As spring warms up and gardens begin to bloom, it’s the perfect time to add plants that bring lasting color through Memorial Day. Whether you're filling flower beds or adding brightness to shady corners, the right plants can make all the difference. Choosing flowers that thrive in spring and bloom steadily ensures your garden stays lively. From cool-weather charmers to sun-loving showstoppers, these picks deliver steady beauty. Here are 25 vibrant choices to help your garden shine through late May.
1. Petunias
Petunias are spring favorites that bloom early and keep going with very little fuss. These annuals thrive in full sun and come in just about every color. They work well in containers, garden beds, and hanging baskets. Petunias like well-draining soil and benefit from regular watering. Deadheading spent blooms helps them keep flowering through late spring. Supertunias and wave petunias are especially reliable for nonstop color.
2. Geraniums (Zonal)
Zonal geraniums are popular for their bold flower heads and sturdy growth. They bloom steadily in spring and can handle sunny spots with ease. Their thick stems and textured leaves also add visual interest. Geraniums prefer rich, well-drained soil and need regular watering to thrive. These plants do best with morning sun and some afternoon shade in hotter regions. Pinching back faded blooms encourages more color.
3. Salvia
Salvia is a sun-loving plant that brings tall spikes of blue, red, or purple to the garden. It blooms in mid to late spring and attracts hummingbirds and bees. Salvia prefers dry to medium soil and handles heat better than many other spring bloomers. These hardy annuals do well in borders or mass plantings. Once established, they are drought tolerant and bloom well into summer if deadheaded.
4. Marigolds (French and African types)
Marigolds are easy to grow and offer rich gold, orange, and red flowers that shine all spring. French marigolds are smaller and bushier, while African types grow taller with larger blooms. Both types need full sun and well-draining soil to do their best. They tolerate dry conditions and are known to deter some garden pests. Marigolds bloom quickly after planting and last through Memorial Day with minimal care.
5. Verbena
Verbena is a low-growing plant that produces clusters of tiny, bright flowers. It thrives in full sun and dry conditions, making it great for borders and containers. Once it starts blooming in spring, it keeps going with regular watering and trimming. Verbena spreads easily and fills in space fast. Its blooms come in purple, red, pink, and white, offering great color variety.
6. Calibrachoa (Million Bells)
Calibrachoa looks like a small petunia and is just as colorful. Known as Million Bells, it blooms heavily from early spring through Memorial Day. It prefers well-drained soil and full sun to part shade. These plants are excellent for hanging baskets and trailing over containers. Calibrachoa does not need deadheading, which makes it low maintenance. Regular feeding helps keep the blooms strong and steady.
7. Snapdragons
Snapdragons add vertical interest with tall flower spikes in many bright colors. They do best in cooler weather, so they shine in spring gardens. Snapdragons need full sun and moist, well-drained soil. They can tolerate some frost and often bloom again in fall. These flowers attract pollinators and work well in rows or mixed beds. Pinching spent blooms encourages fresh growth.
8. Osteospermum (African Daisy)
Osteospermum, or African Daisy, blooms early in spring and loves full sun. It has daisy-like flowers in purples, whites, and yellows that close at night. These plants prefer cooler temperatures and stop blooming in summer heat, but they are perfect through May. They need well-drained soil and regular watering. African Daisies are great in containers, borders, and garden edges.
9. Dianthus
Dianthus produces frilly, clove-scented blooms in pink, red, or white. It thrives in full sun and blooms early in the growing season. The plant needs well-drained soil and can tolerate some drought. Deadheading helps extend the blooming period through May. Dianthus works well in garden beds, edging, and containers. Its neat mounds of foliage also add structure.
10. Nemesia
Nemesia offers soft, two-toned flowers that look like small orchids. It prefers cool weather and grows best in early spring. These plants need moist, well-drained soil and part to full sun. Nemesia often fades in hot weather but blooms heavily through May. It works well in window boxes and containers. Regular watering and light feeding keep the flowers coming.
11. Lantana
Lantana is a sun-loving plant that blooms early in warm climates. It has small clusters of flowers that change colors as they age. Lantana grows well in dry, sandy soil and tolerates heat and drought. These plants attract butterflies and thrive in containers or borders. In southern zones, lantana starts blooming by April and lasts well past Memorial Day.
12. Lobelia
Lobelia is known for its vivid blue or purple flowers and trailing growth. It prefers cooler spring weather and partial shade. These plants need moist, rich soil and regular watering. Lobelia blooms steadily through May before fading in the summer heat. It is often used in hanging baskets, window boxes, or as a soft edging plant. Deadheading helps extend the bloom period.
13. Sweet Alyssum
Sweet Alyssum forms a low carpet of tiny, sweet-scented white or purple flowers. It grows quickly and does best in full sun to part shade. These plants like cool weather and are great for spring displays. Alyssum prefers well-drained soil and needs regular water during dry spells. It attracts pollinators and fills gaps in beds or containers with ease.
14. Pansies
Pansies are spring staples that bloom early and come in a rainbow of colors. They do best in cool weather and often start blooming before the last frost. Pansies need rich, moist soil and part to full sun. They are perfect for borders, containers, and mass plantings. In many regions, they hold their color well through May if kept watered and fed.
15. Violas
Violas are cousins of pansies with smaller, more delicate blooms. They thrive in cool spring temperatures and bloom heavily from early in the season. Violas grow best in well-drained soil with regular watering. They can handle part shade and still flower well. These plants are often used in containers, garden beds, and hanging baskets. Deadheading keeps them tidy and blooming.
16. Begonias (Wax Begonias)
Wax begonias are compact, colorful plants that do well in sun or shade. They bloom early and continue with steady color through late spring. These plants need moist, well-drained soil and occasional feeding. Wax begonias are ideal for edging or container displays. Their glossy leaves and bright blooms add lasting interest to spring gardens.
17. Coleus (for foliage color)
Coleus is grown for its bold, colorful leaves in shades of red, lime, purple, and more. It does not flower much in spring but provides vibrant foliage that lasts. Coleus prefers moist, rich soil and part shade, though some newer varieties tolerate full sun. These plants fill out garden beds and containers with ease. Pinching the tips keeps them full and bushy.
18. Impatiens (for shade)
Impatiens are a go-to choice for shaded areas and start blooming early. They offer soft, colorful flowers in pink, red, white, and purple. These plants need moist, rich soil and regular watering. Impatiens are great for shady containers, borders, or under trees. With steady moisture, they bloom continuously through Memorial Day and beyond.
19. Dusty Miller (for silvery contrast)
Dusty Miller is not a flowering plant, but its silvery foliage adds contrast to colorful blooms. It is tough, drought tolerant, and grows well in full sun. Dusty Miller works well in borders, beds, or mixed containers. The soft, textured leaves bring a cool tone to spring gardens. It stays neat and bright even as other spring flowers fade.
20. Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)
Gaillardia blooms early in warm climates with bold red and yellow daisy-like flowers. It loves full sun and dry soil, making it great for low-maintenance gardens. Gaillardia is heat tolerant and attracts pollinators. These plants start blooming in late spring and keep going into summer. Deadheading spent flowers helps maintain steady color.
21. Coreopsis
Coreopsis is a cheerful bloomer with bright yellow or gold flowers that show up in late spring. It grows well in full sun and tolerates poor soil. These plants are drought resistant and spread easily without being invasive. Coreopsis works well in wildflower gardens or mixed borders. They bloom reliably through Memorial Day when planted early.
22. Gazania (Treasure Flower)
Gazania offers bold, striped blooms in orange, red, pink, and yellow. It opens in full sun and closes at night or in cloudy weather. Gazania grows best in sandy, well-drained soil with minimal water. These plants bloom early in warm zones and hold color through May. They are great for edging, containers, or rock gardens.
23. Alyogyne huegelii (Blue Hibiscus)
Alyogyne huegelii is a shrub with large, tropical-looking blue to purple blooms. It grows well in Zones 9 to 11 and starts flowering in early spring. This plant likes full sun and well-drained soil. It is drought tolerant once established and adds a striking focal point. In warm areas, it holds blooms well into summer.
24. Scaevola (Fan Flower)
Scaevola has fan-shaped blooms that trail nicely from containers and baskets. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil. These plants bloom early and keep going through Memorial Day with little care. Scaevola tolerates heat and dry conditions, making it dependable in warm zones. Regular watering helps the blooms stay fresh.
25. Bacopa
Bacopa is a trailing plant with small white, pink, or blue flowers. It grows well in containers and hanging baskets. Bacopa prefers moist soil and part to full sun. It starts blooming early and keeps flowering if not allowed to dry out. These plants pair well with upright bloomers and fill in gaps with soft color.
Keep Your Garden Glowing Through Spring
With so many vibrant plants to choose from, it’s easy to keep your garden full of color right through Memorial Day. Mixing early bloomers with heat-tolerant varieties gives you a steady wave of flowers across different zones and spaces. Whether you garden in sun, shade, containers, or ground beds, these picks offer reliable performance and visual impact. With the right care, your spring garden can be a colorful and cheerful space all season long.