Fourteen Plants That Are Really Hard to Kill

Brenna Tichy — Tue, 05 May 2026 18:26:21 +0000

Black-Eyed Susans at Herring Run Nursery. —Courtesy of Herring Run Nursery via Facebook

If you’ve always considered yourself the Grim Reaper of plants, we’ve got good news—you’re not alone. But the secret to having a plentiful backyard isn’t always being born with a green thumb. Instead, Carrie Engel, retail greenhouse manager at Valley View Farms, suggests adhering to the following formula: “Right plant, right place—and like what you’re doing.”

And Robert Jenkins, nursery manager at Herring Run Nursery, says a little maintenance can go a long way—prep the soil, add compost, and water regularly for the first few months. “Beyond that, you just sit there and watch Mother Nature do what Mother Nature is supposed to do,” he says. Engel also suggests simply walking around your yard. “The people who are successful, they’re the ones who go out in the morning with a cup of coffee and see what’s going on.”

Here are 14 plants that will be really hard for you to kill.

SPRING BLOSSOMS

Woodland phlox: This is a native plant with fragrant, soft-colored petals. “I think it’s one of the most attractive spring-blooming shade plants there is,” Jenkins says. Once established, it becomes a low-maintenance perennial.

Moss phlox: A fun, tolerant, and straightforward bloom, moss phlox is available in many different colors. A low-growing groundcover, it will thrive in sunny spots and present semi-evergreen foliage throughout the season.

Virginia bluebells: While this early native bloomer is quick to come and go, its spectacular color has earned it the top spot among many experts, including Jenkins. Buds fill shady garden floors then gracefully disappear until next year.

SUMMER STARS

Black-eyed Susans: Maryland’s state flower is as tough as it is cheerful. Engel says it’s a “wonderful native [but] a later bloomer” that is drought-tolerant and pollinator-friendly.

Foamflower: If you’re searching for a native groundcover alternative to pachysandra—considered invasive by many—check out foamflower. Known for its white flowers, it makes for a great filler in shady woodland spaces.

Goldenrod: These bright yellow, deer-resistant native wildflowers are an underrated late-summer standout. Jenkins calls it, “One of the best plants to have in your garden” for fall pollinator support.

Mountain Mints: Plentiful but valuable, Jenkins says that “mountain mints are great for pollinator support in the summertime” and thrive in Maryland soil. Mountain mint smells more sharply than traditional mint and is usually grown to attract bees and butterflies.

RIPE VEGGIES

Green Beans: “Beans are very easy,” Engel says. Just be sure to harvest frequently to encourage more production. Planted from seed, expect to see direct results within a matter of weeks.

Radishes: “If you have kids who are wanting to get into gardening a little bit, plant a radish seed,” Engel says. In about 21 days, they should be ready to be pulled right out of the ground.

Kale & other cool-season greens: The base for many salads requires little preparation. Planting greens in the cooler weather will ensure a more reliable crop. “Don’t try to plant broccoli in the summertime,” Engel cautions.

Bush (Determinate) Tomatoes: Engel recommends full-sun, compact bush tomatoes for beginners. They’re easier to manage than the towering alternatives and produce most of their tomatoes at once.

NON-NEEDY HERBS

Oregano: Once established, oregano shrugs off high heat and inconsistent watering, making it ideal for beginners. As a bonus, you will have made the perfect addition to any pizza or pasta.

Lavender: A calming fragrance is just one of the countless benefits of planting lavender. In order to improve success, it requires plenty of drainage, a sunny spot, and minimal fertilizer.

Mint: Mint is one plant that is nearly indestructible. Plant in pots unless you’re prepared for it to spread—it’s perfect for patios.

Source

Experts Share Their Tips for Creating the Perfect Community Garden

Lauren Cohen — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 15:54:33 +0000

What draws people to community gardens? For some, it’s the sense of accomplishment and thrill that comes from harvesting their own fruits, flowers, and vegetables. For others, it’s the simple therapeutic pleasure of creating and caring for beautiful, outdoor spaces.

For Naomi Goldstick Rosner, it was the chance to meet neighbors that sparked her interest in carving out a vegetable garden in the backyard of her Mount Washington home about 10 years ago.

“I posted on Listserv that I had a lot of space in my yard, and if anybody wanted to do vegetable gardening with me, I’d be happy to,” says Goldstick Rosner, who, along with her husband, had recently moved to the Victorian-era neighborhood from Houston, Texas.

When more than 20 interested neighbors responded to her post, she sought the advice of Baltimore Green Space’s founder and then-director Miriam Avins, who advised Goldstick Rosner to contact Master Gardener Larry Kloze. It didn’t go to plan.

“He looked at my plot and said, ‘It’s too small, and it doesn’t get enough sun. You need to go find more land,’” she recalls with a laugh—so she found it in Mount Washington’s Northwest Park. In 2011, the 4.9- acre parcel became home to the Eric Waller Community Vegetable Garden, named after a late neighbor who was an avid gardener and beekeeper.
Nearly a decade later, Goldstick Rosner’s most-loved aspect of the communal garden she founded with Kloze remains its members.

“The fun and amazing part to me is coming together with people who I wouldn’t have otherwise met,” she says. “We work well together.” Of course, it’s also a good way to connect with neighbors while social distancing—as long as your plots are more than six feet apart.

With more than 300 community spaces throughout Charm City, those looking to put down roots at a neighborhood patch have plenty of options to choose from.

“Community gardens are popping up all the time, especially in Baltimore,” says Marcus Jerome Williams, the head of University of Maryland’s Master Gardener Extension Program. The challenge, he says, is finding out where they are—and how to reach the organizers.

“For some community gardens, the leadership changes quite rapidly,” Williams says, and leadership contact information isn’t always available to the public.

But when it comes to connecting with the right people, as well as learning what to plant—and how to plant it—there are plenty of organizations throughout the city to help guide prospective gardeners.

“The University of Maryland, Parks and People, The Orchard Project, Tree Baltimore—all of those places can provide you with support,” says Katie Lautar, executive director of Baltimore Green Space, who also shared some tips for those looking to start their own community gardens.

“If you don’t already know what lot you want, connect with the Adopt-a-Lot program and give Baltimore Green Space a call,” she says. “If you know what lot you want to work on, it’s about finding out who the owner is and getting permission to be on the land.”

Next to ensuring that a space has adequate sun and a reliable water source, Lautar says her best piece of advice for gardeners is to “start with what you have and keep going.”

“Miriam, our founder, always used to say, ‘You don’t build the house all at once,’” she recalls. “If you needed every single piece to put the house together, you might not start.”
To that end, Williams, who first started gardening three decades ago on his family’s eight acres in Suffolk, Virginia, advises new gardeners that it’s okay to fail.

“If it doesn’t work the first time, it’s fine,” he says. “It’ll work next season.”

Source

gardening tips – Baltimore Magazine

Fourteen Plants That Are Really Hard to Kill

Experts Share Their Tips for Creating the Perfect Community Garden