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May Gardening: Discover Plants That Shine
Perennials for May
May is the perfect time to add some beautiful perennials to your garden. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Mathiasella bupleuroides ‘Green Dream’: This elegant perennial has unusual lime bracts and pinky/purple stems.
- Leucanthemum vulgare: Also known as ox-eye daisy, this native wildflower is beneficial for wildlife.
- Deutzia: These hardy shrubs have masses of white or pink flowers from May to July.
Annuals for May
For a splash of color in your May garden, try these annuals:
- Lupin ‘Towering Inferno’: These tall, stately plants have showy flower spikes in a blaze of glory.
- Geranium ‘Mrs Kendall Clark’: This vigorous geranium has exquisite flowers with intricate veins on the petals.
- Chive blossoms: These edible flowers are a favorite of insects and add a touch of flavor to your cooking.
Shrubs for May
Add some structure and fragrance to your garden with these shrubs:
- Magnolia x soulangeana: This classic magnolia has voluptuous pink flowers.
- Rose ‘Emily Bronte’: This repeat-flowering shrub rose has strongly scented flowers.
- Laburnum: These fast-growing trees have stunning yellow blooms, but be aware that they are toxic.
Bulbs for May
May is the peak month for tulips. These eclectic spring bulbs come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, including the flamboyant parrot-flowered varieties.
Gardening Tips for May
- Keep tulips well watered while in bloom to prolong flowering.
- Protect perennials from winter wet and cold by providing a little extra care.
- Choose easy-to-grow plants with great rewards, such as deutzia.
- Plant lupins in sunny balcony gardens for a touch of elegance.
- Grow hardy geraniums in sun or shade for a reliable source of flowers.
- Use edible flowers like chive blossoms liberally in your cooking for their wonderful flavor.
- Select non-toxic laburnum cultivars for small gardens.
- Plant parrot-flowered tulips for a real flamboyant show!
