When To Plant Flowers In Maryland

Getting your garden to burst with color all year starts with knowing when to plant flowers in Maryland. Our state’s unique climate, with its humid summers and chilly winters, means timing is everything for a succesful bloom.

This guide will walk you through the best planting dates for annuals, perennials, and bulbs. You’ll learn how to work with Maryland’s planting zones and get a simple seasonal schedule to follow.

Maryland spans USDA hardiness zones 5b through 8a. This range affects when the ground thaws and the last frost date arrives. For most of the state, the average last spring frost falls between mid-April and early May. The first fall frost usually arrives in mid- to late-October.

These frost dates are your anchor points for all planting. Missing them can mean losing tender plants to a surprise cold snap.

Understanding Annuals vs. Perennials

Your planting schedule depends heavily on what type of flower your growing.

Annuals: These flowers complete their life cycle in one season. They grow, bloom, set seed, and die. You need to plant them fresh each year. They often provide non-stop color from spring until fall. Examples include marigolds, zinnias, and petunias.
Perennials: These plants live for three or more years. They die back to the ground in winter and regrow from their roots each spring. They have specific, often shorter, bloom periods. Examples include coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and hostas.
Bulbs: These are planted as dormant, underground storage structures. We separate them into spring-blooming bulbs (planted in fall) and summer-blooming bulbs (planted in spring).

Your Spring Planting Schedule

Spring is the busiest planting time. The goal is to get plants in the ground after the danger of frost has passed but before the summer heat intensifies.

Early to Mid-Spring (March – April)

This is the time for cold-tolerant plants. The soil is workable and beginning to warm.

Hardy Annuals & Perennials: You can directly sow seeds or plant seedlings of pansies, snapdragons, and dianthus. They can handle a light frost.
Divide & Transplant Perennials: As soon as new growth appears, you can divide overgrown perennials like daylilies or hostas. This gives them a full season to re-establish.
Plant Bare-Root Plants: Roses, trees, and shrubs sold without soil on their roots need to go in while still dormant.

Late Spring (May – Early June)

Once the last frost date is reliably behind you, it’s safe for tender plants. This is the main planting window for summer color.

Tender Annuals: Plant marigold, zinnia, impatiens, and begonia seedlings. You can also directly sow seeds for cosmos and sunflowers.
Summer-Blooming Bulbs: Plant dahlias, gladiolus, and canna lilies now. They need warm soil to start growing.
Warm-Season Perennials: Plant butterfly bush, salvia, and coreopsis. They thrive in the increasing warmth.

Your Fall Planting Advantage

Fall is an excellent, and often overlooked, time for planting. The soil is still warm, the air is cooler, and reliable rainfall increases. This gives plants time to grow strong roots without the stress of summer heat.

Early Fall (September – October)

Aim to get plants in the ground about 6 weeks before the first hard freeze. This is crucial for root establishment.

Spring-Blooming Bulbs: This is the prime time to plant tulips, daffodils, crocus, and hyacinths. They need a long period of cold dormancy to bloom properly in spring.
Perennials & Shrubs: Planting now allows roots to settle in. You’ll often see better growth next spring compared to spring-planted ones. It’s also a great time to divide many perennials again.
Cool-Season Annuals: Refresh containers and beds with pansies, ornamental kale, and mums for fall color. Some, like pansies, may even survive winter and bloom again in early spring.

A Seasonal Bloom Calendar

To plan for continuous color, use this simple bloom timeline as a guide for planting.

Early Spring Bloomers

These often come from fall-planted bulbs or early-rising perennials.

Daffodils
Tulips
Bleeding Heart
Virginia Bluebells

Mid-Summer Showstoppers

These are the workhorses of your garden, planted in late spring.

Coneflower
Black-Eyed Susan (Maryland’s state flower!)
Bee Balm
Shasta Daisy
Most annuals like zinnias and marigolds

Fall Color Providers

These extend the season as others fade.

Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’
Goldenrod
Asters
Ornamental Grasses

Step-by-Step Planting for Success

Follow these steps whenever you put a new plant in the ground.

Test & Amend Your Soil: Maryland soils vary from sandy to heavy clay. Most flowers prefer well-draining soil. Add compost to improve texture and fertility.
Choose the Right Spot: Check the plant’s tag for sun requirements. Full sun means 6+ hours of direct light. Partial sun/shade is about 3-6 hours.
Dig the Right Hole: For potted plants, dig a hole twice as wide as the pot but no deeper. For bulbs, follow the depth instructions on the package (usually 2-3 times the bulb’s height).
Plant at the Correct Depth: Set perennials and annuals so the top of their root ball is level with the soil surface. Planting to deep can cause stem rot.
Water Thoroughly: After planting, give everything a deep, slow watering to settle the soil and eliminate air pockets. Consistent watering in the first few weeks is essential.
Add Mulch: Apply 2-3 inches of mulch around plants (not piled against stems) to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Planting Too Early: Impatience leads to frost damage. Wait for the proper soil temperature.
Ignoring Soil Health: Flowers won’t thrive in poor soil. Compost is your best friend.
Overcrowding: Follow spacing guidelines. Good air circulation prevents disease.
Forgetting to Water New Plants: Their root systems are small and need consistent moisture to expand into the surrounding soil.

FAQ: Maryland Flower Planting

What is the best month to plant flowers in Maryland?

For summer-blooming annuals and tender perennials, May is generally the safest best month after the last frost. For spring bulbs and many hardy perennials, October is ideal.

Can I plant perennials in the fall in Maryland?

Yes! Fall is a excellent time to plant perennials in Maryland. The warm soil and cool air encourages strong root growth, giving them a head start for spring.

When should I plant spring bulbs like tulips?

Plant spring-flowering bulbs in the fall, from late September through November. Aim for when soil temperatures have cooled below 60°F.

How late can you plant annuals in Maryland?

You can plant heat-loving annuals through late June for summer color. For fall, switch to cool-weather annuals like pansies in September.

What native Maryland flowers should I plant?

Native plants are adapted to our climate and support local wildlife. Great choices include Black-Eyed Susan, Butterfly Weed, Cardinal Flower, and New England Aster. They’re often more resilient once established.

By aligning your gardening tasks with Maryland’s seasons, you set the stage for a vibrant and healthy garden. Keep a simple journal of your planting dates and what thrives in your specific yard—it’s the best tool for learning and improving each year. With this schedule, you can look forward to a beautiful progression of blooms from the first signs of spring to the last colors of fall.