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 huge variety of cheerful colors like purple, yellow, white, and orange Pansies are one of the most cold-hardy annuals, able to withstand frosts and light freezes. Plant them in beds, containers, or hanging baskets for waves of color through spring and fall. They like full sun to part shade and well-draining, acidic soil.

2. Marigolds

Bright orange and yellow marigold flowers will instantly brighten up your spring garden. They are easy to grow, tolerant of both heat and cooler weather. Marigolds are great companion plants for vegetables as they help deter pests. An added bonus – they self sow so you’ll have them coming up year after year! Site marigolds in full sun to part shade.

3. Peonies

Peonies are a classic and beloved spring bloomer. They produce huge, magnificent flowers in late spring that can reach up to 5-10 inches across! Popular varieties include the fragrant, double white ‘Festiva Maxima’ and the soft pink ‘Sarah Bernhardt’. Plant peonies in full sun and well-drained soil enriched with compost. Provide support with peony hoops or rings to keep the heavy blooms upright.

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 absolutely perfect for adding vivid color to shady beds and borders. Thanks to their amazing foliage, coleus come in a rainbow of colors and patterns like crimson red, neon pink, coral, and lime green. Coleus are versatile, low maintenance, and easy to grow. Pinch stems back to encourage bushy, full growth. Site coleus in part to full shade and provide evenly moist soil.

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!