One of the most enchanting parts of growing plants is that many of them can live for an incredibly long time, perhaps even outliving yourself! It’s a really endearing feature of them, as they may live to meet your children, your grandchildren, or perhaps even beyond! Obviously, this isn’t the case for all plants, but with the following species, you can be sure that, with the right care, they’ll stay in your garden for generations.
Peonies
First on our list are peonies, a plant known for their impressive, fragrant blooms that fill gardens with a soft beauty year after year. Once they’re comfortably settled in your garden bed, they may live for decades, with some peonies blooming beautifully for over a century. Their large, ruffled flowers come in many colors, making them a timeless choice for any garden, so plant them today, and your future generation will thank you.
Lavender
Lavender adds a touch of gentle fragrance and charm to any garden that feels like a familiar friend. This is especially the case considering that they live for a very long time, growing stronger each season and adapting well to dry soils, which helps them stand the test of time. Better still, its silver-green foliage and vibrant purple blooms attract bees and other pollinators, making for a productive garden for years to come.
Roses
Few plants capture the essence of a garden quite like roses. With careful pruning and a little attention, these flowering shrubs can live for decades, though their lifespan varies by type and care. Hardy species and heirloom roses, in particular, reward gardeners with fragrant blooms each year, reminding us why roses are cherished symbols of endurance.
Hostas
Another plant that will stay in your garden for generations is the hosta, a shade-loving perennial that thrives quietly and steadily in the garden, spreading its lush green leaves over the years. They add a variety of textures, including deep greens and vibrant variegations, without demanding much fuss. Over time, hostas can grow wider and fuller, creating a calming ground cover that brings a sense of quiet longevity.
Hellebores
Otherwise known as Lenten roses, hellebores bring charm to early spring gardens with blooms that often push through late winter’s chill. These perennials don’t mind shady spots and can handle cooler climates, growing tougher with each passing season. As they settle in, hellebores spread gently, filling shady corners with evergreen leaves and timeless flowers.
Daylilies
For a hardy perennial that could last a lifetime, consider planting some daylilies, flowers that will no doubt reward you with bright, trumpet-shaped blooms each summer. Despite their name, daylilies last far longer than a day, multiplying and spreading year by year, requiring little upkeep to keep them flourishing.
Sedum
Also nicknamed the stonecrop, the Sedum is a steadfast perennial that brings immense texture and subtle color to yards. Notably, it thrives in poor soil and withstands harsh sun, making it a low-maintenance, high-impact choice. What’s more, Sedum grows in clusters, spreading quietly each season, forming mats of tiny flowers and fleshy leaves that add visual interest all year long and for years to come.
Irises
Irises stand as proud bursts of color in spring and are known for their resilience and elegance. Thanks to their sword-like foliage and bold, regal flowers, they make a striking statement in any garden, growing from rhizomes that multiply each year, creating a sea of blooms with minimal care and rewarding you with an annual show of color and form.
Lilacs
Anyone who has grown lilacs before will know that they provide a fragrant, nostalgic touch to garden spaces that become richer with each passing year. Once established, these flowering shrubs can live for generations, filling spring air with their unmistakable scent. As a result, it’s quite likely that your children will grow to enjoy the same clusters of lavender, pink, or white flowers that you planted many years before.
Ferns
The natural elegance of ferns offers a sense of peace and permanence to shaded garden areas, making them particularly easy to grow. Better still, many varieties of ferns are perennial and spread slowly, covering the ground with lush, feathery fronds. Low-maintenance and sturdy, ferns add a sense of natural woodland beauty, blending into their surroundings as if they’ve always been there.
Hydrangeas
Gardeners are often besotted with hydrangeas, as their voluminous blooms change color based on soil acidity, adding a bit of surprise to each season. These shrubs thrive in both sun and shade and can grow impressively large, creating a lasting presence in the garden. Ultimately, with minimal pruning, hydrangeas become beautiful, enduring fixtures year after year.
Boxwood
Another plant that will stay in your garden for generations is the boxwood, a classic evergreen shrub known for its longevity and versatility in shaping garden landscapes. It’s often used in hedges or as a standalone accent but will, either way, bring structure to gardens of any kind. Best of all, boxwood plants can grow for decades if tended well, with their lush, green foliage holding its shape through winter’s chill and summer’s warmth alike.
Japanese Maple
Trees don’t get much more sturdy and long-living than Japanese maples, which will undoubtedly give off plenty of elegance and color. Their delicate, lace-like leaves shift hues throughout the seasons and are remarkably hardy, often living for generations. So, plant a Japanese maple tree in your garden, and who knows–perhaps it will live to meet your grandchildren.
Phlox
Phlox is a perennial that creates a carpet of color in spring or summer, depending on the variety. World-renowned for its resilience, it spreads naturally and can thrive with little intervention, continuing to offer its fragrant flowers to pollinators, even in neglectful situations. Overall, you can count on it to bring life to your garden season after season and for its cheerful blooms to continue growing stronger each year.
Yarrow
If you’re looking for a resilient, drought-tolerant perennial that grows easily in most gardens, look no further than the yarrow. This delightful plant will spread its clusters of flat-topped flowers in soft pastel shades, offering feathery foliage and long-lasting blooms that the summer season can rely on. What’s more, this plant self-seeds, ensuring that it returns each year, so as long as its minimal care needs are met, who knows how long it could last?
Heuchera
Commonly known as coral bells, heuchera is a low-growing perennial that brings plenty of texture and color with its vibrant leaves and dainty flowers. Conveniently, these plants thrive in shaded spots, brightening dark corners with a range of leaf colors which include deep burgundy and lime green. Heuchera also spreads gently over the years, adding beauty without overwhelming the space it occupies.
Bee Balm
Bee balm is another perennial on this list that features cheerful blooms that pollinators will love, so it will brighten up not just your garden but also your other plants. Its fragrant flowers add a bit of wild charm, and once it’s rooted, bee balm spreads gradually, filling garden beds with a friendly splash of red, pink, or purple. Overall, as long as your soil quality isn’t terrible, you can expect bee balm to keep coming back every year.
Holly
The final generational plant on this list is holly, a strong evergreen shrub that lends a sense of timeless structure to gardens, thanks to its glossy leaves and clusters of bright red berries in winter. Famous for its Christmas cheer and longevity, Holly will continue to grow for generations if tended properly, no doubt enhancing the festive season each year. So, plant some today in your garden, preferably within a hedge, and perhaps your future family can keep it going.