For aspiring plant parents, it can be hard to know where to start. We all love the idea of a lush, plant-filled home and yard, but is that easier said than done? It doesn't have to be. At Millcreek Gardens, your go-to plant store in Salt Lake City, we carry a wide variety of plants, some of which are sturdy enough to survive life with even the most forgetful (but well-meaning) plant parent.

Indoor Plants for Beginners

1. Aloe vera is known as one of the easiest indoor plants to keep alive. It's a succulent, so it requires infrequent watering and can survive in either direct or indirect sunlight.

   Under the best of care, an aloe vera plant can live up to 40 years, so you can probably get it to live for at least a few. It can grow for years without needing to be repotted, reaching only about 12 inches tall, and it is not particularly sensitive to soil pH.In addition to being ornamental, aloe vera naturally contains a gel-like substance that can soothe minor cuts and burns.

2. English ivy is tolerant of medium and low-light conditions and doesn't need much water. It also isn't too picky about temperatures, and its affinity for moist air makes it a perfect bathroom plant.

   English ivy is good for hanging planters — it will tumble beautifully over the edges of the container. If you don't want to hang this plant, you can add a vertical structure to the pot, such as a wooden dowel, where the ivy can climb.English ivy is toxic to humans and animals, however, so be careful with this plant if you have young children or pets.

Outdoor Plants for Beginners

1. Ajuga, or bugleweed, loves shade, so if you want to start a garden but don't have much direct sunlight in your yard, this plant is for you. Its green and purple leaves provide colorful groundcover for your yard, and ajuga produces blue and purple flowers in the spring.

   This plant is also known for its weed-smothering abilities, and comes back every year, so you only need to plant it once. Millcreek Gardens carries six varieties of ajuga.

2. Alternatively, if your yard is overly sunny, you can start with an agave plant. These multi-stemmed evergreen shrubs look best without any pruning, which will save you time and trouble.
   Agave is drought tolerant, resistant to urban pollution and isn't picky about soil pH. In fact, agave grows best in soil quality that is considered poor. Its blueish-green, sword-like leaves are ornamental on their own, but Parry's agave — the variety that we carry here at Millcreek Gardens — also sprouts yellow flowers in the summer.

Whether you're looking for indoor plants for your Salt Lake City home, or you're looking for outdoor plants for your yard, Millcreek Gardens has what you need to get started. Come browse our selection today.