The Top 10 Best Plants to Plant in the Spring

Spring is an exciting time for gardeners. The soil is warming up days are getting longer and it’s time to start planting again! Choosing the right plants to put in the ground now will give you months of beauty and enjoyment through the spring, summer, and even into fall. Here are the 10 best plants you should be planting in spring

1. Pansies

Pansies are a classic spring flower. They come in a lot of happy colors, like orange, purple, yellow, and white. Pansies are one of the hardiest annuals, meaning they can handle frosts and light freezes. For waves of color in the spring and fall, plant them in beds, pots, or hanging baskets. They do best in acidic, well-drained soil that gets some shade.

2. Marigolds

The orange and yellow marigold flowers will make your spring garden look great right away. They’re simple to grow and can handle both hot and cold weather. Marigolds are great plants to grow next to vegetables because they keep bugs away. Plus, they self-seed, so they’ll come back every year! Marigolds do best in full sun to part shade.

3. Peonies

Peonies are a classic and beloved spring bloomer. In late spring, they bloom huge, beautiful flowers that can be 5 to 10 inches across. The fragrant, double white “Festiva Maxima” and the soft pink “Sarah Bernhardt” are two popular types. Peonies do best in full sun and well-drained soil that has been mixed with compost. Peony hoops or rings can help keep the heavy blooms standing straight.

4. Begonias

Few plants offer the diversity of shapes, colors, and sizes as begonias. From 8 inch trailing types to giant 5 foot tall angel wing varieties, these showy bloomers come in pink, white, red, orange and more. Begonias do best in part sun to shade and organically rich, well-draining soil. Use them in beds, containers, window boxes, and hanging baskets.

5. Coleus

Coleus are great for adding bright color to beds and borders that get shade. Coleus plants have beautiful leaves that come in a wide range of colors and patterns, such as coral, lime green, neon pink, and crimson red. Coleus are versatile, low maintenance, and easy to grow. Pinch stems back to encourage bushy, full growth. Place coleus in part- to full-shade and make sure the soil is evenly moist.

6. Petunias

A spring and summer garden staple, petunias are available in a huge range of colors and habits. Grandiflora types produce large, ruffled flowers while multiflora spread into abundant mounds of blooms. Try trailing varieties in hanging baskets or upright types in garden beds. Petunias like full sun and well-drained, fertile soil. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowers.

7. Sunflowers

What says summer more than cheerful, yellow sunflowers? Get a head start on these heat-loving annuals by planting seeds or young plants in spring after all danger of frost. Choose dwarf varieties like ‘Sunspot’ for containers or giant 8-12 foot types for stunning vertical interest. Sunflowers are easy to grow, unfussy plants that attract pollinators. Site them in full sun.

8. Zinnias

Known for their dazzling diversity of colors and forms, zinnias are one of the best choices for non-stop summer color. Plant seeds of zinnias directly in the garden after the last spring frost. Some great options include ‘Zahara Starlight Rose’ zinnias, ‘Queen’ series, or classic ‘Benary’s Giants’. Pinch tips to encourage bushy growth. Grow zinnias in full sun and well-draining soil.

9. Summer Snapdragon

Summer snapdragons, also known as angelonias, resemble their cool season namesakes but thrive in the heat. They produce pretty spikes of flowers in shades of purple, pink, white, and bicolor blooms from spring through fall. Angelonias are low maintenance, attract pollinators, and work well in containers or garden beds. Grow them in full sun to part shade.

10. Lantana

Lantana is a vigorous, heat-loving perennial that blooms non-stop from spring through fall. It produces clusters of brightly colored flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden. Lantana grows well in full sun to part shade and less fertile, well-draining soil. Use the compact varieties as edging plants, in containers, or mass them in garden beds.

When planning what to plant this spring, focus on options that will provide long-lasting color through the seasons. Mix cold-hardy annuals like pansies and marigolds with summer lovers like zinnias, sunflowers, and lantana. Add easy-care perennials and bulbs for repeated blooms year after year. With the right combination of plants, your spring garden will delight you well into the fall!