Jasmine Roth Reveals Her Favorite Plants That May Be Perfect For Your Yard

Plants are a beautiful way to add color and bring some life into our landscape. But the price, planning, and labor that goes into getting that greenery into our yards takes a lot of work and effort. That's why we want whatever plants we choose for our property to be as low maintenance as possible. HGTV's Jasmine Roth reveals her favorite stress-free plants that may be perfect for your yard. 

"Now before you go and plant these beauties in your yard, remember that while I'm from the East Coast (Oh hey, Virginia! ??) most of my landscaping experience is in Southern California. So I'm not saying that these plants won't work where you live, but I would definitely double check with your local garden center first," the "Help! I Wrecked My House" star writes on her blog.

When deciding what plants you want to grow on your property, you'll first want to find out which USDA Growing Zone you live in. This helps you learn how things grow and what will thrive in your climate. Then you'll be able to find out the best plants to grow in USDA Zone 5 or whichever zone you live in. Once you gain that knowledge, you can decide what you want to use for your hedges, ground cover, or flower beds using some of Roth's suggestions.

For hedges, Jasmine Roth's first choice is the Buddleia davidii, aka the Butterfly Bush. These purple flowering bushes are a free-flowing alternative to your standard rigidly shaped hedge while still providing a delineation between spaces. They do well in all types of soil, even dense soil, as long as it has the proper nutrients and drainage. They also love being in the sun but can thrive just as well in partial shade. Additionally, they hold up well in drought. But the best part about this bush is how delicious it smells and the fact that it attracts butterflies.

If you're looking for some privacy, Roth suggests Ficus nitida. It's one of the most chosen plants for privacy screening in places like Southern California. This thick evergreen has dense leaves and can grow to be 50 feet high and more than 70 feet wide, making it ideal for surrounding large areas you want to be sectioned off and for no one to see into. The Ficus nitida can also help reduce noise pollution.

Huntington blue rosemary can create a gorgeous carpet of florals in your yard. That's why Roth loves it as a groundcover. This is a tout plant that can withstand drought and survive deer and other critters seeking to snack on it. It can grow to be 6 to 12 inches tall and 4 to 6 feet wide. In addition to serving as ground cover, you can also cook with it. 

If you want to smile every time you step out your front door, then plant some New Gold Lantana. It's Jasmine Roth's top flower pick. These bright yellow buds grow in cluster balls and bloom from spring through fall. They don't require a lot of water and are drought-tolerant and resistant. Just fertilize them during the spring and cut them down when they're done for the season to keep them coming back. They will also attract a lot of butterflies.

If you're looking for decorative grass, you might want to consider Roth's pick of Mexican feather grass. This wispy grass stands tall, from 12 to 24 inches, and looks like it floats in the air. It can spread about 30 inches wide and can be grown in single bunches, or small sprays. It can be used as ground cover or as garden bed edging. Furthermore, it does well in high heat or drought conditions, is good for erosion control, and is deer resistant. 

As for shrubs, Roth favors the Bougainvillea La Jolla, a bright magenta flowering shrub that will bring beauty to any yard while also attracting hummingbirds. This shrub is round and grows to be between 4 and 5 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet wide, which also makes it an effective hedge. It doesn't require much water, and the soil should be dry before its next watering.