The Best Perennials to Plant in Spring

Spring is a wonderful time to plant perennials in your garden. The soil is warming up, rain is becoming more frequent, and plants are eagerly growing their roots out into the earth. When you plant perennials in spring, you’ll be rewarded with months of blossoms throughout the summer and beyond.

Some of the best perennials to plant in spring include peonies, iris, daylilies, hostas, and ornamental grasses. These plants thrive when given time to establish before summer’s heat kicks in Planting them in spring, rather than fall, gives their root systems a chance to spread and strengthen

Why Spring is Ideal for Planting Perennials

Spring provides ideal conditions for getting new perennials off to a vigorous start Here are some of the key advantages to spring planting

• Warmer soil temperatures – Unlike fall, soil has had a chance to warm up after winter. This makes it easier for plants to activate root growth. Roots will grow more rapidly when soil temperatures are above 50°F.

• Plentiful moisture – Spring rains give new plantings the water they need to establish quickly Less watering by the gardener is required

• Warm air temperatures – Daytime highs reaching into the 60s, 70s, and 80s allow plants to grow rapidly above and below ground.

• Long growing season – When planted in spring, perennials have the entire growing season to build strong root systems before going dormant in winter.

• Less transplant shock – Actively growing plants experience less shock when transplanted in spring vs. fall. Their growth is uninterrupted.

For these reasons, spring is the optimum time to plant hardy perennials you want to thrive with minimal effort on your part.

12 Excellent Perennial Plants for Spring Planting

Here are 12 of the best perennials to plant in early to mid spring:

1. Peonies

These spring bloomers are practically synonymous with the season. Peonies produce enormous, romantic blooms in shades like red, pink, white, lavender, and yellow. Plant them in spring to allow their roots several months to spread and establish before setting buds in fall. Peonies thrive for decades when planted properly.

Planting depth: 2 inches

Sun exposure: Full sun to part shade

Soil: Rich, well-draining

Zone: 2-8

2. Bearded Iris

Another spring flower favorite, bearded iris bloom in a rainbow of colors in late spring to early summer. These easy perennials prefer full sun and well-drained soil. Plant the rhizomes shallowly in early spring. Divide iris clumps every few years to encourage blooming.

Planting depth: Top of rhizome exposed

Sun exposure: Full sun

Soil: Well-draining

Zone: 3-10

3. Daylilies

Daylilies are one of the easiest perennials to grow, tolerating drought, heat, humidity, and poor soil. Their bright trumpet-shaped blooms come in every color but blue. Plant daylily tubers in spring as soon as the ground can be worked. Divide the clumps every 3-5 years to keep them blooming vigorously.

Planting depth: 2 inches

Sun exposure: Full sun to light shade

Soil: Average garden soil

Zone: 3-10

4. Hostas

Hostas are treasured for their lovely variegated or blue-green foliage. Plant hosta roots in early to mid spring to establish the plants before summer heat arrives. Hostas prefer shady spots with rich moist soil. Add compost to planting holes and keep them mulched.

Planting depth: Crown at soil level

Sun exposure: Part shade to full shade

Soil: Organic, well-draining

Zone: 3-8

5. Astilbe

Astilbe produces airy, feather-like blooms excellent for shady gardens. Set out containerized astilbe plants in spring once the soil has warmed. Provide the perennials with consistently moist soil. Mulch heavily to keep roots cool in summer.

Planting depth: Crown 1 inch below soil

Sun exposure: Part shade to full shade

Soil: Rich, moist

Zone: 4-9

6. Hibiscus

Add a tropical flair to your garden with hardy hibiscus. Plant the perennials in spring so they have time to settle in before the intense heat of summer. Pamper the plants with fertile soil and ample moisture. Once established, hibiscus readily survive winter in their dormant state.

Planting depth: Crown at soil level

Sun exposure: Full sun to part shade

Soil: Moist, well-draining

Zone: 4-9

7. Ornamental grasses

Ornamental grasses lend texture and movement to gardens. Varieties like maiden grass, fountain grass, and switch grass thrive when planted in spring. Give them full sun to part shade and water during droughts. Cut back dead foliage in late winter before new growth emerges.

Planting depth: Crown 1 inch below soil

Sun exposure: Full sun to part shade

Soil: Average fertility, well-draining

Zone: Varies by variety

8. Coral bells (Heuchera)

Grown for their foliage, coral bells come in a diverse range of leaf colors like lime green, burgundy, and variegated. Plant them in part shade in early spring while soil is cool and moist. Add compost to the soil to sustain the shallow coral bell roots.

Planting depth: Crown 1/2 inch below soil

Sun exposure: Part sun to full shade

Soil: Organic, moist

Zone: 4-8

9. Siberian iris

Another favorite iris for gardens, the Siberian iris tolerates moist soil better than bearded iris varieties. Use them near ponds, streams, and in rain gardens. Plant the shallow rhizomes in spring and provide ample moisture. Divide clumps every 3-4 years.

Planting depth: Top of rhizome exposed

Sun exposure: Full sun to part shade

Soil: Moist

Zone: 3-9

10. Baptisia (False indigo)

Baptisia is a lovely spring wildflower with blue, purple, yellow, or white blooms and gray-green foliage. Plant roots in early spring in full sun to part shade. It prefers poor, dry soil where its deep taproot can take hold. Baptisia makes a great groundcover.

Planting depth: Crown 1 inch below soil

Sun exposure: Full sun to part shade

Soil: Poor, dry, well-draining

Zone: 4-9

11. Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla)

A staple of cottage gardens, lady’s mantle has pretty scalloped leaves that catch raindrops like jewels. Plant the perennial in spring in moist, partly shaded sites amended with compost. Foliage remains attractive all season long. Plants spread vigorously when happy.

Planting depth: Crown at soil level

Sun exposure: Part sun to shade

Soil: Average to rich, moist

Zone: 3-8

12. Catmint (Nepeta)

Catmints give you weeks of delicate blue blooms plus aromatic gray-green foliage. Drought tolerant and pest resistant, they thrive in full sun with average soil. Cut plants back after first flush of flowers for a second bloom. Catmint spreads nicely as a groundcover.

Planting depth: Crown 1/2 inch below soil

Sun exposure: Full sun to part shade

Soil: Average, well-draining

Zone: 3-8

How to Plant Perennials in Spring

Spring is generally the best time to plant container-grown perennials. Here are some tips for optimal spring planting:

• Prepare soil with compost or other organic material like peat moss, manure, or leaf mold

• Plant early to mid spring once frost risk has passed

• Water plants thoroughly before and after transplanting

• Dig holes 2-3 times wider than container size

• Carefully remove plants from pots, loosen roots, position in holes

• Backfill holes with native soil, tamp firmly to remove air pockets

• Water deeply again after planting

• Apply 2-3” mulch layer to conserve moisture

• Provide regular water until plants are established

When planting bareroot perennials in spring:

• Soak roots in water for 30 minutes before planting

• Prune any damaged roots

• Plant at correct depth according to plant variety

• Backfill hole with soil blend amended with organic matter

• Tamp soil gently and water thoroughly

• Keep soil moist until visible growth appears

Caring for Spring-Planted Perennials

Here are some tips for getting spring-planted perennials successfully established:

• Water thoroughly at least once a week during the first 2 months

• Apply fertilizer monthly; use formulations for new plantings

• Weed carefully by hand to avoid damaging shallow roots

• Put down 2-3” of organic mulch like bark or leaves

• Stake tall or weak perennials to protect from winds

• Prune spent blooms to encourage more flowering

• Divide crowded clumps every 3-5 years in early spring

• Watch for slugs, snails, and other pests; apply organic treatments promptly

With attentive spring planting and care, your perennials will thrive for many years of beauty in the garden.

Best Perennial Plants for Various Gardening Needs

Beyond the spring planting staples already mentioned, here are some top-notch perennials to consider for specific gardening uses and conditions:

Borders and edging: Salvia, lavender, aster, gaura, sedum, thrift, oregano, thyme, chamomile

Butterfly gardens: Butterfly bush, coneflower, gayfeather, veronica, catmint, milkweed, asters

Cut flowers: Peony, iris, delphinium, lisianthus, yarrow, daisies, lilies, dahlia

Deer resistant: Lavender, catmint, astilbe, foxglove, bee balm, coral bells, baptisia, iris

Dry soil: Yarrow, coreopsis, gaillardia, sedum, baptisia, catmint, prairie dropseed, blanket flower

Shade gardens: Astilbe, coral bells, hosta, bergenia, foxglove, lungwort, bleeding heart, ginger

Cottage gardens: Hollyhock, catmint, yarrow, bee balm, lady’s mantle, bellflower, maltese cross

Rock gardens: Dianthus, thrift, sedum, aubretia, campanula, verbascum, sea holly, creeping phlox

Water gardens: Swamp milkweed, cardinal flower, turtlehead, blue flag iris, sweet flag, Japanese iris

With so many exceptional perennials to pick from, you’re sure to find plenty of candidates to enhance your garden’s beauty in spring and beyond. Happy planting!

Several perennials are known for their extended blooming periods. Coneflowers (Echinacea), particularly the ‘Magnus’ and ‘White Swan’ varieties, can bloom from early summer into mid-autumn with regular deadheading, according to Savvy Gardening. Other long-blooming options include Catmint (Nepeta), especially ‘Walkers Low’, which can flower for up to 8 weeks, according to a gardening blog.