These hardy plants come back year after year and are ideal for low-maintenance gardens:

Black-Eyed Susan – Bright yellow flowers and pollinator-friendly

Lupine – A Maine classic with tall, colorful spikes

Bee Balm – Great for attracting hummingbirds and butterflies

Hostas – Shade-tolerant and perfect for under trees or along fences

Daylilies – Durable and easy to care for

Want structure and seasonal interest in your landscaping? These shrubs do well in our coastal climate:

Hydrangea (especially Panicle & Endless Summer types)

Rhododendron – Evergreen, early spring bloomers

Spirea – Easy to shape and perfect for foundation planting

Bayberry – Native, salt-tolerant, and great for privacy hedges

Arborvitae – Fast-growing evergreens used for natural fencing

Coreopsis – Tough, drought-resistant, and cheerful

Sedum (Stonecrop) – Great for hot, sunny spots

Echinacea (Coneflower) – Pollinator magnet with bold colors

Lavender – Loves sun and sandy soil

Rugosa Rose – A tough coastal rose that’s beautiful and fragrant

Using local and native plants is one of the best ways to keep your yard healthy and low-maintenance in Wells, Maine. These plants are already used to our weather, salty air, and soil, so they need less water, fewer chemicals, and less work to stay looking good.

Native plants also help the local environment. Flowers like milkweed and bee balm attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, while shrubs like bayberry feed and protect local birds.

Avoid plants that hate salt or cold. Tender tropicals, certain fruit trees (like peach or fig), or delicate ornamentals often struggle here without protection.

Some plants might look harmless at first, but can cause serious problems in your yard. Oriental bittersweet (pictured above) and bamboo are two examples we often see in Wells. Bittersweet can quickly choke out trees, fences, and gardens, while bamboo spreads aggressively underground and is very hard to remove once it’s established. Both are considered invasive species in Maine and can damage native plants, reduce property value, and become expensive to control. If you see them on your property, it’s best to deal with them early — and we’re happy to help.

Coastal Maine soil, especially in parts of Wells, can be sandy or compacted — which makes drainage a big deal. One of the most common mistakes we see is overwatering or poor drainage planning, which can:

• Drown plant roots and cause rot

• Invite fungus, pests, and mold

• Waste water and increase maintenance costs

• Damage lawns and lead to soggy, unusable areas

Pro Tip from Chase Brothers: Before planting, always test your soil’s drainage. If water pools or takes longer than 12–24 hours to drain, you may need to add organic matter or regrade the area. We can help design low-maintenance beds and lawn zones that stay healthy all season long.