Had enough of winter? Why not plant a flower? If you’re looking forward to spring, this is the day for you. It’s still early in the season, so you may have to plant your flower indoors. But if you’re lucky, you might be able to plant something outside.
Here are my suggestions for some plants to get in the ground – they’re some of my favorites. If you can’t find plants in your local garden center or greenhouse, then go ahead and start some seeds. It doesn’t matter what you plant – just get out there and remember that spring is nearly here.
Annuals
Dianthus
Dianthus is an early bloomer, so it is perfect for planting this month. You should be able to find these in your local greenhouse or garden center, so go ahead and start out with plants. You’ll enjoy the vivid colors.
Zinnias
Zinnias are by far my favorite annual flowering plant. They are easy to grow – generally I just toss the seeds out into the soil and water. They come in many bright colors and make great cut flowers. Butterflies and hummingbirds love them. You can easily save the seeds from the previous year to plant next year.
Cosmos
Cosmos are another easy-to-grow favorite. They can be pretty tall, so make sure you put them in an appropriate spot. They come in white, orange, maroon, and pink. Plant a bunch together for the biggest show.
Marigolds
Marigolds are nice for early spring color and they make good companion plants to certain vegetables. Seeds are easy to find in the store and these plants are easy to grow. Marigolds come in shades of orange, yellow, and red and in many different sizes. Save the seeds for next year after the flowers are done.
Vinca
Vinca are a great plant for the hot temperatures of the southeast. With pink, white, or red flowers, they can really add a pop of color to the drier and sunnier parts of your yard. I have not tried growing these from seed, but the plants perform well after transplanting. Just keep them watered for the first week or two until they get established. You might not be able to find the plants in garden centers this early – but seeds should be readily available.
Perennials
Creeping phlox
Creeping phlox is an early spring bloomer and crates a blanket of color. It’s a ground cover and each year the plant will spread further, producing a larger blooming area for the next spring. The colors are so bright – pinks, purples, magentas are the common colors. The blooming period is relatively short, but it’s nice to have such color when everything else is still dormant. It tolerates most soil types.
Peonies
Peonies are gorgeous – large, brightly colored flowers come in red, pink, white, and yellow. They are very showy and bloom early in spring – a plus for planting at this time of the year. They really need rich, deep soil with a lot of compost – I’ve had a bit of trouble with them here with the clay soil in Mississippi. But they are worth the trouble.
Rudbeckia
Rudbeckia is always a big hit. You can find several brightly-colored red, yellow, or orange varieties. One of the most common ones is the black-eyed Susan. It’s a very hardy plant, tolerating heat and dry conditions, and it attracts butterflies. This isn’t the time of year to find them in your garden center, but you can always try to grow them from seed.
Shasta daisies
Shasta daisies are easy to grow and I love how they look. They are pretty drought and heat tolerant, but does not like wet soil. The plant produces a cluster of flowers, quickly adding cheer to your garden. The only thing I don’t like about Shasta daisies is the smell. They stink. Just don’t bring them indoors. You probably won’t find Shasta daisy plants in your garden center this month, but you should be able to locate seeds.