12 Stunning Plants And Shrubs You Don't Need To Worry About Pruning

Designing a vibrant garden can be a fun project ... that is, until you realize how much maintenance is required for most plants. Pruning can feel especially daunting, as it takes time and energy that many would agree is better spent enjoying one's time outdoors. Thankfully, there are several stunning plants and shrubs that don't require any pruning to grow beautifully in your yard. These low-maintenance options are perfectly suited to those with busy schedules or who are new to the world of gardening.

If you choose your plants carefully, you can create a pretty backyard that doesn't require an overwhelming amount of work. Some trees and shrubs grow slowly into naturally attractive shapes, while others are, believe it or not, plants that thrive on neglect. For many of the species on this list, shaping is optional, allowing you to use your gardening shears for creativity versus constant maintenance. From trees to groundcovers, let's get into the wide range of plants that you'll never need to worry about pruning.

Although most woody, deciduous shrubs require a good trim from time to time, there's a pretty variety that stands out for its low-maintenance qualities. The piedmont azalea (Rhododendron canescens), also known as the mountain azalea, is a native beauty that typically grows near water sources like swamps and streams in parts of the eastern half of the United States. It features delicate pink, or sometimes white flowers that attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. When in bloom, this elegant shrub fills your garden with a soft fragrance. As long as its basic care requirements are met, it doesn't need much to thrive, and you'll only need to prune if you want denser growth.

Hardy in zones 5-9, this showy shrub grows best in partial shade and well-drained, acidic soil rich in organic matter. Regular watering is beneficial, especially during periods of drought. The piedmont azalea loves wet conditions, so don't let it dry out between waterings. Add mulch around the base to help retain moisture and prevent weeds. Once established, there isn't much more you'll need to do. Fertilizing once in early spring can be beneficial, though too much food can reduce flowering. To help encourage new blooms, remove faded flowers as needed.

If you want to brighten up your garden, look no further than the Show Off forsythia (Forsythia × intermedia 'Mindor'). Aptly named, this vibrant yellow showstopper is a hybrid shrub with upright growth that puts out golden flowers in late winter to early spring, depending on your location. It's a common border plant because its compact growth creates a beautiful, dense wall. While most borders require some shaping, the Show Off forsythia tends to maintain its shape without any outside help. However, a haircut here and there, if it gets unkempt, can help it retain its tidy appearance. The main reason you'd reach for your shears is to bring some of this shrub's beauty indoors as cut flowers.

Choose a spot in your yard or garden that receives full sun to part shade — but note that the more rays it receives, the more flowers it puts out. This shrub is hardy in zones 5-8 and thrives in evenly moist, well-drained soils but isn't picky about the pH or soil type. Growing up to six feet tall and wide, the Show Off forsythia may help keep your garden free of deer with its unpalatable leaves and flowers. Birds and bees, on the other hand, will flock to your garden for nectar or nesting.

Bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) are a gardener's favorite for several reasons. These stunning shrubs produce large, spherical clusters of vibrant blue or purple blooms that attract several pollinators to your yard. Despite their showy appearance, hydrangeas don't require very much upkeep, making them ideal for just about anyone who wants to add a splash of outdoor color. They don't need much (if any) pruning to thrive and produce their blooms. If you want to trim your shrub, you can do so in spring when you see new growth. However, you can deadhead or remove damaged branches at any time.

If you have an empty spot to fill in a shady place in your garden, bigleaf hydrangeas may be the perfect choice to brighten it up. Their large flowers can be several shades ranging from pinks to blues, depending on the soil's pH. Low acidity will cause them to produce pink colors, while high acidity will encourage blue blooms. They'll comfortably grow in a range of soil types as long as it's well-draining and stays moist. You can grow this low-maintenance plant in hardiness zones 5-9.

If you want to create a bird-friendly garden, consider the easy-to-care-for Indian hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis indica). This slow-growing shrub boasts fragrant pink or white blooms in spring, which give way to deep blue berries in winter. Growing three-to-six feet tall and wide, this plant rarely needs pruning to look and grow its best. Either shaping or trimming of Indian hawthorn is optional, and it should only be cut in late winter or early spring, just before new growth begins to emerge. The Indian hawthorn requires very minimal maintenance, making it perfect for gardeners who want a low-effort plant with year-round interest. 

Although you'll need to keep the soil moist for growing plants, this shrub becomes drought-tolerant once established. As long as it's in well-draining soil and a spot with at least eight hours of sunlight, it'll happily grow. It's even tolerant of sandy soils and salt spray, making it a beautiful addition to coastal gardens. Being hardy in zones 8-11, this showy plant does best in regions with hot summers and mild winters.

Inkberry holly (Ilex glabra) is evergreen, meaning it's a shrub that keeps its leaves all winter. Although not as showy as some others, its glossy green leaves and compact, rounded growth habit make it ideal for hedges or foundation plantings. In spring, tiny white flowers bloom, and if pollinated, develop into pea-sized black berries by fall ᅳ hence the common name. While most border plants will need trimming to maintain their shape, it's not totally necessary for inkberry holly. As the shrubs age, they tend to become a bit bare at the bottom, so you can thin out a few branches at the base in early spring to encourage growth, if desired.

Plant inkberry holly in well-draining, average, and acidic soil for it to grow its best. While it can tolerate poor-quality soils, this shrub cannot withstand conditions that are too alkaline. It's not too picky about the amount of sun it receives, so anywhere in your garden from full sun to full shade is acceptable. Hardy in zones 4-9, you can easily grow this shrub in many regions, whether you have mild or harsh winters. 

As other plants are wrapping up their blooming season, the Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) steps in to produce showy flowers during the hottest months of the year. Although this shrub may look exotic, it's incredibly easy to grow, so even beginner gardeners can enjoy its beautiful blooms without much effort. Growing up to 12 feet tall with up to a 10-foot spread, Rose of Sharon has a natural upright growth habit, so it takes little to no pruning to maintain its elegant shape. Instead, haircuts are based on personal preferences. Without pruning, the rose of Sharon will produce several smaller flowers, while regular trimming results in fewer blooms and larger flowerheads.

This flowering shrub can tolerate nearly any conditions and still thrive. You can plant it in locations with full sun to light shade and even place it in poor soils without worry. All your Rose of Sharon will ask of you is for plenty of moisture to put out its flowers. In regions with intense, hot afternoon sun, it can help to provide some shade in the middle of the day. While most hibiscus plants live in tropical regions, the Rose of Sharon is more versatile and will thrive in hardiness zones 5B to 9A.

While adding small trees to your yard or garden can create an aesthetic focal point and provide value to wildlife, they often come with some upkeep. The snowbird hawthorn (Crataegus x mordenensis 'Snowbird') is the exception to that rule, offering ornamental value throughout the seasons with minimal maintenance. In spring, both you and pollinators can enjoy the plentiful white flowers, which give way to attractive red berries for birds to snack on in fall. Unless you're using snowbird hawthorns to create a formal hedge, you can skip pruning and enjoy its natural growth. In fact, limiting pruning to every other year is more beneficial for wildlife, so it's a win-win.

This slow-growing tree grows best when planted in an area where it'll receive full sun. It isn't too particular about soil types and can thrive in a range of pH levels, though it should never sit in standing water. As long as the soil is well-drained, it'll thrive whether there's a period of drought or a few days of consecutive rainfall. Growing best in hardiness zones 3-7, nearly anyone can enjoy the benefits of growing this low-maintenance beauty.

If you live in a colder region, consider adding the easy-growing tamarack (Larix laricina) to your yard. The low-maintenance Tamarack thrives in frigid climates with cool summers and icy cold winters. This unique tree is covered in blueish-green needles that transform into a vibrant, golden yellow in fall before dropping in winter. It features a naturally conical shape that doesn't require maintenance to keep its appearance. Pruning is completely unnecessary, making this a top choice for gardeners who want a beautiful backyard with minimal effort.

Tamarack trees thrive in well-drained, acidic soils and prefer full sun but can tolerate partial shade. That said, they likely won't survive growing in fully shaded areas. They can adapt to a range of soil types and tolerate wet conditions, making them perfect for areas near water. Hardy in zones 2-5, you can expect tamarack trees to grow up to 80 feet tall and 30 feet wide once established. Although these trees generally don't require too much to grow well, know in advance that they cannot tolerate city pollution.

The slow-growing conica white spruce (Picea glauca 'Conica') is a perfect tree for smaller yards or gardens. In the first decade, it'll only reach modest heights of four feet tall and 18 inches wide.  Although it can eventually reach 13 feet tall and 10 feet wide, its average growth is only about 2-4 inches annually. This award-winning dwarf tree features layers of light green needles that transform into a pretty blue-green shade as it ages. Not only does it display pretty foliage, but it's also undemanding in terms of maintenance. Even if you have a conica white spruce living outside your home for decades, you'll never have to pick up the gardening shears.

Conica white spruce trees are full sun lovers but can tolerate some partial shade. They grow best in well-drained, slightly acidic soil with regular moisture. This is another species that is best suited for cooler climates, specifically zones 2-6, and has a hard time growing in regions with high amounts of heat and humidity. Because of their small stature, they're great little trees to grow in containers, but they also look nice in border plantings or cottage gardens. While birds will love stopping by and visiting your conica white spruces, deer tend to steer clear of them.

Adding more color and texture to your garden is as easy as planting apple blossom clematis (Clematis armandi 'Apple Blossom'). Featuring an abundance of fragrant, star-shaped flowers and attractive leathery, green foliage, this climber is sure to add some drama to nearly any area of your garden. You can grow this versatile plant in containers, on a trellis, or completely transform fixtures, like fences, that work as a climbing platform. Their pretty blooms are only more captivating when they attract pollinators, like butterflies and hummingbirds, to your garden. Although an apple blossom clematis can grow quite large, growing up to 20 feet tall with a 24-foot spread, they need minimal pruning: You'll only need to worry about cutting off unhealthy or dead parts.

Despite all that size and beauty, apple blossom clematis tend to be low-maintenance plants. They need plenty of sunlight to produce their showy blooms, so make sure to place them in an area that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. These flowers aren't picky about soil types or pH levels, though they must have well-draining soil to prevent standing water. Once established, they are relatively drought-tolerant, but they may need watering during dry or hot periods.

Aptly named, birds of paradise (Strelitzia reginae) are well-known and well-loved by many for their vibrant orange and blue flowers that resemble tropical birds, not to mention some wonderfully easygoing maintenance requirements. While the blooms are no doubt interesting to look at, the foliage is nearly just as attractive. The large leaves are glossy, elongated, and paddle-shaped and may be green, bluish-green, or grayish-green. Unlike many flowers, birds of paradise aren't pollinated by insects but rather by birds. As species like hummingbirds land to drink the nectar, their feet are covered in pollen, which they then transfer to other flowers as they move. This striking plant doesn't require any pruning. However, you should remove any dead or damaged leaves in spring.

To care for a birds of paradise plant, you must live in a more tropical climate with a hardiness zone of 10-12 as it cannot withstand cold temperatures. Although they thrive in a sunny area of your garden, a little afternoon shade helps protect them from flower burn. They do well in a wide range of pH levels but must have fertile, well-draining soil. This eye-catching plant looks great in nearly any area of your garden, whether alone or in groups.

Sedums, commonly known as stonecrops, are fleshy succulents that come in several shapes, sizes, and colors. These virtually maintenance-free plants add vibrance and texture whether you grow them in containers, use them as border plants, or as groundcovers. Although they produce flowers that pollinators love, the foliage is the main star of the show. With so many varieties to choose from, you can get the exact look you want, all of which require almost no upkeep. All you'll need to worry about is trimming them here and there if you want to control their growth. While you can cut back your plants when frost hits, leaving them alone over winter offers more visual interest during cooler months.

If you want to grow sedum, choose a sunny area of your garden with well-draining soil. Because they can tolerate dry and rocky conditions, stonecrops are ideal for trickier spots like rock gardens. As succulents, they store water in their leaves, making them incredibly drought-tolerant. In fact, giving them too much water is a recipe for disaster as it can lead to rot. Sedum is a diverse genus with varieties in hardiness zones ranging from 3-9, so you can easily find one that grows well in your region.