 9 and adapts to both sun and shade, though it performs best with morning sun and afternoon shade in hotter regions.
In spring, ajuga produces spikes of blue, purple, or pink flowers that rise above the foliage mats. Its low-growing habit (4 to 8 inches tall) makes it perfect for suppressing weeds under trees or shrubs.
Different varieties offer various leaf colors and textures, allowing you to create interesting combinations in shady areas where few other plants thrive.
14. Hardy Geranium
Hardy Geraniums (cranesbill) gradually expand their territory by spreading rhizomes, creating larger clumps yearly. Unlike their annual cousins, these true perennials return reliably in zones 4 to 9, producing abundant saucer-shaped blooms in shades of blue, purple, pink, and white.
They bloom for months, especially when deadheaded. These adaptable plants thrive in sun or partial shade and tolerate various soil conditions. Some varieties, like Geranium macrorrhizum, spread more aggressively and make excellent ground covers.
Others form neat mounds that stay in place. After their long blooming season, all offer beautiful fall foliage color as a bonus.
15. Liriope
Liriope (lilyturf) forms expanding clumps of grass-like foliage topped with spikes of purple or white flowers in late summer. This sturdy perennial thrives in zones 5 to 10 and spreads slowly but steadily through underground rhizomes.
It tolerates deep shade to full sun, making it versatile for difficult spots. Available in both spreading and clumping varieties, liriope maintains its neat appearance year-round in warmer climates.
Its evergreen or semi-evergreen foliage adds winter interest, while the dark berries that follow the flowers provide additional seasonal appeal. Liriope requires almost no maintenance and withstands foot traffic, drought, and poor soil.
16. Echinacea
Echinacea (coneflower) multiplies through self-seeding and gradual clump expansion, ensuring its continued presence in perennial gardens. These native prairie plants produce distinctive flowers with raised centers and drooping petals in purple, white, yellow, orange, or red.
They thrive in zones 3 to 9 and attract numerous pollinators. Growing 2 to 5 feet tall, depending on the variety, echinacea creates vertical interest in garden beds while requiring minimal care.
They prefer full sun but tolerate partial shade and are remarkably drought-resistant once established. Leaving the seed heads in place through winter provides food for birds and increases self-seeding for more plants next year.
17. Mint
Mint is perhaps the most enthusiastic multiplier on this list, spreading rapidly through underground runners called stolons. This aromatic perennial comes in countless varieties, including peppermint, spearmint, chocolate mint, and apple mint, each with distinctive flavors.
Most thrive in zones 3 to 9 and adapt to sun or partial shade. Mint's vigorous spreading habit makes it ideal for contained areas or spots where rapid ground cover is desired.
Many gardeners grow it in pots or with barriers to prevent it from overtaking other plants. Fresh mint leaves flavor drinks, desserts, and savory dishes, making this multipurpose perennial beautiful and valuable.
18. Obedient Plant
Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana) creates elegant spikes of pink or white flowers while steadily expanding its territory through underground rhizomes. This native perennial earns its name from how individual flowers stay in position when moved, as if "obediently" following direction.
It grows 2 to 4 feet tall in zones 3 to 9. Despite its charming name, this plant can be vigorous in rich, moist soil and requires occasional management to prevent overtaking more delicate neighbors.
It blooms in late summer when many other perennials have finished, providing valuable late-season color and nectar for pollinators. Plant it where its spreading nature can be an asset rather than a problem.
19. Baptisia
Baptisia (false indigo) forms increasingly larger clumps, developing into impressive specimens that can live for decades. These native perennials produce lupine-like flower spikes in blue, purple, yellow, or white, followed by interesting seed pods that add winter interest.
They thrive in zones 3 to 9 and develop deep taproots that make them extremely drought-tolerant. Though slower to multiply than some perennials, baptisia compensates with its remarkable longevity and low maintenance requirements.
Growing 3 to 4 feet tall and equally wide at maturity, it needs space to develop its vase-shaped form. Once established, it rarely needs division and tolerates poor soil conditions that would challenge many other plants.
20. Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses like miscanthus, phnesetum, and panicum multiply reliably by forming ever-larger clumps year after year. These architectural plants add movement, texture, and sound to the garden with their swaying stems and feathery seed heads.
Most varieties perform well in zones 4 to 9, requiring minimal care once established. The variety of heights, colors, and textures in ornamental grasses makes them versatile design elements.
From short blue fescue to towering 12-foot miscanthus, there's a grass for every garden situation. Most prefer full sun, but some tolerate partial shade. Dividing every 3 to 5 years keeps them vigorous and provides new plants for expanding your collection.
21. Lungwort
Lungwort (Pulmonaria) gradually spreads into larger clumps of spotted or silver-splashed foliage that brightens shady areas year-round. This woodland perennial produces clusters of pink flowers that mature to blue in early spring, often when little else is blooming.
It thrives in zones 3 to 8 and prefers rich, moist soil and dappled shade. Lungwort's distinctively patterned leaves make it valuable for brightening dark corners of the garden.
Different varieties offer various leaf patterns, from light spotting to almost entirely silver. It combines beautifully with other shade lovers like hostas and ferns, creating textural interest in areas where many plants struggle.
Creating Your Self-Perpetuating Garden Paradise
These multiplying perennials offer endless possibilities for creating gardens that grow more beautiful and abundant each year with minimal effort. Combining fast spreaders with more restrained multipliers helps create balance while ensuring continuous coverage.
Remember that different plants spread at different rates, so plan accordingly. The key to success with self-multiplying perennials is starting with healthy plants in appropriate locations. Provide good soil preparation initially, then step back and let nature take its course.
Occasional division keeps plants vigorous and provides free plants to expand your garden or share with friends. What could be better than a garden that grows more beautiful by itself year after year?