During May both gardeners and gardens are ready for planting. The soils are warm, the temperature is comfortable and the air is fragrant with spring buds. It is the perfect time for getting out in the garden and starting new flowering plants. A number of annuals, perennials, herbs, shrubs and trees will thrive if planted during this late-spring and early summer season.
Annuals
Warm season annuals like begonias, geraniums, marigolds and petunias will provide color and drama throughout the growing season if planted in May. They are also suitable for container gardening. Begonias come in a myriad of colors and there are varieties of begonia that grow in shade to full sun. Popular plants like geraniums can be used outdoors as annuals in the garden, in hanging baskets, in pots and in window boxes. Indoors, they flourish in sunny locations. Marigolds planted in May will present a tidy golden and crimson border with the added benefit of repelling many garden pests. Petunias also create lovely borders in even the smallest areas.
Perennials
Flowering perennials such as African daisy, delphinium and fuchsia are well-suited for May planting. Varieties of African daisy bloom in colors including white, pink, yellow and gold. They do well in sunny areas of the garden or in pots in a sunny corner of the patio. The blue, violet and white blossoms of the delphinium do best in cooler climates (Zones 2-7) and will begin to lose vigor after two or three years. Fuchsia's pinkish to purple flowers are frequently seen in containers or hanging baskets. Considered cold-hardy, it prefers cool temperatures (Zones 4-6) and does well if planted in semi-shaded areas.
Herbs
Many popular culinary herbs such as cilantro, thyme and sage produce attractive flowers and can be planted in May. Cilantro grows well throughout spring and summer. Its leaves when picked early provide delicious seasoning for Mexican and Chinese cookery. When it has produced its flowers, though, the leaves are too strongly flavored for most dishes. The delicate purple flowers of the thyme plant are a lovely bonus in the garden or container. Thyme is very hardy and will grow in most conditions including hydroponically. Sage leaves are prized for seasoning poultry and meats, sausages and cheese. Its purple, blue and burgundy flowers are the legendary landscape decorator.
Shrubs and Trees
Flowering shrubs and trees such as spirea, dogwood and hydrangea are an easy-maintenance addition to the landscape and do well when planted in May. Spireas are small to medium sized deciduous shrubs that produce cascades of pink, red, yellow, and white flowers in spring and summer, and can be planted in both spring and fall. The flowering dogwood, state flower of several southern states, grows wild in wooded areas but is enjoyable to cultivate in the suburban yard. Hydrangeas grow almost unattended in the garden. Their big white, blue or pink blossoms provide an abundance of cut flowers all during the summer will into the fall.
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