Budget-Friendly Plants
All images: RDA, Inc./GID
Most of us toil in our gardens because we want to add vibrant color and life to an other wise monochromatic yard. As such, wouldn't it be great to have a roster of "go-to" plants that you could always count on for color? And if they're easy-care and affordable, so much the better! That's exactly what you'll find on the following pages: our top picks for big, easy color. These plants are guaranteed to please the eye and move the spirit—and keep more money in your pocket. You can bank on it!
Roses
Botanical name: Rosa species and cultivars.
Hardiness: Varies, generally Zones 5 to 9.
Bloom time: Summer.
Size: 1 to 5 feet tall and wide.
Flowers: Every color except blue, plus many blends.
Light: Full sun.
Soil: Fertile, organically rich, well-draining.
Growing advice: Provide a firm foundation with an ample hole and good soil.
Backyard appeal: Delivers bountiful, beautiful color all summer—often matched by delicious fragrance.
Ornamental Sage
Botanical name: Salvia officinalis
Hardiness: Zones 4 to 8.
Bloom time: Summer.
Size: 1 to 3 feet tall and wide.
Flowers: Small, purple, pink or white.
Light: Full sun to partial shade.
Soil: Average, well-draining.
Growing advice: A great addition to mixed beds and decorative container displays.
Backyard appeal: Distinctive foliage is pretty, colorful, smells nice and remains handsome all summer long—even in heat.
Croton
Botanical name: Codiaeum cultivars.
Hardiness: Zones 4 to 8.
Bloom time: None (see below).
Size: 3 to 6 feet tall; 2 to 4 feet wide.
Flowers: Rarely appear; grown for its colorful foliage.
Light: Full sun to partial shade.
Soil: Moist, well-draining.
Growing advice: Don't let them dry out.
Backyard appeal: Bright, cheery cultivars with multicolored leaves supply dependable, long-term color in mild weather.
Cosmos
Botanical name: Cosmos bipinnatus.
Hardiness: Annual.
Bloom time: Summer.
Size: 2 to 5 feet tall; 1 to 2 feet wide.
Flowers: Pink, white, red and lavender.
Light: Full sun.
Soil: Average to poor, well-draining.
Growing advice: Avoid fertile, organically rich soil; the plants get floppy and don't bloom as well. After last frost, buy seeds and scatter them.
Backyard appeal: Pretty, bountiful color—with ease.