9 Easy-to-Grow, Flowering Plants to Elevate Your Home's Curb Appeal

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

With its sunny golden yellow petals, this flower will add vibrant color to your front yard. Plus, it's heat- and drought-resistant, and does well in sunny spots, so you don't need to worry about watering. If you have a yard that doesn't get much shade, this is one flowering plant that can take the heat.

Hardiness Zones: 3-9

Hydrangea

The hydrangea bush is a top choice when it comes to show-stopping blooms. And luckily, it doesn't require a ton of care. Choose a spot that gets partial shade, and ideally, you'll want rich, well-drained soil. Wait until the fall to plant a new hydrangea bush (which starts out as a root ball), but it will reward you with big, fluffy blooms each summer.

Consider Endless Summer hydrangeas, which bloom on both new and old wood, and you'll enjoy their flowers from spring through late fall. Plant just one hydrangea bush as a star of the garden, or line up several to create a beautiful, blooming hedge.

Hardiness Zones: 4-9

Daylily (Hemerocallis)

Besides bringing a burst of yellow, orange, and red to your landscaping, the hardy daylily will withstand heat, drought, and even curious pets. Just plant them in full sun, in moist, yet well-drained soil. Their big plus: They're known to bloom from spring until late summer, so your yard will look great all season long. And since they're perennials, they'll keep coming back for years.

Hardiness Zones: 3-8

Hardy Hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos)

When you want big, bold blooms that will keep coming back year after year, opt for hardy hibiscus (not to be confused with its close relative, tropical hibiscus). Hardy hibiscus shrubs do best in full sun, producing large red, white, yellow, and pink flowers, but can tolerate partial shade. Often admired for their dinner-plate-sized blooms, these plants will be the talk of the town.

Hardiness Zones: 5-9

Coneflowers (Echinacea)

Poor soil? Infrequent rain? No problem. The resilient coneflower will thrive despite drought and sandy soil, as long as it gets enough sun. As its name suggests, this flower has a cone-shaped center surrounded by pink, yellow, or orange petals. Bonus: The coneflower also landed on our list of plants that are sure to attract butterflies to your garden.

Hardiness Zones: 3-8

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

"When planting in hot, sunny spots, it’s tough to beat drought-tolerant lavender," says Justin Hancock, brand marketing manager at Costa Farms. "It bears spikes of fragrant flowers in summer, plus has delightful silvery-blue foliage that looks good and accents other plants from spring to fall (and even winter, in mild areas where it’s evergreen)." Another big advantage of lavender: It attracts butterflies and other pollinators.

Hardiness Zones: 5-8

Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)

This flower is "a real problem-solving plant," Hancock says. "It has a delightfully long bloom season (from late spring to early autumn), is relatively deer- and rabbit-resistant, holds up to drought, and attracts butterflies," he explains. You can find different varieties in shades of yellow, red, and orange, so there's a vibrant hue to match whatever color palette you're going for in the garden. The perfect plant does exist!

Hardiness Zones: 4-10

Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata)

"It may be tough to decide what’s your favorite quality about Garden Phlox. It might be its long bloom season (from midsummer to early fall) coupled with its sweet fragrance. It might be how it’s a reliable choice for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. Or it may be how versatile it is, as you can enjoy it in sun or part shade, sandy or clay soil," says Hancock. According to this plant pro, phlox is a must-have for front yards.

Hardiness Zones: 3-8

Perennial Geranium

Although perennials are ideal for a low-maintenance garden, since you don't have to replant them year after year, they tend to have shorter bloom times than annuals. "That makes some, like Rozanne perennial geraniums, extra-special for adding curb appeal. This low-growing (it reaches about a foot tall) plant blooms pretty much nonstop from June to frost, giving you a nearly constant display of beautiful lavender-blue flowers," Hancock explains.

Hardiness Zones: 5-8