20 High-Maintenance Plants That Aren’t Worth the Work

horticulture can be a therapeutic hobby , but some flora demand more attending than others . For those looking to cultivate a garden without the constant worry of works care , it ’s wise to head clear of high - maintenance varieties . This guide cut into into 20 plants that , despite their allure , often prove to be more difficulty than they ’re worth . Whether it ’s fussy Inner Light requirements , susceptibleness to pests , or the need for precise watering , these flora can change state garden from a relaxing pastime into a stressful chore . Discover choice that offer similar beauty without the hassle .

1. Gardenias

Gardenias may bewitch with their fragrance , but they ’re ill-famed for demanding concern . Yellow leaf and bud free fall plague them if conditions are n’t unadulterated . They crave acidic soil and high humidity , wee-wee them a headache for most gardener . Beyond the rudiments , even a slight watering mishap can extend to disaster . Rather than die hard this botanical rollercoaster , view the elegant Camellias . These mantrap offer like salad days without the fuss . camelia thrive with less tending , appropriate you to enjoy their magic spell with comfort .

2. Fiddle Leaf Fig

The Fiddle Leaf Fig , with its broad , glossy leaves , is a dearie of national aim . However , its love for play piss it less than idealistic for the casual nurseryman . It will lament any modification in light or humidity by shed leaves dramatically . This plant life crave precise conditions , turning a elementary maintenance routine into a performance . rather , the intrepid Rubber Plant offer up similar aesthetic appeal without the theatrics . Its robust nature makes it a bouncy choice for those who want dish with less trouble .

3. Hybrid Tea Roses

Hybrid Tea Roses suffer as the quintessential rebel with their expectant , elegant bloom , but they come up with baggage . Prone to a litany of disease like black-market stain and mold , they postulate vigilant care and hebdomadal sprays . For those seeking roses without the play , Knock Out Roses are a revelation . audacious and self - cleaning , they put up a standardized free grace without the constant fight against pests . Enjoy garden beaut with resilience by opting for Knock Outs .

4. Boston Fern

Boston Ferns add a lush , tropical vibe to any space but at a toll . They want constant moisture and daily misting to prevent their frond from crisping . Few plant are as picky about their environment as this fern . For a similar aesthetic without the moisture marathon , consider the Asparagus Fern . Not truly a fern , it extend a like look with much abject maintenance , thriving even when drop . Embrace greenery without the lacrimation can workout .

5. Orchids (Phalaenopsis)

orchid , in particular Phalaenopsis , are the image of elegance but come with a strict forethought checklist . Light , humidness , and watering must array perfectly to avoid hogwash . They ’re sensational but can frustrate all but the most consecrated gardener . For those seeking indoor blooming with less fuss , African Violets are a magical option . They pop the question like visual joy without demand the same storey of vigilance . Their simpleness of care makes them an indoor favorite .

6. Japanese Maple (in Hot Climates)

Nipponese maple are treasured for their touchy leaves and vibrant colors , but in red-hot climates , they become a gardener ’s conundrum . Scorching Sunday and a need for acidic soil make them problematical . In region where heat prevails , Crape Myrtle is a more exonerative alternative . Not only does it flourish in warmth , but its robust nature ensures garden beauty with minimal demands . Crape Myrtle stands as a stalwart alternative , thriving where others droop .

7. Delphiniums

Delphiniums goodwill gardens with their tower spikes , yet they tip under their own looker . Requiring staking and abhorrence estrus , they are not for the faint - hearted . For those desiring vertical interest without the drama , Liatris is a glorious substitute . Known for its resilience , it stands grandiloquent with minimum support , offering spiky blooms that endure . Liatris plant play state of grace without the constant concern for structural unity .

8. Calatheas (“Prayer Plants”)

Calatheas , known for their impress leaf , require a precise humidity level . If it drops below 60 % , browned edges appear , announcing their displeasure . This industrial plant ’s beauty is matched only by its fussiness . For those who choose a more carefree experience , Pothos is the plant of choice . It thrives on neglect , growing lush and vibrant without the same humidness demand . Pothos offers beauty without the browning and wilting woes .

9. Tulips (in Warm Zones)

Tulips are a springtime ducky , but in warm climates , they often fade after one season . Their propensity not to rebloom makes them less ideal where winters are soft . For enduring floral displays , Daffodils provide an excellent solution . They naturalize easy , render year after class with little effort . daffodil ’ cheerful front ensures continuous garden delight without the penury for replanting , bringing eubstance to the time of year .

10. Majesty Palm (Indoors)

The Majesty Palm bring a touch of the tropic indoors , but its demands are material . Prone to spider hint and take brilliant light with constant wet , it can cursorily become a task . For an equally exotic feel with less fuss , the Parlor Palm is a delightful choice . It forgive neglect , flourish even in less - than - ideal conditions . The Parlor Palm offers exuberant greenery without the watchfulness required by its majestic twin .

11. English Boxwood

English Boxwood is a staple fiber in courtly garden but is plagued by blight , pest , and winter bronzing . This picky bush require careful aid to maintain its classic contour . For a similar integrated look with keen resilience , Holly ( Ilex ) is an splendid choice . Holly ’s hardiness and pest resistance make it a authentic garden ally . Enjoy the timeless appeal of structured greenery without the persistent worries of mutual Turkish boxwood ailment .

12. Hydrangeas (Bigleaf Types)

Bigleaf Hydrangeas captivate with their vivacious blooms but shrivel without perfect watering . Their flush form on old woodwind , elaborate pruning . For a more forgiving hydrangea experience , Panicle Hydrangeas bloom on young Sir Henry Joseph Wood and are Lord’s Day - tolerant . They proffer the same flowered spectacle without the meticulous care requisite . Panicle Hydrangeas promise garden knockout that ’s both robust and sustainable , reducing the jeopardy of efflorescence failure due to pruning errors .

13. Venus Flytrap

The Venus Flytrap is a fascinating carnivorous plant but come with specific needs . It requires distilled piss , unremitting gamy humidness , and a stop of dormancy , make it dispute for many plant enthusiasts . A more manageable carnivorous choice is the Pitcher Plant , which is less particular yet equally challenging . Pitcher Plants offer a captivating glimpse into nature ’s complexity without the stringent care regimen , offering ease and intrigue in adequate bill .

14. Lilacs (in Mild Climates)

Lilacs are care for for their perfume but waver in mild climates where winter chills are abstracted . Without a cold snap , they fail to bloom , leave behind nurseryman longing for their sweetened scent . The Butterfly Bush , with its similar redolent charm , thrives in warmer zone , blooming profusely without the need for coldness . This warmth - well-disposed option fills the garden with fragrance and colouration , cater a reliable option to traditional lilac .

15. String of Pearls

twine of Pearls is a unique succulent with cascade beads that tempt , but its watering need are exacting . Overwater , and it rots ; underwater , and it shrivels . This plant ask a accurate script . For an gentle journey into tail succulent , the String of Bananas offers similar visual charm with more exonerative care . It thrives with a less exacting watering regime , allow for a more relaxed approach to succulent beauty .

16. Azaleas (Indoors)

Indoor Azaleas are praised for their vivacious heyday but can be tricky to keep . They drop leaves if exposed to dry out air or insufficient Christ Within , command an attentive nurseryman to expand . The Peace Lily , on the other hand , offers like floral elegance with a much more exonerative nature . It copes well with downhearted Christ Within and dryer conditions , ready it ideal for indoor space where Azaleas might falter . Enjoy indoor blooms with less dedication .

17. Weeping Fig (Ficus Benjamina)

The Weeping Fig , or Ficus Benjamina , is a popular indoor tree known for its graceful canopy but is quick stress by environmental modification . move it or exposure to draft can moderate to leafage drop , bequeath a bare tree diagram behind . The Fiddle Leaf Fig , while still expect care , is a less erratic option . It retain its lush foliage more reliably , do it a preferred option for those who want an indoor tree diagram with fewer surprises .

18. Lupines

Lupines are loved for their spire - alike flower but despise heat and intemperate territory . Transplanting them can be a gamble , often resulting in failure . For those seeking magniloquent flowered spikes with resilience , digitalis provide a promising alternative . While two-year , they ego - seed , see to it a uninterrupted presence in the garden . Foxgloves bestow vertical beauty with less trouble , making them a staple fiber for nurseryman seeking reliableness amidst flowered grandeur .

19. Maidenhair Fern

The Maidenhair Fern is celebrate for its frail appearance but break down if its dirt dries out even once . Its upkeep demands reproducible moisture , a job not for the unretentive . The Bird ’s Nest Fern , with its waxy leave-taking , is far less demanding . This robust plant life can stand firm occasional lapses in care , offer standardized lush greenery without the changeless watering schedule . Bird ’s Nest Ferns make maintaining indoor ferns easier and more forgiving .

20. African Violets (For Beginners)

African Violets enchant with their compact , colourful blooms but can spoil beginners with their sensitivity . Crown rot from improper tearing and finical lite preferences make them take exception . For a more initiate - well-disposed pick , Peperomia propose a similar compact knockout with far less stir . It ’s forgiving of occasional disregard and tolerates varying light weather , earn it an excellent pick for those unexampled to indoor horticulture . Enjoy the delight of indoor plants without the peril of rot .