Gardening in Missouri comes with its own set of challenges, from scorching summers to freezing winters. Luckily, some perennials actually thrive when left alone in our unpredictable climate.
These tough plants don’t just survive neglect – they seem to bloom more vigorously without constant fussing, making them perfect for busy gardeners or natural landscapes.
1. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Golden petals radiating around chocolate centers create a cheerful display from June through October. Native to Missouri prairies, these wildflowers actually produce more blooms when left undisturbed in sunny spots.
Their drought tolerance makes them perfect for those dry summer weeks when watering becomes a chore. Once established, they’ll self-seed freely, creating natural drifts that look more impressive than carefully planned gardens.
2. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Striking purple-pink petals surround spiky copper centers on these native beauties. Butterflies, bees, and even goldfinches flock to coneflowers, turning your neglected garden into a wildlife haven.
Deep taproots help them withstand Missouri’s summer droughts without supplemental water. Leave the seedheads standing through winter – they’ll feed birds and reseed naturally, expanding your garden while you do absolutely nothing.
3. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Airy clouds of lavender-blue flowers float above silvery foliage from July until frost. Russian sage practically begs to be ignored – pruning and pampering actually reduce its impressive 4-foot display of color.
Extremely drought-tolerant once established, it thrives in Missouri’s clay soils and summer heat. Deer and rabbits avoid its aromatic foliage, making it perfect for problem areas where other plants get munched.
4. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Flat-topped flower clusters in white, yellow, or pink crown ferny foliage that stays attractive all season. Missouri’s humidity doesn’t faze yarrow – in fact, too much water and fertilizer make it flop over pathetically.
Ancient warriors once used yarrow to stop bleeding on battlefields. Today, this tough plant brings the same resilience to gardens, spreading slowly to form drought-resistant patches that bloom more profusely when neglected.
5. Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Vibrant orange flower clusters erupt from sturdy stems in early summer, creating a beacon for monarchs and other butterflies. Native to Missouri prairies, butterfly weed develops a deep taproot that makes it incredibly drought-resistant.
Attempting to transplant or divide this beauty often leads to failure. Simply plant it in a sunny spot with decent drainage and walk away – your hands-off approach will be rewarded with increasingly spectacular blooms year after year.
6. Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)
Purple flower spikes reaching skyward create vertical drama from July through August. Missouri’s native blazing stars actually bloom more prolifically in poor soil – fertilizing produces lush foliage at the expense of flowers.
Goldfinches perch acrobatically on spent blooms to feast on seeds in fall. The plant’s corm-like roots store energy through winter, allowing it to survive drought, flooding, and temperature extremes that would kill fussier perennials.
7. Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’
Succulent leaves provide year-round structure, while flat-topped flower clusters transform from pale pink to copper as summer turns to fall. Sedums actually develop better color and sturdier stems when soil is poor and water is scarce.
Bees swarm the nectar-rich blooms in late summer when other flowers have faded. Even winter brings interest as frost crystals form on the dried seedheads – all without you lifting a finger except perhaps to admire.
8. False Indigo (Baptisia australis)
Spires of violet-blue pea-like flowers emerge in spring above attractive blue-green foliage. Once established, false indigo forms a shrub-like presence that never needs staking, dividing, or fussing.
Native to Missouri’s prairies, its deep roots seek out moisture far below the surface. Interesting rattling seedpods follow the flowers, providing winter interest and self-seeding just enough to expand your garden naturally without becoming invasive.
9. Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum)
Massive mauve flower clusters tower 5-7 feet high by late summer, creating a spectacular backdrop in any garden. Despite its size, this Missouri native never needs staking – its sturdy stems stand tall through storms and strong winds.
Butterflies flock to the nectar-rich blooms while goldfinches feast on seeds later. Growing in moist areas naturally, Joe-Pye becomes surprisingly drought-tolerant once established, making it ideal for gardeners who forget to water.
10. Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’)
Arching sprays of golden yellow flowers explode across the garden from August through October. Contrary to popular belief, goldenrod doesn’t cause allergies – it’s actually a beneficial plant that supports over 100 butterfly and moth species.
Missouri’s native goldenrods thrive in poor soil and neglect. The ‘Fireworks’ variety stays compact and well-behaved, unlike some of its aggressive cousins. Plant it and forget it – nature will handle the rest.
11. Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium)
Clouds of small daisy-like purple flowers completely cover this shrubby plant in September and October. Missouri gardeners appreciate how aromatic aster thrives in our challenging clay soils without amendments or special care.
Bees and butterflies swarm to these late-season blooms when other flowers have faded. Unlike fussier asters, this native species resists mildew and other fungal problems despite our humid climate, looking better when left completely alone.
12. Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)
Fountain-like clumps of fine-textured foliage form a graceful mound that turns golden in fall. Though technically a grass rather than a flowering plant, prairie dropseed produces delicate seed heads with a surprising coriander-like fragrance in late summer.
Native to Missouri prairies, it thrives in harsh conditions that would kill fussier ornamental grasses. Completely drought-tolerant once established, it actually develops better structure and color when soil is poor and neglect is abundant.
13. Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii)
Lavender-blue flower spikes rise above aromatic gray-green foliage from May through September. Catmint’s long blooming season requires absolutely no deadheading – in fact, pruning often reduces its impressive display.
Heat, humidity, drought, and poor soil don’t faze this tough plant. Deer and rabbits avoid its minty scent, while bees can’t get enough of the nectar-rich blooms. Simply plant in a sunny spot and walk away – it will reward your neglect with months of carefree color.
14. Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium)
Spiky yucca-like foliage sets the stage for bizarre globe-shaped white flower heads on branching blue-green stems. Native Americans once used the roots as a rattlesnake bite remedy, hence the unusual name.
Missouri’s native prairies are this plant’s natural home, where it thrives without irrigation or fertilizer. Unique in both form and texture, rattlesnake master provides architectural interest while attracting beneficial insects that help control garden pests naturally.
15. Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
Lavender pom-pom flowers atop mint-scented foliage attract hordes of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds from June through August. Also called bee balm, this Missouri native spreads to form impressive colonies when left undisturbed.
Unlike its fussy cultivated cousins, wild bergamot resists the powdery mildew that plagues other monardas in our humid climate. Its natural habitat includes prairies and woodland edges – exactly the kind of tough conditions found in neglected garden corners.