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Perennials for Mid-May Magic in Sun & Shade!

  • May 15
  • 4 min read
Purple irises bloom in a lush garden with green foliage and a stone border, creating a serene and vibrant outdoor setting.
Stunning blue Irises in a terraced garden

Welcome back to Bountiful Gardens! Can you believe it’s already the middle of May? Gardens all across the state are bursting with mid-Spring flowers, and you DON’T want to miss them, so let’s head back out into the field to take in all the beauty. 


Yellow and pink irises bloom in a garden with green foliage. White flowers and a path are visible in the blurred background.
Irises come in ENDLESS colors and patterns.

Iris - Iris spp.

Glistening in sunny perennial gardens right now, you’ll find a stunning array of Irises. Because they’re so quick to hybridize with other Iris species, the diversity of colors and patterns you can encounter is insane. 

Purple irises and yellow flowers bloom in a lush green garden. The vibrant colors create a serene and lively atmosphere.
Purple Irises in a woodland rock garden

Unlike most flowering plants, Irises can actually photosynthesize with both sides of their tropical-looking leaves, giving them the energy they need to produce their huge, colorful flowers at a time when there’s SO much competition for pollinators in the garden. These bumblebee-loved perennials thrive in rich, well-drained soil and will form a colony over time. 


Purple allium flowers bloom in a sunlit garden near a pathway. Green leaves and shadow-dappled grass create a peaceful, vibrant scene.
Ornamental Alliums beginning their bloom

Ornamental Allium - Allium spp.

Often found alongside Irises is the Ornamental Allium. While it’s a member of the onion family, these bulbs aren’t for eatin’—they’re a floral firework display! Bees and butterflies flock to their globe-shaped blooms, and when bruised, their leaves give off an onion-y scent, which deer and rabbits can’t stand. These perennials are happiest in full sun in well-draining sandy or loamy soils. 

Purple and white allium flowers bloom in a sunny garden, bordered by a wooden fence. Lush greenery and trees create a tranquil, natural setting.
You can find Ornamental Alliums in shades of pink, white and purple.

Historically, Alliums are one of the oldest cultivated plants on Earth, even appearing in ancient Egyptian art and inscriptions. Ornamental Alliums may not have gained popularity until the 1800’s, but when you plant them, you’re connecting to the legacy of horticulture itself. 


Yellow peony flowers bloom on green shrubs in a serene garden setting with lush foliage and soft, natural lighting.
A yellow Peony blooming in a shady setting

Peony - Paeonia

If you’re a fan of floral fragrance, you’ll be floored by Peonies, and they’re just starting to open up! These sweet-smelling perennial powerhouses do best in full sun to part shade in rich, well draining soil. 

Pink peonies bloom vibrantly in a lush green garden with a dense hedge background, creating a serene and colorful floral scene.
Peonies work beautifully in cottage garden settings.

Their flowers are rich in pollen and nectar, making them a favorite for honeybees, bumblebees and beneficial ants. If you want to scent your whole house, just snip a few flowers and bring them inside!


Purple english bluebells flowers in a vibrant garden, bordered by a white fence. Lush greenery and a flower pot create a serene, lush setting.
For classic cottage vibes, you can't go wrong with English Bluebells

English Bluebells - Hyacinthoides non-scripta

For delicate blue, pink and white flowers you and your pollinators can rely on Spring after Spring, you can plant English Bluebells. As you might have guessed from its appearance, this perennial is a member of the Hyacinth family, lending it high deer and rabbit resistance. 

Purple and white English Bluebell wildflowers bloom amidst lush green foliage in a sunlit garden. A blurred sign is visible in the background.
If you hear a Bluebell ring, you may be visited by a woodland Faerie!

In folklore, these flowers are commonly associated with dark fairy magic in their native Western Europe. It works best planted in swaths in partly shaded areas of the garden, like under Azaleas along a path, and prefers average to moist well-draining soils.  


White Summer Snowflake flowers with green leaves in a lush garden. Sunlight filters through trees, creating a tranquil, natural scene.
Graceful, drooping Summer Snowflake flowers in part shade

Summer Snowflake - Leucojum aestivum

Another plant that thrives in these conditions is Summer Snowflake, with its dainty, white drooping flowers. Thanks to being another member of the Onion family, these perennial bulbs enjoy excellent deer and rabbit resistance. 


Lush green ferns and vibrant yellow Golden Alexander flowers fill the forest scene, creating a serene and natural ambiance.
Golden Alexander alongside Ostrich Fern

Golden Alexander - Zizia aurea

Glowing in a great variety of conditions is our native Golden Alexander. This perennial wildflower serves as a host plant for both Black and Ozark Swallowtail butterflies, and it’s incredibly adaptable.

Dense green foliage with clusters of small yellow Golden Alexander flowers. Leaves and stems create a lush, vibrant natural scene.
This is one of the most adaptable native wildflowers in the landscape!

Though their “ideal” conditions are part-shade with moist well-draining soil, they can still thrive in full sun and drier soils as long as they get enough moisture early in the growing season. 


Yellow Epimedium flowers and green-red leaves with veined patterns in a sunny garden, surrounded by lush foliage and a gravel path.
Epimedium flowers come in many forms and colors

Epimedium - Barrenwort

Dry, shady spots are notoriously hard to plant, but they pose no obstacle for Epimedium! This is one of the toughest evergreen ground cover perennials you can plant, even boasting incredible deer resistance. 

Lush green Epimedium foliage with white flowers in a sunlit forest setting. Rich green and brown leaves create a serene, natural atmosphere.
Personally, I think these flowers look more like a jester's cap.

It’s also known as Bishop’s Cap thanks to its whimsical, wacky flowers that often resemble the headwear of clergymen. Epimedium is a famously medicinal plant, used to prevent osteoporosis, boost immunity, fight depression and much, much more. 


Hand gently holds delicate blue Brunnera flowers in a lush green garden. Sunlight filters through, creating a serene and peaceful mood.
It's easy to see why this plant goes by "False Forget-Me-Not".

Brunnera - Siberian Bugloss

One of the most classic perennials for a shady spot has to be Brunnera, and it’s been sending out its bright blue blooms for a few weeks now. Its flowers are strikingly similar to those of Forget-Me-Nots, so it’s no surprise one of its common names is “False Forget-Me-Not”. 

Close-up of green Brunnera plant with patterned leaves and small blue flowers in a sunlit garden. Ferns and trees form the blurred background.
A single Brunnera, glowing in part shade

More often, it goes by the moniker of Siberian Bugloss, thanks to the shape of its lush, often highly decorated leaves. This plant thrives in rich, moist, well-draining soil and enjoys solid deer and rabbit resistance.  


Bright red Buckeye flowers with green leaves on a sunny day, surrounded by lush foliage. The scene feels vibrant and lively.
Red Buckeye blooms are HUGE!

Red Buckeye - Aesculus pavia

Looking for a focal point in the landscape? Check out Red Buckeye. This native deciduous tree is able to adapt to both full shade and full sun, as long as it’s planted in moist, well-draining soil. 

Red Buckeye flowers bloom on lush green branches in a forest setting, with sunlight filtering through the dense foliage.
The tree is incredibly adaptable to different lighting conditions.

Hummingbirds and bees absolutely flock to these flowers, and once they go to seed, they’re a delicacy for squirrels, though sadly they’re not edible for us humans. However, in American folklore, carrying a Red Buckeye seed in your pocket will at least give you some good luck! 

Sunlit Fringetree with fluffy white blossoms and bright green leaves against a clear blue sky, creating a serene and vibrant spring scene.
Fringetree has some of the brightest blooms you'll find on a tree.

Fringe Tree - Chionanthus virginicum

Last up, we have a native member of the Olive family, the Fringe Tree! This mid-story stand-out features fragrant, strap-like flowers that develop into berries that our native birds depend on. If you want more flowers, plant it in full sun. For lusher foliage, plant in part-shade. Either way, your Fringe Tree will want average to moist, well-draining soil. 

Fluffy yellow Fringetree blooms cover a tree against a clear blue sky, with green leaves of other trees in the background. Bright, sunny scene.
A Fringetree in bloom is a breathtaking sight to behold.

Watch all of the above in video form below!


 
 
 

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