May is the ideal time to plant perennials before the summer heat and risk of dry spells increases.
Some perennials may not bloom in the first year they’re planted.
Planting in May benefits perennials like hostas, bleeding heart, creeping phlox, columbine, hellebore, lavender, and more.
If you’ve been itching to get your hands in the garden, the good news is that May is the perfect time to get planting. Most USDA zones are safe from the threat of frost this month, meaning that many perennials (and even some annuals) can, and should, be planted now.
“The month of May represents my preferred planting time for perennials because it marks the period when soil temperatures become suitable but summer heat has yet to arrive,” says Tammy Sons, founder and CEO of TN Nursery.
Here are some of the most common perennials you should plant this month to ensure a successful first growing season.
Meet the Expert
Tammy Sons is the founder and CEO of TN Nursery, a family-owned full-service nursery based in Altamont, Tennessee and shipping nation-wide.
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Hostas
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A shade garden staple, hostas are some of the most popular and well-known perennials around. They’re low maintenance, versatile, and offer luscious foliage from late spring to mid-fall.
May is the ideal time to plant these hardy perennials as their foliage begins to emerge. This will help new plants acclimate to their conditions and establish a strong root system before the summer heat kicks in.
Bleeding Heart
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Bleeding heart is another perennial shade garden favorite. Unlike hostas, spring is the bleeding heart’s time to shine, often blooming in the mid to late spring. Once the threat of frost in your area has passed, it’s time to plant your bleeding hearts in the ground to give them the best chance of survival throughout the summer.
Unless you’ve purchased a plant already in bloom, you can expect that the bleeding heart may not bloom in its first year in the garden. But watch out for its stunning, delicate blooms next spring.
Creeping Phlox
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Creeping phlox is a gorgeous creeping groundcover known for its delicate flowers and foliage. It is sensitive to high heat, so it’s essential to establish this perennial before temperatures in your area start to increase.
After planting, ensure you keep this plant well-watered throughout its first summer to help it withstand the high temperatures and establish successfully in the garden.
Columbine
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Columbine is best planted when temperatures are still mild but the threat of frost has passed. For many, this means that May is the best time for planting. Alternatively, this perennial can be planted in the early fall for those in warmer southern climates in preparation for the following year.
Seedlings or transplants are the best option for May planting, since seeds should be started six to eight weeks before the last frost.
Hellebore
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Hellebore is an early spring bloomer, meaning plants will likely already be in bloom in May. Nevertheless, May is the ideal time to get these shade-loving perennials in the ground for many hardiness zones, since new plants should be planted as soon as the threat of frost has passed.
In May, getting them in the ground will ensure they are established in time for the summer heat.
Shasta Daisy
Shasta daisies are a staple in many gardens for their long-lasting, cheery blooms. If you’re hoping to add this classic perennial to your garden, Sons says that May is the time to do so.
Ensure the threat of frost has passed in your area and choose a sunny location for the best show of blooms.
Lavender
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Beloved for its fragrance, purple blooms, and various culinary and aromatherapy uses, lavender is a staple in many gardens.
While established plants can be planted in the garden throughout the summer, the best time to plant this perennial herb is in the early spring once the threat of frost has passed. For many, this makes May the ideal month for planting.
Black-Eyed Susan
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Black-eyed Susans are iconic summer flowers known for their sunny colors and long-lasting blooms. While their foliage only begins to emerge in May, this month is the best time to plant them in the garden.
Ensure you choose a location that will receive several hours of sunlight each day and water them well after planting.
Coneflower
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Looking to enjoy coneflower blooms in your garden this year? If so, May is the ideal time to plant them, according to Sons.
Coneflower doesn’t bloom until mid to late summer, but it requires an established root system to do so. Planting as soon as the threat of frost has passed is the best option for seedlings and nursery starts to prepare them for summer blooming.
Poppies
When first planted, poppies thrive with warm days and cool nights, meaning May is the perfect time to plant them in most zones. These flowering perennials can be sown directly into the garden or planted as established nursery starts.
Depending on when the seeds are started, they typically flower from late spring to late summer. Many poppies are not frost-tolerant but will successfully reseed on their own.
Delphinium
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Delphinium, or larkspur, is popular in the garden for its striking blooms and vertical interest, with many varieties reaching over six feet tall. They grow well in regions with long, cool spring seasons and are relatively short-lived, lasting just three to five years.
Seedlings and transplants should be planted in the garden as soon as the threat of frost has passed, which is usually sometime in mid to late May in this perennial’s ideal growing zones.
Salvia
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Salvia, also called sage, is a large genus of over 1,000 plants, with several varieties native to North America. It is a popular perennial for its pleasant scent and pretty flowers, which range from purple to red and appear in late spring to mid-summer.
This tender perennial can be planted in the garden as soon as the threat of frost has passed, making May a popular time to plant it.
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