May is honestly one of the best months to get your hands dirty in the garden. The weather is just right, the soil is warming up, and flowers planted now have a real chance to thrive all season long.
If you’ve been putting off adding some new blooms to your yard, this list might just change that. These 25 flowers are worth every bit of effort — and you’ll probably kick yourself for waiting so long!
1.) Zinnias
Zinnias are one of the easiest flowers you can grow from seed, and they reward you fast. Direct sow them in May once the soil has warmed up, and you’ll have blooms in about 8 weeks. They thrive in full sun and don’t ask for much beyond decent drainage.
Best of all, the more you cut them, the more they bloom. They handle heat well and keep going strong through summer. Great for pollinators, great for bouquets — honestly, just plant them.
2.) Sunflowers
Sunflowers are one of those plants that just make a yard feel cheerful and alive. They grow fast, they’re hard to mess up, and they reward you with big, bold blooms that both people and pollinators love.
Plant seeds directly in the ground after the last frost in full sun. They like well-drained soil and don’t need much fussing once they’re established. Water deeply but not too often.
Best in zones 2–11, sunflowers thrive in the warm summer months and can reach anywhere from 2 to 12 feet tall.
3.) Marigolds
Marigolds are one of those flowers that just make a garden feel cheerful and lived-in. They bloom in warm shades of yellow, orange, and red, and they’re practically impossible to kill if you give them full sun and decent drainage.
Plant them in May once the frost is gone, and they’ll flower all the way through fall. They also do a great job keeping pests away from nearby vegetables, making them a smart pick for garden borders or raised beds.
4.) Cosmos
Cosmos are one of those flowers that basically grow themselves. Direct sow the seeds in a sunny spot after your last frost, and they’ll take off fast — no fussing required. They actually prefer poor soil, so skip the heavy fertilizing or you’ll get lots of leaves and very few blooms.
These cheerful daisy-like flowers come in pinks, whites, and reds, and they’ll keep blooming from summer right into fall. They’re great for pollinators too, so bees and butterflies will be thrilled.
5.) Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are one of those flowers that basically grow themselves. Direct sow the seeds in a sunny spot after your last frost, and they’ll take off fast — no fussing required. They actually do better in poor soil, so skip the heavy fertilizing or you’ll get more leaves than blooms.
These cheerful orange, red, and yellow flowers are edible too, which makes them great for herb gardens or raised beds. They’re warm-season annuals that thrive in zones 2–11 from late spring through fall.
6.) Black-Eyed Susans
Black-Eyed Susans are one of those flowers that just make a garden feel cheerful and alive. Their golden-yellow petals with dark centers bloom from midsummer all the way into fall, giving you a long stretch of color when other flowers start fading.
They’re pretty easy to grow, too. Plant them in full sun and well-drained soil, and they’ll handle heat and drought without much fuss. They work well in zones 3–9 and attract pollinators like bees and butterflies all season long.
7.) Petunias
Petunias are one of those flowers that just work. They bloom in a wide range of colors, from soft pastels to deep purples, and they keep going all season long without much fuss.
Plant them somewhere sunny — they need at least six hours of direct light to really take off. They grow well in beds, borders, and hanging baskets. Water them regularly but don’t let them sit in soggy soil.
Best of all, they thrive in zones 10–11 and as warm-season annuals everywhere else.
8.) Impatiens
Impatiens are one of the easiest flowers to grow if you’ve got a shady spot that feels impossible to fill. They bloom like crazy from spring until the first frost, and they come in just about every shade of pink, red, white, and coral you can think of.
Plant them in moist, well-drained soil and keep them watered during dry spells — they’ll droop quickly without enough moisture. They thrive in zones 10–11 as perennials but work beautifully as annuals almost everywhere else.
9.) Celosia
Celosia is one of those flowers that looks like it belongs in a painting. The blooms come in feathery plumes or tightly packed, brain-like clusters, and they hold their color for a long time — even when dried.
Plant it after the last frost in full sun, and make sure the soil drains well. It loves heat, so May is the perfect time to get it in the ground. Hardy in zones 10–12, but most gardeners grow it as a summer annual.
10.) Salvia
Salvia is one of those plants that just works — bees and hummingbirds can’t stay away from it, and it blooms for a long time without much fuss. Plant it in May and you’ll have color running from late spring well into fall.
It does best in full sun with well-drained soil, and once it’s settled in, it handles heat and dry spells pretty well. It’s hardy in zones 4–10 depending on the variety.
Deadhead spent blooms to keep new flowers coming all season.
11.) Coleus
Coleus is one of those plants that earns its spot in the garden through sheer personality. The leaves come in wild combinations of red, green, purple, and gold, so you honestly don’t need many flowers around it to make things look interesting.
It loves warm weather and grows best in zones 10–11, though most gardeners treat it as an annual. Plant it in partial shade, keep the soil moist, and pinch off any flower buds to keep the foliage looking its best.
12.) Begonias
Begonias are one of those flowers that just make a garden look put-together without much effort on your part. They come in shades of pink, red, white, and orange, and they bloom all season long, which is always a win.
Plant them in partial shade with moist, well-drained soil, and they’ll be happy. They do best in zones 9–11 but work great as annuals anywhere. Water regularly but don’t overdo it — soggy roots are their biggest enemy.
13.) Dahlias
Dahlias are one of those flowers that just keep giving all summer long. Plant the tubers in May once the soil has warmed up, and you’ll have blooms from midsummer right through the first frost. They love full sun and well-drained soil, so avoid soggy spots in your yard.
They do best in zones 8–11 but can be grown as annuals pretty much anywhere. Pinch the plants early to encourage bushier growth, and deadhead regularly to keep the blooms coming.
14.) Morning Glories
Morning glories are those classic climbing flowers that seem to show up on every cottage fence for a good reason — they’re easy to grow and hard to mess up. Plant them in full sun after your last frost, and they’ll take off fast, covering trellises, fences, or mailboxes with trumpet-shaped blooms in shades of purple, pink, and blue.
They thrive in zones 3–10 as warm-season annuals and actually prefer poor soil over rich soil. Water regularly but don’t overdo it, and you’ll have blooms from summer through fall.
15.) Sweet Alyssum
Sweet Alyssum is one of those low-key flowers that quietly does a lot of work in the garden. It grows in little clusters of tiny white, pink, or purple blooms and has a soft, honey-like scent that’s hard not to love.
It’s easy to grow from seed, does well in full sun to partial shade, and handles light frost like a champ. It thrives in zones 5–9 and works great as a ground cover or border edging.
16.) Calibrachoa
Calibrachoa looks like a miniature petunia and comes in just about every color you can think of — pink, purple, yellow, red, and everything in between. It’s a warm-season annual that loves full sun and well-drained soil, making it a great pick for containers and hanging baskets.
The best part? It blooms like crazy all season long without deadheading. Water it regularly, feed it every couple of weeks with a liquid fertilizer, and it’ll keep going strong from spring through fall.
17.) Verbena
Verbena is one of those flowers that just keeps going all season long without much fuss. It blooms in shades of pink, purple, red, and white, and it looks great spilling out of containers or spreading along the front of a garden bed.
Plant it in full sun and well-drained soil, and it’ll reward you with months of color. It handles heat really well and doesn’t need much water once it’s established. Hardy in zones 7–11, but it grows as an annual everywhere else.
18.) Lantana
Lantana is a tough, cheerful little plant that blooms in clusters of tiny flowers, often mixing colors like yellow, orange, and pink all in one bunch. It loves the heat and handles drought surprisingly well once it’s settled in.
Plant it in full sun and give it well-drained soil, and it’ll basically take care of itself. It thrives in zones 8–11 but works great as an annual in cooler areas. Bonus — butterflies absolutely can’t get enough of it.
19.) Vinca
Vinca, also called periwinkle, is one of those plants that just keeps going no matter what you throw at it. It spreads quickly and covers bare spots with cheerful little blooms in pink, purple, red, or white all season long.
It thrives in full sun to partial shade and handles heat and drought surprisingly well once established. Plant it in May after the last frost, and it’ll reward you straight through fall. Hardy in zones 9–11, it’s grown as an annual in cooler climates.
20.) Gaillardia
Gaillardia, also called blanket flower, brings a warm mix of red, orange, and yellow to your garden all summer long. It’s a tough little plant that actually thrives on neglect, making it perfect for beginners or anyone who tends to forget a watering day or two.
Plant it in full sun and well-drained soil, and it’ll reward you big time. It grows well in zones 3–10, handles heat and drought like a champ, and deadheading spent blooms keeps the flowers coming all season.
21.) Coneflowers
Coneflowers are one of those plants that basically take care of themselves once they get going. They love full sun and well-drained soil, and they’re tough enough to handle drought once established. Hardy in zones 3–9, they bloom from midsummer into fall.
Plant them in May and they’ll reward you with cheerful daisy-like blooms in shades of pink, purple, and white. Deadhead spent flowers to keep them blooming, or leave the seed heads standing — birds will thank you for it.
22.) Ageratum
Ageratum, also called floss flower, produces clusters of fluffy, blue-purple blooms that last all summer long. It’s one of those plants that just keeps going without much fuss, making it a solid pick for borders, containers, or filling in gaps between other flowers.
Plant it in full sun after your last frost, since it likes warm weather. It grows well in zones 2–11 as an annual. Water it regularly and deadhead spent blooms to keep new flowers coming throughout the season.
23.) Portulaca
Portulaca, also called moss rose, is a cheerful little flower that thrives in hot, dry conditions where other plants struggle. It loves full sun and sandy or poor soil, making it a great choice if you’re working with a tricky spot in your yard. It’s perfect for zones 2–11 as a warm-season annual.
The blooms come in shades of pink, orange, yellow, and red, and they open up on sunny days. Just plant it in May after the last frost, water it occasionally, and pretty much let it do its thing.
24.) Cleome
Cleome, also called spider flower, is one of those plants that basically takes care of itself once it gets going. It grows tall — sometimes up to four feet — and produces clusters of pink, purple, or white blooms that butterflies and hummingbirds can’t seem to resist.
Plant seeds directly in the ground after your last frost, in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. It thrives in zones 2–11 as an annual. Fair warning: it self-seeds like crazy, so expect it to come back next year without any extra effort.
25.) Bachelor’s Buttons
Bachelor’s Buttons are those classic blue wildflower-looking blooms you’ve probably seen growing along roadsides. They come in pink, white, and purple too, but the blue ones are hard to beat. They grow fast, they’re cheerful, and they just work in any kind of garden setup.
Plant them in full sun and well-drained soil, and they’ll basically take care of themselves. They’re cool-season flowers, so May is the perfect time to get them going. Hardy in zones 2–11, they’re about as low-maintenance as it gets.