Flowers in May: How to Beautify Your Late Spring Garden
- By Cloe Bentz
Welcome to the enchanting world of late spring gardening! Discover the blooms you can look forward to in late May and learn practical gardening tips to make your blooms healthy.
What flowers bloom in late May?
Irises
These elegant flowers come in variety of colors, from deep purples to vibrant yellows. Irises are known for their water-cleaning abilities and are often planted near ponds or water features. They’re a great addition to your garden, and it is recommended that you plant iris bulbs in late August or September to prepare for next year’s bloom.
Poppies
Delicate petals and striking colors make poppies a stunning visual display in late May. Poppies also produce seeds that are used in cooking in baking, such as poppy seeds used in pastries. You can usually buy poppies as starter plants from a greenhouse in early spring, or you can grow them from seeds. They take about a month to bloom. Make sure you check if you’re planting annuals or perennials – if you plant perennials, you’ll get a fresh batch next year.
Roses
From classic varieties to abundant blooms, roses fill the air with sweet fragrance as they bloom in late spring. Roses have been cultivated for thousands of years and are one of the most popular flowers worldwide. They have numerous benefits from their use in perfumes and cosmetics to their medicinal properties in herbal remedies. You’ll want to plan out your rose growth – roses take 3-4 years of growing from seed to bush before it is ready to produce.
Peonies
Luxurious and romantic, peonies continue to awe with their fluffy petals and heavenly scent. Peonies are known as long-lived plants and can thrive for decades, with some peony bushes living over 100 years. Like tulips, these should be planted in late September-October.
Gardening Tips for Late May:
Deadheading
Regular deadheading, which is the removal of spent or faded blooms, not only keeps your garden looking tidy but also encourages plants to produce new flowers. This practice redirects the plant’s energy from seed production to new growth and blooming, resulting in a longer and more vibrant flowering season.
Water Schedule
Adjust watering to promote deep root growth and drought tolerance as the weather warms up. Increase water during hotter temperatures for thirsty plants, while reducing water for those that are more drought-tolerant, to maintain a balanced and healthy garden ecosystem. Consider your current landscape and ecosystem – for us here in Utah, it’s best to consider more water-wise plants for the spring and summer.
Mulching
Apply organic mulch, such as wood chips or shredded leaves, around plants to retain moisture, suppress weeds, regulate soil temperature, and improve soil health.
You can see all of the late-May flowers blooming and more at the Ashton Gardens in Lehi, Utah, open Monday-Saturday from 9 am to 9 pm. If you have questions or need some plants, make sure to visit the Garden Greenhouse and chat with our incredible horticulture team!
