5 Low-Maintenance Plants That Thrive in Coastal NC Yards

Designing a beautiful landscape doesn’t have to mean spending all your weekends trimming, watering, and weeding. If you live in Wilmington, Carolina Beach, Ogden, or anywhere else along the southeastern North Carolina coast, choosing the right plants for our unique climate can save you time, money, and a whole lot of frustration.

At Bowman’s Best Lawn Care, we help homeowners and property managers across New Hanover County create landscapes that look great, and keep looking great, with minimal upkeep. Here are five of our favorite low-maintenance plants that thrive in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b (that’s us!) and look fantastic in both residential and commercial landscapes.

1. Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)

This ornamental grass is native to the Southeast and brings a showstopping pink cloud of blooms in the fall. It’s drought-tolerant, handles poor soil well, and doesn’t need much pruning.

Pro tip: Plant it in full sun and give it room to sway, muhly grass adds instant movement and texture to your landscape.

2. Encore Azaleas

Looking for year-round color? These repeat bloomers are ideal for Wilmington-area homes. They offer three seasons of blooms, love partial sun, and come in a wide range of colors.

Bonus: They’re evergreen, so your yard won’t look bare in the winter months.

Pro tip: Choose varieties based on available light, some do better in shade, while others prefer sun.

3. Sabal Palms (Cabbage Palms)

Perfect for coastal vibes, sabal palms are incredibly hardy and ideal for larger installations like in Wrightsville Beach or Carolina Beach homes. Once established, they’re very drought-resistant and low-maintenance.

Pro tip: Install them in spring or early summer so they can root before cooler weather sets in.

4. Liriope (Lilyturf)

A tough groundcover that fills in quickly, liriope handles poor soil, shade, sun, and even salty air. Its purple flower spikes appear in late summer, and it requires very little trimming.

Pro tip: Use it to edge walkways or under trees where grass struggles to grow.

5. Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera)

This fast-growing evergreen shrub is native to the coastal Carolinas and does double-duty as a privacy screen and habitat for birds. It’s deer-resistant, tolerant of salt, and grows well even in sandy soils like those found in Kure Beach and Masonboro.

Pro tip: Let it grow naturally for a soft, wild look, or prune it into a formal hedge.

Things to Know Before You Plant

Low maintenance doesn’t mean no maintenance. The success of your landscape depends just as much on proper installation and planning as it does on choosing hardy plants. Here are a few tips we always share with our clients in the Wilmington area:

Don’t overplant. Young plants may look small now but give them room to grow so they won’t crowd each other later.

Think about sunlight. Make sure you know how much sun each area of your yard gets throughout the day before selecting your plants.

Consider irrigation. Even drought-tolerant plants need help getting established. A simple irrigation plan can make all the difference, especially in hot North Carolina summers.

Plan for year-round interest. Combine evergreens, seasonal bloomers, and grasses for a yard that looks good no matter the month.

Want a Yard That Practically Takes Care of Itself?

Our team at Bowman’s Best Lawn Care can help you choose and install the right shrubs, trees, and groundcovers that fit your lifestyle, your soil, and your space. We work with homeowners and builders across Wilmington, Ogden, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, and surrounding areas to design landscapes that are not only beautiful but also built to last.

Explore our Tree & Shrub Installation Services

Contact us today to schedule a consultation or ask about plant options for your yard!