Spring Flowers for Zone 5

223 plants that bloom Mar through May in USDA hardiness zone 5.

Spring is when gardens wake up. Early bulbs push through cool soil, perennials unfurl new growth, and flowering trees put on their biggest show of the year.

SpringSummerFallWinter
Z3Z4Z5Z6Z7Z8Z9Z10Z11
Colors
110
103
64
60
51
41
Types92 Perennials49 Shrubs37 Bulbs16 Trees
Mar
43 plants
Apr
104 plants
May
190 plants
Anna's Red Hellebore
Anna's Red Hellebore14-18"
Perennial · Jan-Apr · Z4-9

Wine-red outward-facing blooms above silver-marbled foliage. Bred to face the viewer, not the ground, like older hellebores do.

Apricot Beauty Tulip
Apricot Beauty Tulip16-20"
Bulb · Mar-Apr · Z3-8

Soft salmon-apricot single early blooms with a delicate sweet fragrance. One of the first tulips to flower in spring.

Arnold Promise Witch Hazel
Arnold Promise Witch Hazel10-15'
Tree · Feb-Mar · Z5-8

Spidery yellow flowers with sweet fragrance on bare branches in late winter. The earliest tree to bloom.

Bergenia
Bergenia12-18"
Perennial · Mar-Apr · Z3-8

Bold rubbery leaves provide year-round structure and turn burgundy in winter. Early pink flowers arrive with the hellebores.

California Poppy
California Poppy6-18"
Annual · Mar-Sep · Z5-10

Golden cups that carpet hillsides across the state. Closes at night and on cloudy days.

Callery Pear
Callery Pear25-40'
Tree · Mar-Apr · Z5-9

Masses of white flowers in early spring on a tough, adaptable urban tree.

Chinese Witch Hazel
Chinese Witch Hazel8-12'
Shrub · Jan-Mar · Z5-8

Spidery yellow, sweetly scented flowers bloom on bare branches in late winter.

Crocus
Crocus4-6"
Bulb · Feb-Apr · Z3-8

One of the first signs of spring, pushing through snow with jewel-toned cups.

Daffodil
Daffodil12-18"
Bulb · Mar-May · Z3-10

Cheerful trumpets that naturalize beautifully and return stronger each year.

Draba
Draba2-4"
Perennial · Mar-Apr · Z4-7

Tiny alpine cushion plant smothered in bright yellow flowers in early spring. Perfect miniature scale.

Dutchman's Breeches
Dutchman's Breeches6-12"
Perennial · Mar-May · Z3-8

Finely cut foliage and clusters of puffy white pantaloon-shaped flowers in early spring. A charming ephemeral that disappears by summer.

Eastern Redbud
Eastern Redbud15-30'
Tree · Mar-Apr · Z4-9

Magenta flowers erupt directly from bare branches. Spring showstopper tree.

Fawn Lily
Fawn Lily8-14"
Bulb · Mar-May · Z4-8

Mottled leaves and nodding white flowers with swept-back petals emerge in early spring from Pacific Northwest woodlands.

Forsythia
Forsythia6-10'
Shrub · Mar-Apr · Z3-8

A wall of golden yellow on bare branches. Spring's loudest announcement.

Glory-of-the-Snow
Glory-of-the-Snow4-6"
Bulb · Mar-Apr · Z3-8

Star-shaped blooms that appear as snow melts. Naturalizes into drifts.

Grape Hyacinth
Grape Hyacinth6-8"
Bulb · Mar-May · Z3-8

Tiny grape-like clusters that spread into rivers of blue over time.

Green-and-Gold
Green-and-Gold6-10"
Perennial · Mar-Jun · Z5-8

Bright yellow star flowers appear for months above mat-forming foliage. The best spring ground cover for the Southeast.

Hellebore
Hellebore12-18"
Perennial · Jan-Apr · Z3-10

The Lenten Rose. Elegant nodding blooms that thrive in deep shade.

Hyacinth
Hyacinth8-12"
Bulb · Mar-Apr · Z3-8

Dense, intensely fragrant spikes. One bulb can perfume an entire room.

Ice Follies Daffodil
Ice Follies Daffodil14-18"
Bulb · Mar-Apr · Z3-9

White petals frame a wide, ruffled cup that opens yellow and fades to cream. Multiplies fast.

Ivory Prince Hellebore
Ivory Prince Hellebore12-16"
Perennial · Jan-Apr · Z4-9

Outward-facing ivory blooms blushed with pink and chartreuse. Compact, tidy, and one of the longest-blooming hellebores in the catalog.

King Alfred Daffodil
King Alfred Daffodil14-18"
Bulb · Mar-Apr · Z3-9

The classic golden trumpet daffodil. Naturalizes into massive sweeps that return for decades.

Lenten Rose
Lenten Rose12-18"
Perennial · Feb-Apr · Z4-9

Nodding flowers in late winter when nothing else is blooming. Evergreen foliage adds year-round structure to shade gardens.

Lungwort
Lungwort10-14"
Perennial · Mar-May · Z3-8

Flowers open pink and turn blue on the same stem. Silver-spotted foliage looks great all season.

Magnolia
Magnolia15-30'
Tree · Mar-May · Z5-9

Goblet-shaped blooms on bare branches. One of spring's most dramatic moments.

Mount Hood Daffodil
Mount Hood Daffodil14-18"
Bulb · Mar-Apr · Z3-9

Large pure white trumpets that age from cream to bright white. The classic white daffodil for naturalizing under trees.

Onyx Odyssey Hellebore
Onyx Odyssey Hellebore14-18"
Perennial · Feb-Apr · Z4-9

Fully double black-purple blooms that look almost theatrical. The darkest hellebore available, and worth the hunt to find one.

Oregon Grape
Oregon Grape3-6'
Shrub · Mar-Apr · Z5-9

Holly-like evergreen with yellow flower clusters followed by blue berries. Tough, shade-loving native.

Peach
Peach12-20'
Tree · Mar-Apr · Z5-9

Early spring pink blossoms smother the branches before juicy peaches develop.

Penny's Pink Hellebore
Penny's Pink Hellebore14-18"
Perennial · Jan-Apr · Z4-9

Outward-facing rose-pink blooms with veined petals, held above marbled foliage. One of the showiest hellebores ever bred.

Piedmont Azalea
Piedmont Azalea6-10'
Shrub · Mar-Apr · Z5-9

Fragrant pale pink to white flowers open before the leaves in early spring, filling lowland forests with sweetness.

Pieris
Pieris5-10'
Shrub · Mar-Apr · Z5-8

Chains of lily-of-the-valley flowers dangle over colorful new growth. Year-round structure for shady borders.

Pink Charm Daffodil
Pink Charm Daffodil14-18"
Bulb · Mar-Apr · Z3-9

White petals around a creamy cup banded in coral pink. The most reliable pink daffodil for borders and naturalizing.

Scilla
Scilla4-6"
Bulb · Mar-Apr · Z3-8

Carpets of brilliant blue that naturalize under trees with zero effort.

Serviceberry
Serviceberry10-25'
Tree · Mar-Apr · Z4-8

White spring clouds, edible berries, and blazing fall color. Four-season native tree that deserves more attention.

Snowdrop
Snowdrop3-6"
Bulb · Jan-Mar · Z3-8

Delicate nodding bells that bloom fearlessly in late winter cold.

Spicebush
Spicebush6-10'
Shrub · Mar-Apr · Z4-9

Clusters of tiny yellow flowers appear on bare branches in early spring on a fragrant native shrub with blazing yellow fall color.

Tete-a-Tete Daffodil
Tete-a-Tete Daffodil6-8"
Bulb · Feb-Apr · Z3-9

Miniature golden trumpets, two to three per stem, on a tiny plant. The earliest daffodil and the best one for containers and the front of the bed.

Tulip
Tulip10-24"
Bulb · Mar-May · Z3-8

The classic spring icon in almost every color imaginable.

Virginia Bluebell
Virginia Bluebell12-24"
Perennial · Mar-May · Z3-8

Woodland ephemeral with sky-blue bells. Disappears by summer, returns faithfully.

Winter Aconite
Winter Aconite3-4"
Bulb · Feb-Mar · Z3-8

Buttercup-yellow blooms that push through frozen ground before the crocuses.

Witch Hazel
Witch Hazel10-20'
Shrub · Jan-Mar · Z3-8

Spidery, fragrant blooms on bare branches when nothing else dares.

Yoshino Cherry
Yoshino Cherry20-40'
Tree · Mar-Apr · Z5-8

Clouds of pale blossoms cover the tree in early spring, later followed by small bird-edible cherries.

Ajuga
Ajuga4-6"
Ground Cover · Apr-May · Z3-10

Bronze-purple foliage with blue spikes. Fills bare shade in one season.

Angelique Tulip
Angelique Tulip16-20"
Bulb · Apr-May · Z3-8

Double late tulip that looks like a small peony in soft pink and cream. Long-lasting blooms with light fragrance.

Apeldoorn Tulip
Apeldoorn Tulip18-24"
Bulb · Apr-May · Z3-8

Bold, goblet-shaped Darwin hybrid in scarlet with a black base. Strong stems and long-lasting.

Apple
Apple12-20'
Tree · Apr-May · Z3-8

Fragrant white to pink flowers in spring precede a fall crop of dessert apples.

Aubrieta
Aubrieta4-8"
Perennial · Apr-May · Z4-8

Purple cascades spilling over walls and rocks in spring. Shear after bloom for a fresh flush of foliage.

Azalea
Azalea4-8'
Shrub · Apr-May · Z5-10

Explosive spring color in every warm hue. Acid-loving woodland classic.

Ballerina Tulip
Ballerina Tulip18-22"
Bulb · Apr-May · Z3-8

Lily-flowered tulip with pointed petals in vivid tangerine. Sweetly orange-scented and one of the longest-blooming tulips you can plant.

Basket-of-Gold
Basket-of-Gold6-12"
Perennial · Apr-May · Z3-7

Bright golden-yellow cascades over walls and rock edges in spring. Cut back after flowering to stay tidy.

Bigtooth Maple
Bigtooth Maple15-25'
Tree · Apr-May · Z4-8

Mountain West maple with brilliant orange-red fall color and rugged drought tolerance.

Black Parrot Tulip
Black Parrot Tulip20-26"
Bulb · Apr-May · Z3-8

Fringed and twisted petals in deepest maroon-black. Looks more like an exotic bird than a tulip and steals every spring arrangement.

Bleeding Heart
Bleeding Heart2-3'
Perennial · Apr-Jun · Z3-8

Arching sprays of heart-shaped flowers for shady woodland gardens.

Bloom-a-Thon Azalea
Bloom-a-Thon Azalea3-4'
Shrub · Apr-Sep · Z5-9

Repeat-blooming azalea with waves of color spring through fall. Evergreen in mild climates.

Brunnera
Brunnera12-18"
Perennial · Apr-May · Z3-8

Clouds of tiny forget-me-not blue flowers over heart-shaped leaves. Thrives in dry shade once established.

Camassia
Camassia2-3'
Bulb · Apr-Jun · Z3-8

Tall spikes of starry flowers rise above strappy foliage in late spring.

Columbine
Columbine2-3'
Perennial · Apr-Jun · Z3-8

Delicate, spurred flowers that dance on wiry stems. Hummingbird favorite.

Coral Honeysuckle
Coral Honeysuckle10-15'
Vine · Apr-Sep · Z4-9

Non-invasive native honeysuckle with brilliant coral-red tubular flowers that hummingbirds hover at for months.

Creeping Phlox
Creeping Phlox4-6"
Ground Cover · Apr-May · Z3-10

An evergreen sun-loving groundcover that smothers walls, slopes, and rock gardens in dense pink, purple, blue, lavender, or white sheets every April and May.

Crossvine
Crossvine10-30'
Vine · Apr-May · Z5-9

Tubular orange-red trumpets line this vigorous semi-evergreen vine in spring, attracting every hummingbird in the neighborhood.

Dogwood
Dogwood15-25'
Tree · Apr-May · Z5-9

Iconic spring bloomer with fall berries and winter bark. Four-season beauty.

Dwarf Crested Iris
Dwarf Crested Iris4-8"
Perennial · Apr-May · Z3-9

Tiny lavender-blue iris flowers with gold crests on a spreading native ground cover. A spring woodland treasure.

Elliott's Bluestar
Elliott's Bluestar2-3'
Perennial · Apr-May · Z4-9

Pale blue starry flowers in spring give way to feathery foliage that turns brilliant gold in fall. Two seasons of beauty for zero effort.

Epimedium
Epimedium8-12"
Perennial · Apr-May · Z4-8

Delicate fairy-wing flowers above leathery foliage. One of the toughest dry shade groundcovers.

Firecracker Penstemon
Firecracker Penstemon2-3'
Perennial · Apr-Jun · Z4-9

Spikes of scarlet tubular flowers that hummingbirds fight over. Southwestern native at its finest.

Forget-me-not
Forget-me-not6-12"
Perennial · Apr-Jun · Z3-8

Clouds of tiny sky-blue flowers carpet the ground in spring. Self-sows freely under shrubs and around tulips.

Fothergilla
Fothergilla3-5'
Shrub · Apr-May · Z4-8

Fragrant white bottlebrush flowers in spring give way to some of the best orange-red fall color of any small native shrub.

Fritillaria
Fritillaria8-12"
Bulb · Apr-May · Z3-8

Checkered, nodding bells with an otherworldly pattern. A collector's favorite.

Fruiting Cherry
Fruiting Cherry20-40'
Tree · Apr-May · Z5-8

Showy white spring flowers mature into sweet cherries that attract people and wildlife.

Greenland Tulip
Greenland Tulip18-22"
Bulb · Apr-May · Z3-8

Viridiflora tulip with rose-pink petals brushed by a wide green flame. One of the longest-lasting tulips in the vase and the bed.

Highbush Blueberry
Highbush Blueberry4-8'
Shrub · Apr-May · Z3-7

Bell-shaped spring flowers are followed by sweet blue berries and excellent fall color.

Honesty
Honesty2-3'
Perennial · Apr-Jun · Z5-9

Purple spring flowers turn into translucent silvery seed pods like full moons. Biennial cottage classic that self-sows everywhere.

Indian Paintbrush
Indian Paintbrush6-24"
Annual · Apr-Jun · Z4-9

Bright red to orange bracts surround small flowers and glow across spring prairies.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Jack-in-the-Pulpit12-24"
Perennial · Apr-May · Z4-9

Hooded green-and-brown striped spathe sheltering a hidden spadix. Woodland curiosity followed by red berries.

Japanese Maple
Japanese Maple8-25'
Tree · Apr-May · Z5-8

Small flowers are modest but foliage is the star. Hundreds of cultivars from laceleaf to upright. The connoisseur's tree.

Kerria
Kerria5-6'
Shrub · Apr-May · Z4-9

Cheerful golden-yellow pompoms on bright green stems that stay vivid green all winter. One of the easiest shade-tolerant shrubs.

La Belle Epoque Tulip
La Belle Epoque Tulip14-18"
Bulb · Apr-May · Z3-8

Vintage cafe-au-lait coloring with peach, cream, and dusty pink swirled together. The most photographed tulip of the last decade.

Lilac
Lilac8-15'
Shrub · Apr-May · Z3-8

Intensely fragrant clusters that define spring in northern gardens.

Lily-of-the-Valley
Lily-of-the-Valley6-10"
Perennial · Apr-May · Z2-7

Tiny bell-shaped flowers with one of the most intoxicating fragrances in the plant world. Spreads into lush carpets under trees.

Mariette Tulip
Mariette Tulip20-24"
Bulb · Apr-May · Z3-8

Lily-flowered tulip with elegant pointed petals in clear satin pink. One of the most graceful tulips for bouquets and the late-spring border.

Marsh Marigold
Marsh Marigold12-18"
Perennial · Apr-May · Z3-7

Glossy buttercup flowers in early spring along streams and wet areas. One of the first wetland bloomers.

Mount Tacoma Tulip
Mount Tacoma Tulip16-20"
Bulb · Apr-May · Z3-8

Pure white double late blooms that look like peonies. The reliable white answer to Angelique with the same long vase life.

Ornithogalum
Ornithogalum6-12"
Bulb · Apr-Jun · Z4-10

Star-shaped white flowers with green stripes on the back. Star of Bethlehem, naturalizes into drifts that take care of themselves.

Pacific Bleeding Heart
Pacific Bleeding Heart12-18"
Perennial · Apr-Aug · Z3-9

Western native that blooms much longer than its eastern cousin. Ferny foliage all season.

Paperbark Maple
Paperbark Maple15-25'
Tree · Apr-May · Z4-8

Cinnamon-colored peeling bark and good fall color provide strong four-season interest.

Pheasant's Eye Daffodil
Pheasant's Eye Daffodil14-18"
Bulb · Apr-May · Z3-8

Reflexed white petals around a tiny eye of yellow rimmed with red. Intensely fragrant heirloom, the latest daffodil to bloom each spring.

Prairie Smoke
Prairie Smoke6-12"
Perennial · Apr-Jun · Z3-7

Nodding wine-red flowers transform into feathery pink seed plumes that persist into summer. Native prairie gem.

Prairifire Crabapple
Prairifire Crabapple10-20'
Tree · Apr-May · Z4-8

Deep pink-red flowers on a disease-resistant crabapple. Persistent small fruit feeds winter birds.

Princess Irene Tulip
Princess Irene Tulip14-18"
Bulb · Apr-May · Z3-8

Glowing orange petals brushed with smoky purple flames. Mildly fragrant and one of the most unusual color combinations in any tulip.

Queen of Night Tulip
Queen of Night Tulip22-28"
Bulb · Apr-May · Z3-8

The darkest tulip. Satiny, near-black maroon blooms that look almost unreal in late spring.

Queen of Sheba Tulip
Queen of Sheba Tulip20-26"
Bulb · Apr-May · Z3-8

Lily-flowered tulip with pointed petals in glowing red edged with gold. Lights up the late spring border like a flame.

Saxifrage
Saxifrage4-12"
Perennial · Apr-May · Z4-7

Mossy cushions dotted with dainty flowers. Tucks into rock crevices where little else will grow.

Sea Thrift
Sea Thrift6-12"
Perennial · Apr-Jun · Z3-8

Grassy tufts topped with round pink pom-poms. Loves lean soil and coastal conditions.

Shooting Star
Shooting Star6-18"
Perennial · Apr-Jun · Z4-8

Nodding flowers with swept-back petals resemble tiny shooting stars in spring meadows.

Snapdragon
Snapdragon1-3'
Annual · Apr-Sep · Z3-10

Vertical flower spikes with squeeze-open blooms. Kids love them.

Spring Green Tulip
Spring Green Tulip16-20"
Bulb · Apr-May · Z3-8

Viridiflora tulip with ivory petals brushed by a wide green flame. Florists adore it, gardens come alive with it, and it lasts for weeks.

Stock
Stock18-30"
Annual · Apr-Jun · Z2-11

Dense spikes of clove-scented blooms in soft pastels. Cool-season cut flower that fills a room with spicy perfume.

Sweet Alyssum
Sweet Alyssum3-6"
Annual · Apr-Oct · Z3-10

Honey-scented carpet of tiny flowers. The best living edging plant.

Sweet Pea
Sweet Pea4-6'
Annual · Apr-Jun · Z2-11

Ruffled, intensely fragrant climbing flowers in every pastel shade. Cool-season annual that hates heat.

Thalia Daffodil
Thalia Daffodil12-16"
Bulb · Apr-May · Z3-9

Pure white, swept-back petals with two to three blooms per stem. Orchid-like elegance.

Trillium
Trillium12-18"
Perennial · Apr-May · Z3-8

Three leaves, three petals, pure elegance. The jewel of eastern woodlands.

Viburnum
Viburnum6-12'
Shrub · Apr-Jun · Z3-10

Fragrant snowball clusters in spring, then berries for birds in fall.

Vinca
Vinca4-6"
Ground Cover · Apr-Jun · Z3-10

Evergreen mat with periwinkle-blue flowers. Tough shade ground cover.

Wild Azalea
Wild Azalea4-8'
Shrub · Apr-May · Z4-8

Sweetly fragrant pinwheel flowers on a deciduous native azalea that grows from New England to Georgia. Earlier and more cold-hardy than most.

Wild Blue Phlox
Wild Blue Phlox10-14"
Perennial · Apr-Jun · Z3-8

Loose clusters of sky-blue flowers float above woodland floors in spring on a fragrant, mat-forming native.

Wild Columbine
Wild Columbine2-3'
Perennial · Apr-Jun · Z3-9

Nodding red-and-yellow spurred flowers that hummingbirds love on a self-sowing native that naturalizes along woodland edges.

Wild Geranium
Wild Geranium12-24"
Perennial · Apr-Jun · Z3-8

Soft pink blooms over deeply-cut foliage. A woodland edge staple.

Wisteria
Wisteria15-30'
Vine · Apr-May · Z5-10

Cascading, fragrant racemes that create a dreamy canopy. Needs structure.

Allium
Allium2-4'
Bulb · May-Jun · Z5-9

Dramatic globe-shaped heads on tall stems. Architectural and deer-proof.

Annual Vinca
Annual Vinca6-18"
Annual · May-Nov · Z3-11

Glossy-leaved heat champion (botanically unrelated to true Vinca minor) that blooms through humidity that wilts everything else.

At Last Rose
At Last Rose3-4'
Shrub · May-Oct · Z5-9

Combines old-rose fragrance with modern disease resistance, finally. Apricot-pink cupped blooms that look like an English rose but bloom like a Knock Out.

Bachelor's Button
Bachelor's Button2-3'
Annual · May-Aug · Z2-11

True cornflower blue that almost no other flower can match. Cottage garden classic that self-sows reliably.

Bartzella Peony
Bartzella Peony2-3'
Perennial · May-Jun · Z4-9

Intersectional Itoh hybrid with huge lemon-yellow double blooms and red flares at the center. Strong stems hold up to 50 flowers per plant.

Batik Iris
Batik Iris24-32"
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-9

Streaked and splashed purple-and-white pattern unlike any other iris. Each bloom is unique, like brushwork on silk.

Beverly Sills Iris
Beverly Sills Iris2-3'
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-9

Coral-pink blooms with a tangerine beard. Named for the opera star and just as elegant.

Bloomerang Lilac
Bloomerang Lilac4-6'
Shrub · May-Sep · Z3-7

Blooms in spring, then reblooms summer through frost. Compact habit with classic lilac fragrance.

Blue False Indigo
Blue False Indigo3-4'
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-10

Lupine-like spikes on a native that lives forever. Gets better with age.

Blue Flax
Blue Flax12-24"
Perennial · May-Jul · Z4-9

Delicate sky-blue flowers open each morning on airy stems over fine foliage.

Boscobel Rose
Boscobel Rose3-4'
Shrub · May-Sep · Z5-9

Tight salmon-pink rosettes with a strong myrrh fragrance on an upright, well-shaped plant. Holds form better than most English roses.

Bowl of Beauty Peony
Bowl of Beauty Peony28-34"
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-8

Hot pink outer petals cup a creamy center of narrow petaloids. Dramatic and unmistakable.

Buckeye Belle Peony
Buckeye Belle Peony28-32"
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-8

Deep maroon-black semi-double blooms with a heart of golden stamens. The most dramatic dark peony, blooming early when nothing else is open.

Butter and Sugar Siberian Iris
Butter and Sugar Siberian Iris2-3'
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-9

Cream-white standards over butter-yellow falls. The first dependable yellow-and-white Siberian iris ever introduced.

Caesar's Brother Siberian Iris
Caesar's Brother Siberian Iris3-4'
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-9

Tall stems hold rich violet-blue flowers above grassy foliage. The Siberian iris benchmark, blooming earlier and longer than bearded types.

Calendula
Calendula12-24"
Annual · May-Oct · Z2-11

Bright daisy-like blooms in pumpkin orange and gold. Edible petals brighten salads and the plant keeps blooming through cool weather.

Caradonna Salvia
Caradonna Salvia18-30"
Perennial · May-Aug · Z3-9

Dark purple stems set this apart from every other salvia. Vertical, architectural, electric.

Cat's Meow Catmint
Cat's Meow Catmint15-20"
Perennial · May-Sep · Z3-9

Tidy, dome-shaped habit that never flops open. Stays compact without shearing.

Catmint
Catmint12-24"
Perennial · May-Sep · Z3-10

Billowy lavender-blue haze that blooms all season if you shear it back.

Chamomile
Chamomile12-24"
Annual · May-Aug · Z3-9

Tiny daisy flowers with apple-scented foliage. Brew into tea or let it naturalize between pavers.

Chives
Chives12-18"
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-9

Cheerful purple pom-pom flowers on a kitchen staple. Edible blooms make any salad Instagram-worthy.

Cinco de Mayo Rose
Cinco de Mayo Rose3-3'
Shrub · May-Oct · Z5-9

Smoky lavender-rust blooms with copper undertones unlike any other rose. Modern fragrance, modern disease resistance, and a color you will not find anywhere else.

Clematis
Clematis6-20'
Vine · May-Sep · Z3-10

The queen of flowering vines. Over 300 species, something for every spot.

Cliffrose
Cliffrose3-6'
Shrub · May-Jun · Z4-8

Creamy white rose-like flowers with sweet fragrance and feathery seed plumes on a tough Rocky Mountain native.

Coral Bells
Coral Bells12-18"
Perennial · May-Jul · Z3-10

Grown mostly for dramatic foliage, but the tiny bell flowers are a bonus.

Coral Charm Peony
Coral Charm Peony3-3'
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-8

Semi-double blooms open vivid coral-peach, age through apricot, and fade to soft butter cream. A color shift unlike any other peony.

Coral Sunset Peony
Coral Sunset Peony3-3'
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-8

Deeper, longer-lasting coral than Coral Charm with semi-double form. The flowers hold their warm tones for nearly two weeks.

Culinary Sage
Culinary Sage18-24"
Perennial · May-Jun · Z4-8

Spiky purple blooms above silver-green aromatic foliage. A kitchen herb that doubles as an ornamental.

Dianthus
Dianthus6-18"
Perennial · May-Aug · Z3-10

Spicy clove-scented pinks with fringed petals in pink, red, white, or salmon, one of the best long-blooming edgers and front-of-border perennials for sun.

Double Delight Rose
Double Delight Rose3-4'
Shrub · May-Sep · Z5-9

Creamy white petals blush to strawberry red at the edges. Knockout fragrance matches the looks.

Double Knock Out Rose
Double Knock Out Rose3-4'
Shrub · May-Oct · Z5-10

Fuller, double-petaled version of the Knock Out. Same bulletproof performance with more petal count.

Drift Rose
Drift Rose18-24"
Shrub · May-Oct · Z4-11

Groundcover rose that stays low and spreads wide. Tough, disease-resistant, and constantly in bloom.

Duchesse de Nemours Peony
Duchesse de Nemours Peony28-34"
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-8

Pure white double blooms with a hint of yellow at the heart and a powerful lily-of-the-valley fragrance. A heritage favorite since 1856.

Dutch Iris
Dutch Iris18-24"
Bulb · May-Jun · Z5-9

Slender stems bear elegant iris blooms in late spring to early summer.

Dwarf Korean Lilac
Dwarf Korean Lilac4-5'
Shrub · May-Jun · Z3-7

Slow-growing dwarf with dense rounded habit. Perfect for small gardens and foundation plantings.

Eremurus
Eremurus4-8'
Bulb · May-Jul · Z5-8

Towering candle-like spikes covered in tiny star flowers rise above a basal rosette. Foxtail lily, six feet of pure architecture.

Festiva Maxima Peony
Festiva Maxima Peony3-3'
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-8

Pure white double blooms flecked with crimson at the center. Beloved since 1851 and still unmatched.

Flame Azalea
Flame Azalea6-12'
Shrub · May-Jun · Z5-8

Outrageous blooms in hot orange, red, and yellow on a deciduous native azalea that stops people in their tracks.

Foxglove
Foxglove3-5'
Perennial · May-Jul · Z3-8

Stately spires of spotted, bell-shaped flowers. Cottage garden royalty.

Fringe Tree
Fringe Tree10-20'
Tree · May-Jun · Z4-9

Clouds of white fringed petals dripping from branches in late spring. Fragrant and underused native.

Gertrude Jekyll Rose
Gertrude Jekyll Rose4-6'
Shrub · May-Sep · Z4-9

Voted the world's favorite rose fragrance more than once. Bold rich pink rosettes on a vigorous shrub that can be trained as a short climber.

Graham Thomas Rose
Graham Thomas Rose4-5'
Shrub · May-Oct · Z5-9

Rich golden-yellow cups with an intense tea rose fragrance. David Austin's most famous creation.

Happy Returns Daylily
Happy Returns Daylily18-24"
Perennial · May-Sep · Z3-9

Lemon-yellow rebloomer with light fragrance. A bit taller than Stella with softer color.

Hawthorn
Hawthorn10-25'
Tree · May-May · Z4-7

White spring flowers, glossy red fruit, and exfoliating bark. Thorny but beautiful native with winter interest.

Henryi Clematis
Henryi Clematis8-10'
Vine · May-Sep · Z4-8

Large, pure white flowers with dark brown anthers rebloom in fall. Elegant, classic, and undeniably refined.

Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle8-20'
Vine · May-Aug · Z3-10

Tubular, nectar-rich flowers with a fragrance that defines summer evenings.

Husker Red Penstemon
Husker Red Penstemon2-3'
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-8

Dramatic burgundy-red foliage all season with white tubular flowers in late spring. The most striking native penstemon for gardens.

Iceberg Rose
Iceberg Rose3-5'
Shrub · May-Oct · Z4-9

Pure white floribunda clusters that bloom non-stop from spring to frost. Among the most planted roses in the world and bulletproof in any climate.

Immortality Iris
Immortality Iris24-30"
Perennial · May-Sep · Z3-9

Reliable rebloomer with pure white ruffled falls. Blooms spring, then again in fall.

Impatiens
Impatiens8-24"
Annual · May-Oct · Z3-10

The shade annual champion. Flowers prolifically where nothing else will.

Iris
Iris2-3'
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-10

Elegant sword-leaved perennials with intricate, ruffled blooms.

Japanese Painted Fern
Japanese Painted Fern12-18"
Perennial · May-Sep · Z4-8

Silver and burgundy fronds unlike any other fern. Foliage plant that earns its keep on color alone.

Julia Child Rose
Julia Child Rose3-4'
Shrub · May-Oct · Z5-9

Butter-yellow ruffled blooms with a sweet licorice-candy fragrance. The chef's own pick for her garden and one of the best yellow floribundas ever bred.

Karl Rosenfield Peony
Karl Rosenfield Peony3-3'
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-8

Deep ruby-red double blooms with ruffled petals on strong stems. One of the most reliable red peonies and a heritage cultivar still unmatched.

Knock Out Rose
Knock Out Rose3-4'
Shrub · May-Oct · Z5-10

The rose that changed everything. Disease-resistant, self-cleaning, and blooms nonstop from spring to frost.

Krinkled White Peony
Krinkled White Peony3-3'
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-8

Single bowl-shaped flowers with crinkled white petals around a brilliant yellow boss of stamens. Elegant, airy, and adored by bees.

Lady of Shalott Rose
Lady of Shalott Rose4-5'
Shrub · May-Oct · Z4-9

Coppery orange buds open to salmon-pink cups with golden undersides. Tough, disease-resistant, and one of the most generous repeat bloomers David Austin ever bred.

Lady's Mantle
Lady's Mantle10-16"
Perennial · May-Jul · Z3-7

Chartreuse frothy flowers and pleated blue-green leaves that hold water droplets like mercury. The ultimate filler plant.

Larkspur
Larkspur3-4'
Annual · May-Jul · Z2-11

Tall spires of spurred flowers in deep blue and purple. The annual cousin of delphinium, easier to grow from seed and just as dramatic.

Lemon Chiffon Peony
Lemon Chiffon Peony28-32"
Perennial · May-Jun · Z4-9

Intersectional Itoh hybrid with pale lemon-yellow semi-double blooms. Bartzella's softer-toned sibling with the same strong stems and long bloom.

Lewisia
Lewisia6-12"
Perennial · May-Jun · Z4-8

Succulent rosettes with brilliant striped flowers in hot sunset colors. Must have perfect drainage or it rots.

Lupine
Lupine2-4'
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-8

Dramatic spikes in every color. Short-lived but self-seeds generously.

May Night Salvia
May Night Salvia18-24"
Perennial · May-Aug · Z3-9

Perennial Plant of the Year. Dense indigo-violet spikes that rebloom if deadheaded.

Meadow Rue
Meadow Rue3-4'
Perennial · May-Jun · Z5-8

Fluffy puffs of bloom on tall, airy stems above columbine-like foliage. Light and ethereal.

Miss Kim Lilac
Miss Kim Lilac4-6'
Shrub · May-Jun · Z3-8

Compact lilac with pale lavender blooms and outstanding fragrance. Burgundy fall foliage as a bonus.

Mister Lincoln Rose
Mister Lincoln Rose4-6'
Shrub · May-Oct · Z5-9

Deep dark red hybrid tea blooms with an intense damask fragrance on long stems. The benchmark for classic red roses since 1964.

Mock Orange
Mock Orange6-10'
Shrub · May-Jun · Z4-8

Arching stems carry orange-blossom-scented white flowers in late spring.

Mountain Laurel
Mountain Laurel5-10'
Shrub · May-Jun · Z3-8

Exquisite geometric buds open to cupped flowers. A native evergreen gem.

Munstead Wood Rose
Munstead Wood Rose3-4'
Shrub · May-Sep · Z5-9

Deep velvety crimson cups with an old-rose fragrance that fills the garden. Petals age to plum-purple before falling.

Native Spiderwort
Native Spiderwort2-3'
Perennial · May-Jul · Z4-9

Three-petaled flowers in blue-purple open fresh each morning on a tough native that blooms for weeks and seeds freely.

Nelly Moser Clematis
Nelly Moser Clematis6-8'
Vine · May-Sep · Z4-8

Pale pink petals with a darker pink bar down the center. Prefers some shade to prevent color fading.

Nigella
Nigella18-24"
Annual · May-Jul · Z2-11

Sky-blue flowers wreathed in feathery green bracts give way to ornamental striped seed pods. Self-sows freely once you start.

Ninebark
Ninebark5-8'
Shrub · May-Jun · Z3-8

Peeling bark, burgundy foliage, and white puffs. A native multitasker.

Nootka Rose
Nootka Rose4-8'
Shrub · May-Jun · Z3-8

Single, apple-pink blooms followed by large rose hips that persist through winter on a vigorous Pacific Northwest native.

Olivia Rose Austin Rose
Olivia Rose Austin Rose3-4'
Shrub · May-Oct · Z4-9

Soft pink rosettes with a sweet fruity fragrance. Widely considered one of the best David Austin roses ever, with exceptional disease resistance.

Ostrich Fern
Ostrich Fern3-5'
Perennial · May-Sep · Z3-7

Tall vase-shaped fronds that unfurl from fiddleheads in spring. Spreads to form dramatic colonies.

Peace Rose
Peace Rose4-6'
Shrub · May-Oct · Z5-9

Massive cream-yellow blooms with rose-pink edges. The most famous rose of the 20th century, released the day Berlin fell in 1945.

Penstemon
Penstemon2-3'
Perennial · May-Jul · Z3-8

Tubular flowers on upright stems. Native hummingbird magnet for dry gardens.

Pentas
Pentas1-3'
Annual · May-Nov · Z3-11

Star-shaped flower clusters that hummingbirds and butterflies hit on every pass. Blooms nonstop in heat that stops impatiens cold.

Peony
Peony2-3'
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-8

Lush, ruffled blooms with intoxicating fragrance. Lives for decades.

Petunia
Petunia6-18"
Annual · May-Oct · Z3-10

Cascading color for containers and beds. Blooms nonstop until frost.

Pink Hawaiian Coral Peony
Pink Hawaiian Coral Peony2-3'
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-8

Vivid coral-pink semi-double blooms that fade to peach-cream. Early bloomer with a sweet fragrance and one of the most photographed peonies on Instagram.

Portulaca
Portulaca4-8"
Annual · May-Oct · Z3-10

Succulent-leaved sun lover with silky rose-like blooms that thrives where pavement, rock, or sand defeats everything else.

Rainbow Knock Out Rose
Rainbow Knock Out Rose3-4'
Shrub · May-Oct · Z5-10

Coral-pink single blooms with a yellow eye on the same indestructible Knock Out frame. Self-cleaning and disease-resistant like the original.

Red Hot Returns Daylily
Red Hot Returns Daylily14-18"
Perennial · May-Sep · Z3-9

Brilliant red with a small yellow center, compact and one of the earliest daylilies to kick into rebloom.

Red Twig Dogwood
Red Twig Dogwood6-10'
Shrub · May-Jun · Z3-8

Flat clusters of white flowers and berries give way to vivid red stems that shine in winter.

Rhododendron
Rhododendron6-10'
Shrub · May-Jun · Z3-8

Big, bold trusses of bloom over glossy evergreen foliage.

Rhubarb
Rhubarb2-4'
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-8

Huge leaves and thick red stalks give a lush look while supplying tart harvests.

Roald Dahl Rose
Roald Dahl Rose3-4'
Shrub · May-Oct · Z5-9

Peach-apricot cups in soft warm tones with a tea rose fragrance. Tireless rebloomer with excellent disease resistance.

Rocky Mountain Columbine
Rocky Mountain Columbine18-24"
Perennial · May-Jul · Z3-8

Large blue-and-white spurred flowers bloom in late spring above lacy foliage.

Rocky Mountain Penstemon
Rocky Mountain Penstemon18-30"
Perennial · May-Jul · Z3-8

Spikes of deep blue tubular flowers rise above glossy evergreen foliage in early summer.

Rose
Rose2-8'
Perennial · May-Oct · Z3-10

The queen of the garden. Modern varieties are surprisingly low-maintenance.

Rosy Returns Daylily
Rosy Returns Daylily18-24"
Perennial · May-Oct · Z3-9

Soft rose-pink blooms with a cream throat that keep coming from late spring to frost, absolutely tireless.

Rozanne Geranium
Rozanne Geranium12-20"
Perennial · May-Oct · Z5-8

Violet-blue saucer flowers on a sprawling mound that blooms from late spring until frost. The most awarded perennial geranium in history.

Salvia
Salvia1-3'
Perennial · May-Sep · Z3-10

Vertical flower spikes that hummingbirds and bees cannot resist.

Sarah Bernhardt Peony
Sarah Bernhardt Peony3-3'
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-8

Fully double, apple-blossom pink blooms so heavy they nod on their stems. The most planted peony in history.

Sensation Lilac
Sensation Lilac8-10'
Shrub · May-May · Z3-7

Unique bicolor blooms with purple petals edged in white. A head-turner in any spring garden.

Solomon's Seal
Solomon's Seal2-3'
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-8

Arching stems hung with dangling white bells. Pairs of leaves create graceful, layered architecture.

Speedwell
Speedwell12-24"
Perennial · May-Aug · Z3-8

Tidy spikes of blue that add vertical punch to the front of the border.

Spirea
Spirea3-5'
Shrub · May-Jul · Z3-10

Flat-topped flower clusters on tidy mounds. The easiest flowering shrub.

Stella de Oro Daylily
Stella de Oro Daylily12-18"
Perennial · May-Sep · Z3-10

The most planted perennial in America. Compact, reblooming, and basically indestructible.

Sunny Knock Out Rose
Sunny Knock Out Rose3-4'
Shrub · May-Oct · Z5-10

Bright lemon-yellow single blooms that fade to creamy white. The only Knock Out with real fragrance, and just as bulletproof as the rest.

Sunsprite Rose
Sunsprite Rose2-3'
Shrub · May-Oct · Z5-9

Brilliant deep yellow floribunda blooms that hold their color even in hot sun. Sweet fragrance and outstanding disease resistance.

Sweet William
Sweet William12-24"
Perennial · May-Jul · Z3-9

Dense flat clusters in zoned bicolors with a sweet clove fragrance. Old-fashioned cottage charm that returns reliably.

The President Clematis
The President Clematis8-10'
Vine · May-Sep · Z4-9

Big, rich violet-blue flowers with silvery reverse petals rebloom through the season on a vigorous, reliable plant.

Triteleia
Triteleia18-24"
Bulb · May-Jul · Z5-10

Loose umbels of starry blue trumpets on tall wiry stems. Western native bulb that thrives on summer drought.

Trumpet Gentian
Trumpet Gentian4-8"
Perennial · May-Jun · Z3-7

Intense, almost electric blue trumpet flowers on a low mat. The holy grail of alpine gardeners.

Twinspike Coral Bells
Twinspike Coral Bells12-18"
Perennial · May-Jul · Z4-9

Warm amber-caramel foliage that glows in the shade garden all season. The flowers are just a bonus.

Walker's Low Catmint
Walker's Low Catmint24-30"
Perennial · May-Sep · Z3-9

Perennial Plant of the Year. Billowy lavender-blue spikes that rebloom hard after a shear.

Weigela
Weigela4-6'
Shrub · May-Jun · Z3-8

Tubular blooms smother arching branches in late spring. Hummingbird haven.

Western Red Columbine
Western Red Columbine18-30"
Perennial · May-Jul · Z4-9

Scarlet and yellow spurred flowers that hummingbirds follow through the Pacific Northwest's mountain meadows.

White Wild Indigo
White Wild Indigo3-4'
Perennial · May-Jun · Z4-9

Luminous white lupin-like spikes on a structural native that's practically indestructible and improves with every year.

William Baffin Rose
William Baffin Rose8-12'
Vine · May-Oct · Z3-9

Bulletproof Canadian Explorer climber that survives zone 3 winters without protection. Strawberry-pink semi-double blooms in massive clusters.

Zephirine Drouhin Rose
Zephirine Drouhin Rose8-12'
Vine · May-Sep · Z5-9

Thornless cerise-pink climber with intense raspberry fragrance. Tolerates partial shade better than any other climbing rose.

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