Four plants that won't die from winter cold or summer sun, tough and easy to grow, perfect for lazy gardeners

When it comes to plants that won't die from winter cold, won't fear summer sun, and are especially suited for lazy gardeners, Amaryllis, Nandina, Lily of the Valley, and Rainbow Pink definitely make the list. No need to watch over them daily for watering and fertilizing - just leave them there and they'll grow on their own, easy for beginners to handle.

Amaryllis:Amaryllis is practically the "tough guy" of the plant world. It can stay outdoors at minus five or six degrees in winter without any problem; even if the leaves freeze and wilt, new leaves sprout as soon as it warms up in spring. Leave it on the balcony in the summer sun, and as long as you don't cut off water completely, it will still bloom spectacularly. The most worry-free part is its bulb, which is like an onion - even if you forget to water it, the nutrients in the bulb can sustain it for a while. My pot last winter was on the windowsill, snow blew in and covered it with a thin layer of ice, and it still sent up flower stalks in spring, with big pink blooms bigger than a fist - really impressive.

Nandina:Nandina is even less trouble - it's naturally tough. In winter the leaves turn bright red, and they don't wither even at minus ten degrees; the colder it gets, the brighter the color. In summer at 35 degrees of heat, the leaves stay glossy green, with hardly any yellowing. This plant isn't picky about soil - just dig up some garden soil and it'll grow. As for watering, just water when dry and let it dry out between waterings; it won't die even if you don't water for half a month.

Lily of the Valley:Lily of the Valley looks delicate, but it's actually very cold-hardy. In winter the above-ground parts wither, but the underground rhizomes won't freeze to death even in soil at minus ten-plus degrees, and they sprout right on time in spring. In summer, just place it in partial shade - no need for direct sun, and an occasional rain shower is enough to make it grow vigorously. It's very shade-tolerant, so it can go in an indoor corner too - just don't water it constantly, as soggy soil easily causes root rot. Last year I planted a pot on the north balcony and barely tended it, yet it sent up several clusters of small white flowers with a light, fresh fragrance.

Rainbow Pink:Rainbow Pink is known as the "toughness king". It won't die at minus fifteen degrees in winter, and even under piled snow it still bursts into bloom in spring. In summer under 38 degrees of strong sun, it blooms continuously, with especially rich colors - pink, purple, and white mixed together like a little rainbow. This flower needs no fertilizing, grows in ordinary garden soil, and watering is casual - just water a bit when dry; the more you fuss over it, the more easily it dies. A patch planted in the neighborhood flower bed blooms merrily with no one tending it, and the flowering period can last from spring all the way to autumn.

Actually, growing plants doesn't need to be too fussy - these few are especially suited for people who want to grow flowers but dread the hassle. No need to move them indoors in winter, no need to water daily in summer - just glance at them once in a while. Watching them grow on their own on the balcony or in the yard, blooming merrily when the time comes - that sense of accomplishment is far more real than raising delicate, pampered flowers. For lazy gardeners, you should choose varieties like these that "bloom gloriously with just a bit of sunlight, and can recover even after freezing into popsicles" - easy to care for and impressive too.