Unlock the Key to Gorgeous Spring Flowers
Maintaining a stunning flower garden may seem daunting, but with the right plants, it can practically take care of itself. Once established, many flower varieties are drought-resistant, requiring minimal watering. For a low-maintenance yet beautiful spring garden, we’ve gathered expert-recommended drought-tolerant flowers that bloom in spring.
Meet Our Experts:
– Damon Abdi from the Hammond Research Station at Louisiana State University’s AgCenter
– Kelly Funk, CEO of Jackson & Perkins
– Mary Phillips, leading native plant expert at the National Wildlife Federation
Discover these beautiful and resilient spring blooms recommended by our experts:
Angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia):
Also known as summer snapdragon, Angelonia offers snapdragon-like blooms in shades of white, blue, pink, and purple. It thrives as a warm-season annual in most regions and as a tender perennial in milder climates.
Zones: 9 to 11
Size: 12 to 18 inches tall x 6 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soils
Blanket Flower ‘Arizona Red Shades’ (Gaillardia):
This vibrant and long-blooming variety features rosy-red blooms with bright yellow tips. Each flower can reach up to 4 inches in width, creating a stunning display from late spring to frost.
Zones: 3 to 10
Size: 12 inches tall x 10 to 14 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil
Coneflower (Echinacea):
Thriving in various conditions, Coneflower is a native drought-tolerant plant. Consider the ‘Baja Burgundy’ variety for deep terracotta-maroon flowers that stand out in any garden or container.
Zones: 4 to 9
Size: 22 to 24 inches tall x 18 to 20 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil
Peony ‘Sorbet’ (Peony lactiflora ‘Sorbet’):
Known for its longevity and resilience, this peony variety showcases large double-flowered blooms in soft pastel shades of pink, cream, light yellow, and white. Its foliage transitions from red in spring to bronze and purple in fall.
Zones: 3 to 8
Size: 36 inches tall x 30 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soil
Phlox ‘Amazing Grace’:
This charming perennial features bright white flowers with a striking purple center. It blooms in late spring to early summer, forming a dense mat of needle-like green foliage that attracts butterflies.
Enjoy a vibrant and colorful spring garden with these expert-recommended drought-tolerant flowers.
“In any sunny bed or border,” says Funk, adding that it’s very low-maintenance and drought-tolerant once established. Zones: 3 to 9 Size: 48 inches tall x 18 inches wide Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining, normal, loamy, sandy soils. Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) is a low-maintenance ground cover that serves as a larval host plant to several species of butterflies, including the common buckeye, says Mary Phillips, head of native plant habitat strategy and certifications at the National Wildlife Federation. It forms clusters of pinkish-white, verbena-like blooms from May to November. Zones: 7 to 11 Size: 3 to 6 inches tall x 36 to 48 inches wide Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; loamy, clay, or sandy soil. Orange butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) boasts bright green, lance-shaped leaves and clusters of bright orange, tubular blooms that beautifully fill the garden. Once established, it’s drought-tolerant and a larval host plant for the monarch butterfly, says Phillips. Zones: 3 to 9 Size: 12 to 36 inches tall x 12 to 18 inches wide Care requirements: Full sun; loamy to sandy soil. Yarrow, with plumes of feathery, fern-like foliage and clusters of small white blooms with pink centers, can withstand minimal watering once established. Avoid overwatering yarrow, as this can lead to root rot or powdery mildew, says Phillips. Zones: 7 to 11 Size: 3 to 6 feet tall x 3 to 4 feet wide Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; loamy, clay, sandy soils. Lavender is a mounding shrub with blueish-purple flowers. There are many different drought-tolerant varieties, including Spanish and French lavender, which bloom in spring, and English lavender, which blooms in summer. No matter the variety, prune lavender after the flowers fade to support re-bloom, says Abdi. Zones: 5 to 9 Size: 1 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 3 feet wide Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining, sandy soils. Eastern bluestar forms blue-white flower clusters in spring. “The foliage is also attractive, turning a golden color in fall,” says Abdi. “You can prune after spring flowering to half the height to create a bushier growth form.” Zones: 3 to 9 Size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wide Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining, clay soils. Read the original article on Martha Stewart.
