Spring has sprung interest-
Koreanspice Viburnum; ease of care, pretty blooms and wonderful scent.
Lilacs; some nice dwarf cultivars are available now, too.
Daffodils; lots of daffodils!
Late spring interest-
Hybrid veronicas; if they'd like a low, creeping groundcover that's covered in blooms.
Decorative alliums; available in many colors and heights, gorgeous and hardy enough to leave in place.
Peonies; fast to rise, and pretty.
Camassia; plant 'em and that's it. Very nice as a shorter accent to peonies.
Siberian iris; division probably won't be required for several years.
Mid-summer interest-
Daylilies; super easy, and available in almost every color.
Lilies; easy, and available in almost every color.
Heuchera; low water-usage and widely available.
For shadier areas-
Hostas; super-easy.
Hydrangea; may require a balanced watering and feeding regime, but otherwise pretty care-free.
Japanese Forest Grass; stunningly pretty lightener for shadier places.
Late summer interest-
Garden phlox; choose mildew-resistant varieties.
Gladiolus, just drop them in sun-warmed soil and cover. Staking probably won't be required if they aren't watered/fed excessively. The Glamini series are shorter by nature, but they're newer so availability may be limited.
Heleniums; lots of newer, shorter varieties are available now.
Lily 'Cassablanca'; easy, but staking may be required in open areas. Delightfully fragrant!
Crocosmia; some are hardier than others, but all of the ones I've tried so far have been successful here. Clipping required once per season.
Sterile Rose-of-Sharon; care-free. Non-sterile plants will provide several lifetime's-worth of seedlings.
Autumn interest-
Monkshood; super-easy, but considered toxic.
Heliopsis; low water-usage, and more varieties are being added all the time. 'Summer Sun' is a more compact variety that's widely available here.
Perennial chrysanthemums; Minnesota Mums are hardy here, and they're fairly easy to care for.
Koreanspice Viburnum; lovely burgundy, ripe peach and plum autumn leaf colors.
Of the plants listed, nearly all are non-targeted by the plethora of rabbits living here. Hostas and lilies can be attractive to deer, while glads and phlox will occasionally be taste-tested by groundhogs.
