Five spring perennials for May
Discover five perennials to grow for beautiful flowers in May.
With so many stunning perennials to choose from, it can be tricky to choose which ones to plant, especially if you're pushed for space.
To help you choose, we've picked a range of May-flowering perennials, including shade-loving plants and plants for bees. To keep your perennials flourishing, make sure you follow our guide on which type of fertiliser to use.
Discover five beautiful spring perennials for May colour, below.
Acanthus
These stately perennials, also known as bear's breeches, produce large glossy leaves topped with elegant spires of white and purple flowers and are ideally grown in dappled shade. Keep an eye out for slugs. Try Acanthus spinosus, Acanthus mollis or the unusual white Acanthus mollis 'Whitewater'.
Hardy geraniums
Ever-reliable hardy geraniums produce masses of beautiful, bright and bee-friendly blooms. Those of 'Anne Folkard' are a particularly vivid shade of purple, while 'Ingwersen's Variety' has smaller, white flowers.
Delphiniums
Elegant and colourful – delphiniums are a quintessential cottage garden plant. Cut them down to the ground in autumn, once they're past their best.
Solomon's seal
Polygonatum, or Solomon's seal, are beautiful shade-loving perennials, with pretty, pendulous blooms, which are a creamy colour. For flowers that stand out even more, try growing the cultivar 'Red Stem'.
Aquilegias
Depending on which aquilegias you're growing, May will either be the month they're beginning to flower, or the month they're ending their display. 'Texas Yellow' (pictured) flowers from March to May, whereas it's May to July for 'Chocolate Soldier'.
Jan subscription offer
Get our Year Planner 2025 with a subscription to BBC Gardeners' World magazine. Get 6 issues for £14.99.
Your Guide to Roses on sale now
Love roses? Inside our guide is everything you need to know for success with your blooms, from pruning to problem solving. On sale in stores and online now!
Discover our NEW Travel & Events Brochure
Whether it's the vibrant beauty of Madeira's Flower Festival or the quiet luxury of a Cornish shepherd's hut, our NEW Travel & Events Brochure is your guide to unforgettable experiences.
New podcast series
Give your mental and physical health a boost, with our new Wellness podcast series from Monty and the team.
