13 Perennial Plants That Thrive When Planted in Spring

Spring is the perfect time to plant perennials, allowing them to establish strong roots and thrive throughout the growing season.

Perennials are plants that come back year after year, and by choosing the right ones for spring planting, you can ensure that your garden will be full of color, texture, and life.

Here are 13 perennials that thrive in spring, giving you a beautiful, low-maintenance garden all year.

1. Brighten Your Garden with Verbena – A Colorful Bloomer

Verbena thrives when planted in spring, making it a perfect choice to get your garden off to a great start. This vibrant perennial loves warm soil, which helps it establish strong roots. It will grow steadily, producing clusters of colorful flowers that will continue to enhance your garden.

Verbena is versatile, and it can be planted in containers, borders, or flower beds. By planting it in spring, you'll set the stage for a garden full of life and color.

Best Practices for Verbena

Verbena thrives on at least 6-8 hours of full sun daily and well-draining soil. It should be watered regularly until established, then allowed to dry slightly between waterings for best flowering. Once established, this colorful perennial is drought-tolerant, making it perfect for low-maintenance gardens.

To keep verbena blooming all season, trim plants back by about one-third when flowering slows. Apply a balanced fertilizer in spring and mid-summer for continuous color. In zones 8-11, verbena returns reliably year after year; in colder regions, it takes cuttings in late summer to overwinter indoors.

2. Add a Touch of Sweetness with Sweet William’s Fragrant Blooms

Sweet William is a cool-weather perennial that excels when planted in early spring. It establishes quickly, producing clusters of bright and fragrant blooms. Its easy care and ability to thrive in cooler conditions make it ideal for spring planting.

Sweet William brings cheerful colors to garden spaces and offers a delightful fragrance as well. With a little springtime care, Sweet William will fill your garden with beauty and scent.

Best Practices for Sweet William

Sweet William performs best in full sun to partial shade, with afternoon shade beneficial in hot climates. It prefers well-draining soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH. Keep soil consistently moist but never soggy, as overly wet conditions can cause root rot.

Though traditionally a biennial, many modern varieties will bloom in their first season. Deadhead spent blooms regularly to encourage continuous flowering. This cold-hardy plant survives temperatures as low as -34°C, making it suitable for most climate zones. For continued color, allow some flowers to self-seed or take summer cuttings.

3. Soft, Silvery Foliage with Lamb’s Ear: Perfect for Spring Planting

Lamb’s Ear is an excellent choice for spring planting, especially in sunny and well-drained spots. Known for its silvery, velvety leaves, it provides unique texture and interest.

This low-maintenance perennial grows quickly, spreading steadily throughout the season. It is perfect for creating a soft ground cover or filling in gaps in garden beds. Planting in spring ensures Lamb's Ear has enough time to grow and establish itself for the year.

Best Practices for Lamb's Ear

Lamb's Ear needs well-draining soil and performs best in full sun to light shade. This drought-tolerant perennial requires deep but infrequent watering once established, as wet conditions can cause center rot. Its fuzzy, silver-gray leaves form a dense mat 4-6 inches tall, making it a distinctive textural element.

Divide plants every 2-3 years in spring to maintain vigor and prevent overcrowding. Remove flower stalks if you're growing primarily for the signature silvery foliage. The fuzzy texture naturally deters deer and rabbits, making it ideal for open gardens and mixed borders.

4. Turn Your Garden Red with Japanese Blood Grass: A Showstopper

Japanese Blood Grass is ideal for spring planting, requiring warm soil to establish strong roots. As the plant matures, its bold red tips contrast the surrounding greenery. This ornamental grass is both striking and low-maintenance, making it a great addition to sunny spots.

Spring planting gives it a full season to grow and develop, ensuring its vibrant color and dramatic look. With a little attention, Japanese Blood Grass will become a standout feature in your garden.

Best Practices for Japanese Blood Grass

Japanese Blood Grass shows its most vibrant red coloration when planted in full sun, though it tolerates some afternoon shade in hot climates. This adaptable ornamental grass grows well in most soil types as long as they drain properly. Keep soil consistently moist during establishment, then water weekly during dry periods.

The grass grows in upright clumps reaching 12-24 inches tall, with green blades that develop striking red tips as the season progresses. Because it can spread aggressively in some regions, consider planting in containers or installing root barriers. Cut back to a few inches above ground level in late winter before new growth appears.

5. Siberian Bugloss: A Shady Delight for Your Garden

Siberian Bugloss is a fantastic choice for spring planting, especially in shaded areas with rich, moist soil. This perennial blooms early in the season with delicate blue flowers that resemble forget-me-nots.

Planting in spring allows it to settle in and grow, providing year-round texture with its attractive foliage. Its heart-shaped leaves make it a lovely ground cover in shaded spots. Also, planting it in spring gives Siberian Bugloss the best chance to flourish in your garden.

Best Practices for Siberian Bugloss

Siberian Bugloss thrives in partial to full shade with morning sun and afternoon shade protection. This shade-lover needs rich, moist, well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter. Keep soil consistently moist, especially during hot weather, and apply mulch to preserve moisture and suppress weeds.

In spring, it produces clusters of small blue forget-me-not-like flowers above its attractive heart-shaped leaves. To maintain its appearance, remove damaged leaves promptly, and divide plants every 3-4 years in spring to prevent overcrowding. Watch for slugs and snails, which can damage the delicate foliage.

6. Lamium: The Fast-Growing Ground Cover for Shaded Spaces

Lamium thrives in shaded areas and is perfect for spring planting. It grows rapidly, producing colorful flowers and vibrant foliage. This perennial is an excellent ground cover, ideal for filling bare spots in your garden. By planting in spring, Lamium will have the time it needs to spread and bloom throughout the season. It’s a low-maintenance option that helps keep your garden looking fresh and full of life.

Best Practices for Lamium

Lamium thrives in partial to full shade and adapts to various soil types, even poor soil, making it perfect for challenging garden areas. Keep soil consistently moist until established, after which it needs water only during dry periods. This fast-growing ground cover spreads by runners, forming a dense mat about 6-8 inches tall.

Choose from varieties with silver, gold, or variegated foliage and flowers in pink, purple, or white. Monitor its spread in favorable conditions and trim back overgrown areas in spring. Lamium excels at erosion control on slopes and thrives in shaded areas where grass struggles, providing an attractive solution for difficult garden spaces.

7. Goat’s Beard: Bold, Feathery Beauty for Shady Gardens

Goat’s Beard is an excellent perennial to plant in spring, especially for cooler, shaded areas. This plant grows tall and produces beautiful, feathery white blooms. It will have enough time to establish roots and grow into a bold, showy plant by planting in spring.

Goat’s Beard thrives in moist, rich soil and provides stunning texture to your garden. A little spring planting will help it flourish and become a dramatic addition to your landscape.

Best Practices for Goat's Beard

Goat's Beard thrives in partial to full shade, tolerating morning sun but needing protection from hot afternoon sun. This impressive perennial requires rich, consistently moist soil with good organic matter content and has little tolerance for drought. Regular watering is essential, particularly during hot periods.

This dramatic plant can reach 3-6 feet tall and spread 2-4 feet wide, so provide ample space for its mature size. After the striking white plumes finish flowering, the plant continues to provide architectural interest in the garden. For winter care, cut back stems to ground level after the first frost.

8. Gaillardia: Brighten Your Landscape with Blanket Flowers

Gaillardia is a vibrant perennial that does well when planted in spring. It loves the sun and produces eye-catching flowers in various warm colors. Planting in spring gives this drought-tolerant plant plenty of time to grow and establish itself. Gaillardia is perfect for adding long-lasting beauty to sunny garden spaces. With the right care, it will grow into a bold feature in your garden.

Best Practices for Gaillardia

Gaillardia, or Blanket Flower, needs full sun—at least 6-8 hours daily—to produce its vibrant blooms. Plant in well-draining, sandy or loamy soil; it tolerates poor soil but struggles in wet, heavy clay. Once established, this perennial is remarkably drought-tolerant, needing only occasional deep watering during dry spells.

For continuous blooming, remove spent flowers regularly throughout the season. Divide plants every 2-3 years in spring to maintain vigor and prevent center die-out. Gaillardia rarely suffers from pest problems and resists deer and rabbits, making it perfect for low-maintenance, wildlife-friendly gardens.

9. New England Aster: A Late-Blooming Beauty That Starts in Spring

New England Asters are ideal for spring planting; they need time to establish strong roots. They thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, producing beautiful purple, pink, or white flowers. Planting in spring gives these plants the foundation they need to grow tall and develop robust stems.

This perennial will provide vibrant blooms late in the season, offering a burst of color. By planting in spring, New England Asters will reward you with stunning flowers later in the year.

Best Practices for New England Aster

New England Aster performs best in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. Plant in moist, well-draining soil enriched with organic matter. During the growing season, maintain even soil moisture; once established, it becomes moderately drought-tolerant. For compact, bushier growth, pinch back plants by one-third in late spring before July.

These late-blooming perennials provide crucial late-season nectar for butterflies and bees, while their seeds attract birds in winter. They pair beautifully with ornamental grasses, goldenrod, and other late-season bloomers, creating stunning fall combinations when summer flowers have faded.

10. Russian Sage: A Hardy Favorite for Your Garden

Russian Sage is a hardy, drought-tolerant perennial that does well when planted in spring. It grows quickly and thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, producing fragrant lavender-blue flowers.

Spring planting gives this plant a strong start, allowing it to grow tall and colorfully fill your garden. Russian Sage is perfect for low-maintenance gardens, offering both beauty and fragrance. With a little care in spring, it will become a reliable feature in your garden.

Best Practices for Russian Sage

Russian Sage needs full sun—at least 6-8 hours daily—to achieve its best flowering. This drought-tolerant perennial actually thrives in well-draining, somewhat poor soil, making it perfect for rocky or sandy areas. Water deeply but infrequently during establishment; once established, it rarely needs supplemental watering except during prolonged drought.

For maintenance, cut back to about 6-12 inches above ground level in late winter before new growth appears. Unlike many perennials, Russian Sage rarely needs division and can remain in place for years. It pairs beautifully with ornamental grasses, coneflowers, and other drought-tolerant plants, creating a soft, airy texture in hot, dry gardens.

11. Balloon Flower: Add Whimsy and Charm to Your Garden

Balloon Flowers are a unique and fun addition to your garden, especially when planted in spring. The buds resemble balloons before they open into star-shaped flowers. By planting in spring, you give these plants time to establish strong roots before blooming later in the season.

Balloon Flowers come in various shades of blue, purple, and white, bringing a whimsical touch to any garden. With spring planting, you’ll enjoy their delightful blooms as the year progresses.

Best Practices for Balloon Flower

Balloon Flowers need at least 6 hours of sun daily, though they appreciate afternoon shade in hot climates. Plant in rich, well-draining soil amended with compost, keeping soil consistently moist but never soggy. These perennials are slow to emerge in spring, so mark their location to avoid accidentally digging them up during early garden cleanup.

Deadhead spent blooms regularly to encourage more flowers throughout the season. For bushier plants with more blooms, pinch back stems by one-third in late spring. Balloon Flowers have deep taproots and don't like being disturbed, so try to plant them where they can remain undisturbed for years. The star-shaped blue, pink, or white flowers attract butterflies and are generally resistant to deer and rabbits.

12. Autumn Joy Sedum: A Low-Maintenance Beauty

Autumn Joy Sedum is a perfect choice for spring planting. This hardy, drought-tolerant plant thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. By planting in spring, you allow it time to establish roots and develop clusters of pink flowers that change to red.

Sedum is low-maintenance and perfect for gardeners looking for a plant that requires minimal care. With proper planting, Autumn Joy Sedum will become a reliable and beautiful addition to your garden.

Best Practices for Autumn Joy Sedum

Autumn Joy Sedum thrives in full sun and well-draining soil—even poor soil works fine, but avoid wet, heavy soils that can cause root rot. This drought-tolerant perennial needs little water once established, making it perfect for low-maintenance gardens and water-wise landscapes.

Leave seed heads standing through winter for visual interest and to feed wildlife, then cut back to ground level in early spring. This easy-care plant offers multi-season interest with attractive succulent foliage in spring, flower buds in summer, and color-changing blooms from late summer through fall. Most pests and animals avoid it, making it nearly trouble-free.

13. Hosta 'Sum and Substance': A Giant Hosta for Shady Spaces

Hosta 'Sum and Substance' is a fantastic perennial to plant in spring, especially for shaded areas. This variety grows large, bold leaves and can become a dramatic feature in your garden.

Planting in spring gives this hosta enough time to grow to its full size and establish strong roots. Hostas are low-maintenance and provide year-round interest with their impressive foliage. Planting in spring will give it the best start for a stunning garden addition.

Best Practices for Hosta 'Sum and Substance'

This giant hosta variety thrives in partial to full shade but can handle more sun than most hostas if given adequate moisture. Plant in rich, well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter, keeping soil consistently moist for those impressive large leaves. This variety reaches 3-4 feet tall with a spread of 5-6 feet, so plan accordingly.

Watch for slugs and snails, especially in spring when new growth emerges. After frost, cut back foliage and apply mulch in colder regions. The huge, chartreuse to gold leaves brighten shady areas and pair beautifully with ferns, astilbe, and bleeding heart for a lush woodland garden effect.

Get Your Garden Ready to Thrive: The Best Perennials to Plant This Spring

Spring is the perfect time to plant these 13 perennials, as the moderate temperatures and fresh soil will give them a strong start. From the colorful blooms of Verbena and Gaillardia to the shade-loving Hosta and Siberian Bugloss, these plants will add texture, color, and beauty to your garden year after year. Spring planting ensures that each plant has ample time to settle in and grow, providing you with a lush and thriving garden. Happy gardening!

Don't forget to check out this guide:

25 Fabulous Pollinator-Friendly Perennials