May is one of the most beautiful times in gardening, when nature comes alive and the first colourful, fragrant flowers appear in the gardens. Perennials are particularly popular because they give us beautiful blooms year after year, once planted. In this article, we'll show you the best May flowering perennials that will add a splash of colour to your garden, and which you can even plant in May to enjoy their beauty all summer long.

Why plant perennials in May?

• Lasting beauty: perennials come back year after year, giving your garden a long-lasting look.
• Easy care: many perennials are less demanding, tolerating changing weather well.
• Rich colour palette: from pink to purple, blue to white, they come in a myriad of shades.
• Seasonal flowering: many perennials start to flower in May, making them a colourful crown for the spring garden.

1. Perennials that can be planted and flower in May

Mountain Peony (Aster alpinus White)

• Flowering time: from May to July
• Colour: Pure white flowers that add contrast to the garden
• Characteristics: low-growing, prefers sunny places, drought tolerant
• Use: Excellent in rock gardens, as a border plant

Kerti featherbuga (Astilbe arendsii Astary Rose)

• Flowering: from the end of May to July
• Colour: Pink, soft, feathery inflorescence
• Characteristics: prefers semi-shade, moist soil, also looks good in shady gardens
• Use: Ornamental in shady beds, also ideal for waterfront gardens

Coreopsis grandiflora

• Flowering time: from May to September
• Color: Bright yellow flowers
• Characteristics: sun-loving, drought tolerant, easy to grow
• Use: In sunny beds, in mixed flowerbeds

2. May flowering classic perennials

Peony (Paeonia)

• Flowering time: from early May to June
• Color: White, pink, burgundy shades
• Characteristics: large, fragrant flowers, prefers sunny places
• Care: well drained soil, once a year nutrient replenishment

Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis)

• Flowering: from early to mid-May
• Colour: Small, snow-white, bell-shaped flowers
• Characteristics: likes shady to semi-shady places, spreading perennial
• Use: As ground cover, in shady gardens

Myosotis (Myosotis)

• Flowering: from the end of April to May
• Colour: Bright blue, pink, white
• Characteristics: prefers a moist, semi-shady place, easy to propagate from seed
• Use: As an ornamental ornament for streamsides and shady beds

3. Colourful May perennials that can still be planted

Frisia

• Flowering: most beautiful in May, but can be planted from March
• Colour: All colours of the rainbow
• Properties: sun-loving, requires well-drained soil
• Use: Showy as a specimen, also as a container plant

Viola (Pansy)

• Flowering: continuously from May
• Colour: White to purple to yellow in a variety of shades
• Characteristics: cold tolerant, easy to grow, thrives in shade
• Use: As a border plant, in balcony boxes

4. Special tall perennials for May

Asia Minor Gourd (Verbascum Olympicum)

• Flowering: from June, but can be planted at the end of May
• Color: Yellow flowers in large clusters
• Characteristics: sun-loving, drought-tolerant, grows up to 2 m tall
• Use: As a specimen, as a background plant

Poloscales (Actaea racemosa)

• Flowering: from June to July, but starts to develop in May
• Colour: Snow white curls
• Characteristics: prefers semi-shade, medium water demand
• Use: Ideal for shady, damp places

5. May flowering perennial care

• Planting: many can still be planted in May, especially container plants. Make sure you prepare the soil properly: loosen the soil, add compost or organic fertiliser.
• Watering: the weather in May is changeable, but water the plants regularly and moderately, especially freshly planted ones.
• Nutrients: give perennials an organic or slow-release fertiliser once a year in spring.
• Pruning: after flowering, remove the open flowers to encourage new flowering.
• Pest control: watch out for aphids and mites and use biological or environmentally friendly pesticides if necessary.

Summary

In May, the most beautiful perennials in the garden start to bloom and many more can be planted to enjoy all summer long. Coniferous peonies, garden penstemons, peonies, lilies of the valley, freesia and taller oxeye daisies can all be colourful and fragrant ornaments to your garden. With the right care and planting in May, you can create a truly spectacular and varied garden that will be a source of pleasure year after year.

This selection of the best May flowering perennials will help you keep your garden colourful and full of life during this wonderful spring month, while also giving you expert guidance on plant care.