Tradescantia Satin Doll one of our favorite easy-to-grow perennials. When potted in your favorite urns or buckets, the brilliant fuschia blooms are ideal for providing bursts of color around the home without much fuss (or a trip to the florist).

I like tradescantia - also called Widow's Tears or Spiderwort - because it's a bit more grassy and compact than the similar but long-limbed Zwanenburg variety. You can grow tradescantia in a kiri or bamboo box and keep it on your entryway credenza for a Zen-like color statement.

Order tradescantia here. Under $20.