They do very well as in-ground border plants but even better in containers. They have a winning combo of bright showy foliage (red, pink, rose, salmon, orange, lavender, violet, or white) and interesting leaves that are sort of shaped like clovers. Geraniums are easy to grow and inexpensive to purchase at nurseries in San Diego. For example, ingesting parts of a sago palm can be fatal to dogs while pygmy date palms have thorns at the base of their fronds. Keep in mind that some palms may not suit your lifestyle. Smaller palms to consider include ponytail palms, sago palms, kentia palms and pygmy date palms. The green design also involves multi-story glass window so the palms receive plenty of natural light. In fact, the San Diego International Airport installed 30′ giant palms in containers near baggage claim in Terminal 2. However, they can handle broken stems, irregular water and general neglect like champs.Ī number of palm trees grow well in containers inside and out. Because their inclination is to root, leaves fall off easily. In shade, ghost plants are a blue-gray color but in the sun, they take on an orange-pink color. Ghost plants are one of the easiest succulents to grow and they change color, too. Ghost plant is a sedum though their rosettes look like echeverias so you get the best of two succulent worlds. Eventually, stems will grow while the rosettes remain on the ends, making an excellent choice for cascading over the sides of pots. Keep it trimmed for a healthy, bushier look and otherwise plan to water it deeply two times per month. Though it can grow up to 40′ in the wild, indoors it’s easily good for 2-3′. Pothos leaves wilt and a few will brown and drop when it’s time to water, giving plant owners a hint before hitting the point of no return. This is another grow it and forget about it plant that dazzles in hanging planters. Though aloe vera is typically sold as young plants, large plants fit very well in modern gardens outdoors alone in large pots. Aloe vera is upright and spiky though some varieties have spots while others don’t. It does prefer bright light, but does not like it when its leaves touch the soil. The color is just a bit more faded than it would otherwise be.Īloe vera grows pretty slowly but does have the added benefit of serving as a home remedy by breaking off a leaf and using the sap for healing purposes. It’s recommended that you plant it in partial shade, but I have it in a full-sun exposure. The upshot is that if one breaks, you can replant it elsewhere. Stems can reach lengths of up to 3′ but they are fragile so avoid handling them, if you can. If you can err on the side of forgetfulness, they have a better shot.Īnother succulent, burro’s tail (or donkey’s tail) is often seen cascading over the sides of hanging container plants as well as other succulent arrangements. Kalanchoe often fall into the category of easy-care, but it’s very easy to overwater them and rot their roots. I have mine in a round pot with kalanchoe succulents around it that bloom in various colors. With it’s pointed, upright leaves that can reach 3-4′ tall, mother-in-law’s tongue is brilliant for architectural interest and often seen in modern home decor alone in a variety of container styles. I have it in a container on my front porch where it receives a few hours of bright light-not direct sunlight-per day in an otherwise shady spot. Jade plants need light and have shallow roots so be mindful that they can topple over if too top heavy.ĭespite its terrible name, I can personally vouch for the ease of t his plant. It’s a succulent which means the larger and more plentiful the leaves, the more water the plant can hold.

Many prefer the silver jade plant (pictured above) in containers because the paddle-like leaves are a bit bigger, less common and prettier with their red edging and silver-green coloring.

Most any variety of jade plant is low maintenance because of its ability to tolerate neglect and less-than-ideal growing conditions. Without further ado, check out these options. These plants can be used both indoors and outdoors though keep in mind that containers outside dry faster because of increased air circulation, sunshine, and heat distribution from pavers or concrete. Are you the type of person who occasionally (or frequently) forgets to water and/or fertilize container plants? If so, this list is for you.

Low maintenance plants