May is a great time to plant flowers in your garden. Spring has sprung and the days are getting longer, so you can enjoy those early morning sunrises out in your garden. Plus, the temperature is finally starting to warm up in May, which means it’s safe to plant even delicate flowers since most areas have already experienced their last frost.
In this post, you’ll find the best annual and perennial flowers to plant in May that will give you a steady stream of blooms all summer long.
Annual Flowers to Plant in May
Scabious
Scabious (Buy Online) is an excellent choice for borders and containers. It has stems that reach 20 inches long, and the flowers look like little pincushions. The blooms are blue in color, so it’s perfect if you’re looking for a flower with a cooler color tone to balance out your garden. This perennial is also easy to grow as it can be planted in USDA zones 3-8.
Nigella
If you’re looking for an heirloom flower that isn’t commonly found in most gardens, Nigella (Buy Online) may be perfect for you! These beautiful blooms have blue, mauve, pink, purple, and white petals. And they grow to be 12″ – 24″ tall, and are easy to care for too!
Godetia
Godetia (Buy Online) is a beautiful flower that can be planted in the spring or early summer. It has deep-colored pedals and grows to 12-24 inches tall. This perennial plant will grow best in zones 3-10, but it can also be grown as an annual in colder climates. The germination time for this flower is 25-35 days and it blooms 9-10 weeks after planting. If you want to add some color to your garden this year, consider planting a godetia.
Nasturtiums
Planting Nasturtiums (Buy Online) is a great way to add color and interest to your garden this summer. These easy-to-grow flowers come in many colors including white, yellow, orange, red, and pink. They’re also edible so you can use them as an ingredient in salads or appetizers. Plus they’re deer resistant which means they won’t get eaten by any of those pesky animals that might be roaming around your yard
Sunflower
Sunflowers (Buy Online) are a great flower to plant in May. Sow sunflower seeds 6 inches apart and keep them watered until they sprout in 7-10 days. Sunflowers are very hardy, so they won’t need much care or attention once they produce their first set of true leaves. They will tolerate most types of soil, and will even grow without fertilization in most situations. Just make sure you give them enough space and don’t plant them near other flowers or food crops since their roots release a growth-inhibiting substance.
Snapdragons
Snapdragons (Buy Online) are an easy-to-grow and beautiful variety of flowers. There are many colors to choose from, including white, pink, purple yellow, or red! If you’re looking for a plant that will attract bees and butterflies then snapdragons should be your first choice. They also make excellent cut flowers to decorate with since they make beautiful additions to flower arrangements.
Marigold
Marigolds (Buy Online) are a great flower to sow in May and they should be planted in a sunny location with well-draining soil. Plant them 12 inches apart so that there is plenty of room for the plants to grow without overcrowding each other. Be sure to water frequently as these plants require daily watering during their first weeks outside.
Zinnia
Zinnias (Buy Online) are beautiful flowers, and they will grow in most climates. The best time to plant zinnias would be from May to early June. It’s important to know what type of soil you have before planting zinnias since they prefer to grow in light sandy soil, rather than heavy clay soil with poor drainage.
Cosmos
If you’re looking for a new flower to plant in your garden, Cosmos (Buy Online) are a perfect choice. These flowers grow quickly and bloom all summer long. They need regular watering but don’t require much else. Plant them in the springtime and they’ll be ready to go by summertime
Cornflowers
Cornflowers (Buy Online) are a beautiful, delicate flower that can be planted in your garden in May. The flowers are usually purple or blue, but can also be white or pink. When planted near other flowering plants like dahlias and sunflowers, they serve as a beautiful low growing accent that will add color and texture to any flower garden.
Perennial Flowers to Plant in May
Morning Glories
Morning Glories (Buy Online) are a beautiful climbing plant that will make any trellis or fence look spectacular. They come in a wide range of colors and attract pollinators, so they’re great for anyone who wants their yard to be buzzing with activity all summer long. Morning glories are also very easy to grow, and they can bloom from late July all the way through August.
Columbine – Aquilegias
Columbines (Buy Online) come in many shapes and colors, making them a versatile plant for any garden. They will self-seed if left to their own devices, and they will quickly naturalize in most gardens. Plus, hummingbirds love columbine flowers, so planting these beauties near your home is sure to attract some of these beautiful creatures into your backyard. Columbines grow best in zones 3-8 and prefer full to partial sun exposure.
Candytuft
Candytuft (Buy Online) is an easy-to-grow perennial that can be planted in full sun or light shade. It prefers moist soil and will grow up to 10 inches tall, producing white blooms that are deer resistant and drought tolerant. This low-maintenance plant is perfect for any gardener looking for a bulletproof flower to add to a border. It can be planted in full sun or light shade and thrives in USDA zones 3-9.
Acanthus
Acanthus Mollis (Buy Online) is an almost 30 inches tall perennial flowering plant that grows as a perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 6 – 8. The vivid green leaves are accented by showy purple bracts holding pink flowers that blossom all summer long. It’s also commonly called Bear’s Breeches and will give delight you with beautiful blossoms all season long.
Hardy geraniums
Hardy Geraniums (Buy Online) are a perennial flower that can be planted in May and will bloom in early summer. They have an amazing almost florescent brightly colored flower, and they’re easy to care for. These perennial flowers grow in zones 4-9, and they prefer full to partial sun exposure.
Delphiniums
Delphiniums (Buy Online) are perennial flowers that grow into tall spires of colorful petals. The long stems make them perfect for cutting and arranging in vases. They also pair nicely with many different types of vegetables including zucchini, cucumbers, pumpkins, peppers…the list goes on! Whether you plant them next to your favorite vegetable garden or use them as part of an ornamental flowerbed around your house – delphiniums are sure to add a nice touch of color to any garden.
Solomon’s seal
Solomon’s Seal (Buy Online) is a perennial flower that blooms in early spring all the way through June. It thrives almost anywhere, reaching 12 inches tall with arching stems. This plant can be used for ground cover or planted in an area where it will spread outwards so it can cover more space than if you were to keep it contained within one area only. Plant some Solomon’s Seal now and you’ll get to enjoy this beautiful flower for many years to come.
Moonflower
The Moonflower (Buy Online) is also known as the White Flower of the Night since it starts to open up at dusk and blooms during the night. It has a lovely scent and is easy to grow. You can plant it in your garden or even on your porch. This vine will grow 12-120 inches tall with white flowers that bloom from summer through fall. It prefers full sun but moist soil with a pH of 6.1 – 6.5, and it does not tolerate shade very well.
