The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Spring bulbsare a welcome sight, especially after a seemingly endless winter.
Along with warmer weather, they signal it’s finally time to start cleaning up and planting our gardens.
However, after enjoying the early bloomers, you might find your garden in a lull by late spring.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Here are 11 of the best flowers that bloom in May and beyond.
Allium (Allium Species and Hybrids)
Thelarge-flowered alliumstypically bloom from May to June.
These ornamental members of the onion family are grown for their beauty rather than their flavor.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Otherwise, deer-resistant alliums are fairly low-maintenance, though they will require regular watering while in flower.
Bleeding heart is a fairly substantial plant growing to about two to three feet tall with a similar spread.
Its puffy, heart-shaped blooms arrive from April to May, dangling off arching stems.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
The old-fashioned bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis)typically goes dormant after blooming and its foliage disappears.
This is normal behavior, so don’t think you killed the plant.
Keep these plants well watered throughout the summer, but confirm theyre not sitting in soggy soil.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
No pruning or deadheading is necessary.
One of the loveliest isBrunnera macrophylla, also known as Siberian bugloss, heartleaf brunnera, or false forget-me-nots.
verify to keep the soil moist, especially for new plants.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Brunnera plants usually dont require fertilizer unless the soil is poor and infertile.
That’s a shame because it’s a beautiful plant that tends to attract many pollinators, including hummingbirds.
In its place has come a series of hybrids, each a more intriguing color than the last.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
These are deceptively delicate-looking plants.
They can handle all kinds of weather and will gladly seed themselves around the garden.
Their flowers tend to bloom from April to May.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Fertilize monthly to encourage vibrant foliage and flowers.
While great plants, these are not geraniums but of the genusPelargonium.
The geraniums referred to here are the genus oftrue hardy geraniums.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
This is a low-maintenance plant that you typically only have to water during a dry spell.
Perennial geraniums can benefit from a slow-release fertilizer.
If you purchase three to five small plants, they will establish larger colonies fairly quickly through self-seeding.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
It is worth the wait for these beautiful blooms.
Typically blooming in April or earlier, the blooms start off facing the ground.
This makes them “belly plants” because you have to get down low to see them.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
But store your knees the trouble, and be patient.
These plants like some moisture, but dont let them sit in water.
Add fertilizer when you plant them, as well as in the spring and early fall for established plants.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Blooming in April to May, the plants hold their flower stalks high above the ladder-like foliage.
These alternative colors are often difficult to find, and the plants might not be as hardy.
Cutting back the plant after it blooms can encourage reblooming in late summer.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Maintain medium moisture levels with regular watering to prolong blooming.
Add a balanced fertilizer in the early spring and when flowers have faded.
Lilacs are long-lived shrubs that are relatively low maintenance in the garden.
They typically bloom for several weeks in April to May.
This also allows the plant to set even more blooms for the following year.
Keep lilacs moderately moist, but dont overwater them as this can lead to poor blooms.
Lily of the Valley (Convallaria Majalis)
Gardeners tend to love or hatelily of the valley.
And then there’s its heavenly scent.
For such a tiny, low-growing flower, the fragrance can permeate the air.
The plant typically blooms in April.
Water your plants whenever the top inch or two of soil is dry.
Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer every three months during the growing season.
Pansy (Viola Wittrockiana)
Pansiesand other violas are beloved for their bright, cheerful colors.
They typically bloom from April to June.
Pansies can handle light frosts and chilly winds in spring and fall.
Modern introductions are better able to handle the heat.
Regular watering can help to extend the blooming period.
Pansies appreciate some fertilizer, but too much can make them leggy.
The flowers typically appear in early to mid-spring, but they remain in bloom for six weeks or longer.
Most primroses will happily self-sow throughout your garden, though not to the point of being invasive.
If you plant more than one color flower, expect some cross-pollination and surprising colors the following season.
Primroses are generally low-maintenance plants.
