Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just dipping your trowel into the dirt for the first time, some plants have a magical ability to lift your spirits.
These ten easy-to-grow flowers, herbs, and vegetables require minimal attention and reward you with vibrant blooms, soothing scents, or a delicious harvest.
Each mood-lifting plant brings its beauty, calm, and joy to any garden, regardless of its size, from patio pots to windowsills. Best of all, they’re all perfect for beginning gardeners. Now that’s what I call easy-breezy, feel-good gardening.
- Sunflowers. Topping the list of the best feel-good garden plants are sunflowers. Their cheerful flowers burst with sunshine. While we usually think of sunflowers as tall giants with large seedheads, today they come in various heights, ranging from miniature varieties that are only a few feet tall to those that reach 10 feet or more. Colors range from golden-yellow to deep burgundy and brown. They’re excellent at attracting pollinators, produce nutritious seeds, and instantly brighten the garden. Plant them in full sun, either in garden beds or large containers.
- Lavender. The soothing scent of lavender creates an instant “ommm” moment in the garden. Fragrant blooms range in color from pure white to pinks and deep royal purple. It’s perfect for sensory gardens, as simply brushing past the shrubby plant releases its heavenly aroma. English lavender is the most common, but other cultivars include French, Portuguese, and Spanish lavender. Bees can’t get enough of this plant, and it’s a natural stress reliever. Grow in full sun, in well-drained soil in containers or borders.
- Mint. Nothing invigorates a tired soul more than the crisp, uplifting aroma of mint. It’s incredibly easy to grow—in fact, it’s recommended that you only grow it in containers, as it has a habit of taking over any space it occupies. There are various types of mint, from the classic spearmint to the more unusual chocolate and apple mints. Each one adds a refreshing flavor to water, teas, salads, or desserts. Grow in partial to full sun in containers to corral spreading.
- Basil. Another highly aromatic herb from the mint family is basil. It’s as useful as it is beautiful. Basil and tomatoes are natural partners in the kitchen and garden, as basil helps repel harmful insects. There are many great varieties of basil to choose from, such as the well-known Genovese basil, used for making pesto, as well as clove-scented Thai basil, lemon basil, lime basil, and cinnamon basil; each has a distinct scent and flavor. The smell of basil is an instant reminder of summer! Grow in a sunny location in pots or garden beds.
- Zinnias. You can’t look at a zinnia and feel sad. These cheerful blooms come in every color you can imagine and bloom from summer through fall. The more you pick zinnias, the more they bloom. Flower petals can be single or double, flat or spiky, in shades ranging from fiery red to peaches and cream, and even green. You’re sure to find a zinnia to fall in love with—the pollinators certainly do! Grow in full sun in containers or garden beds.
- Marigolds. The marvelous marigold is the understated star of the garden. These easy-to-grow, hardy, and vibrant flowers are not only cheerful to look at—they’re also superb pest repellents for your veggie garden. The scented blooms deter aphids, nematodes, and whiteflies, making them perfect companions for tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, and eggplant. Plant them as a companion or consider using them as a border around vegetables to deter pests. They love full sun in garden beds or containers.
- Nasturtiums. Not many flowers can check these three boxes: beautiful, edible, and pest decoy, but nasturtiums can! Both the flowers and leaves of the nasturtium are edible, with a peppery flavor that’s perfect in salads. Whether compact or vining, it attracts pollinators and can also serve as a decoy plant to lure pests, such as aphids, away from other plants. It thrives in full sun and partial shade, and can be grown in containers, hanging baskets, or garden beds.
- Lettuce. Quick to grow, fresh-picked lettuce provides a daily boost of gardening accomplishment and nutrition. Baby lettuce leaves can be harvested within 30 days, and most can be grown as cut-and-come-again, offering fresh greens for weeks. From compact tennis-ball-sized heads to leafy “greens” in shades from dark red to lime green, you’re sure to find a lettuce to delight. Select heat-tolerant varieties to grow through the summer. Lettuce grows in partial shade (behind taller plants) to full sun in containers or garden beds.
- Bush Beans. Bountiful beans are another easy-to-grow crop, and so satisfying. Your typical green bean is anything but these days. Bush snap bean colors range the rainbow, from red, yellow, purple, striped, mottled, and yes, green! From slender fillet beans to fat and flat Roma varieties, the more you pick, the more they produce. Beans are packed with nutrition and have a satisfying snap. Succession plant every ten days for a continuous supply right into fall. Grows best in full sun in garden beds and containers.
- Strawberries. Sweet like candy, strawberries are the garden’s dessert! These perennial fruits return year after year, bringing a burst of summer flavor with every bite. Homegrown strawberries outshine any store-bought fruit because of the unique cultivars available to home gardeners. While commercially-grown strawberries are often listed as one of the “dirty dozen” with high pesticide residues, when you grow them at home, you control how they’re cultivated, resulting in a healthier and tastier fruit. Now that’s something to feel good about! Grow in full sun in garden beds or containers.
Plant Joy, Harvest Happiness
And there you have it—ten feel-good, fragrant, flavorful reasons to fall in love with gardening all over again. These plants don’t just grow; they radiate good vibes. Whether you’re growing a windowsill garden or filling raised beds, these feel-good favorites prove that gardening isn’t just about what you grow—it’s about how it makes you feel…good!
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