May can be a unpredictable month where weather’s concerned! There’s an old phrase: ‘n’er cast a clout til May is out!’ It means take your coat with you when you go out as the May weather can be fickle, turning from warm sun to cold in an instant. Thankfully, many plants are happy to show us their beautiful blooms whatever the weather. So, here’s 10 of the best plants for this time of year…
1. Wisteria frutescens ‘Amethyst Falls’ (Wisteria)
Nothing says spring more than the sight of clusters of scented, lilac flowers hanging gracefully from the stems of a Wisteria, vine trailing across a wall. The problem with many Wisteria, however, is that they are remarkably vigorous and hard to stop them getting carried away! The good news is that this North American cultivar is much more compact and can be grown in a large pot as well as in the ground over an arch or pergola. You’ll be rewarded with lots of thick clusters of gorgeous, highly scented, lilac-blue flowers. To keep those flowers coming year after year, prune twice yearly; once in July/August and again in December.
- Flowers May to June
- Hardy
- Grows to 500cm tall and 300cm wide
- Well-drained, fertile, moist soil
- Full sun
- Exposed
2. Paeonia lactiflora ‘Angel Cheeks’ (Peony)
When in full flower this plant is definitely a show stopper! Fully double, soft pink, frilly petals, with a hint of vanilla colouring, these blend beautifully with most colour schemes. Consider mixing them with plants with darker, plum-coloured flowers for a fuller impact. They also make great cut flowers, if picked when in bud. Remember to plant at a depth of no more than 5cm as peony plants may sulk and will not flower well if planted too deeply.
- Flowers May to June
- Hardy
- Grows to 70cm tall and 70cm wide
- Well-drained, moderately fertile, moist soil
- Full sun, part shade
- Sheltered
3. Tiarella ‘Spring symphony’ (Foam Flower)
This easy-to-care-for and undemanding perennial delights at this time of the year when slender, tall flower spikes emerge and open, forming a froth of pretty, tiny, pinkish-white flowers. Some say they look like bubble-bath foam! These grow well in light or full shade and looks fantastic planted in large groups. Removing the flowers as they fade will encourage repeat blooming.
- Flowers May to July
- Hardy
- Grows to 30cm tall and 30cm wide
- Well-drained, moderately fertile, moist soil
- Part to full shade
- Exposed
4. Malus x atrosanguinea ‘Gorgeous’ (Crab Apple)
This aptly named little, deciduous tree, is perfect for smaller gardens. Its attractive, dense, and rounded shape is covered in pink buds in May. These open to reveal pretty, white flowers. During the autumn months the fruit can be harvested and made into a delicious crab apple jelly! These trees prefer a sheltered spot and will require staking for the first few years to stop its roots rocking. Otherwise, it’s mainly trouble-free!
- Flowers April to May
- Hardy
- Grows to 400cm tall and 300cm wide
- Fertile, moist soil
- Full sun or part shade
- Exposed
The North American plant breeders have been busy breeding different colours of these tough, hardy plants. ‘Mai Tai’ produces softly ruffled, semi-double, creamy, salmon-pink flowers, with hues of apricot, for many weeks. Once established plants will bulk up, which means they can be divided and replanted in either late autumn or early spring to make free plants for the border!
- Flowers May to June
- Hardy
- Grows to 60cm tall and 45cm wide
- Well-drained, moderately fertile, moist soil
- Full sun
- Exposed
6. Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’ (Snowball Bush)
This easy-to-care-for, deciduous shrub, delights at this time of year as it becomes smothered in huge, round, acid-green flower ‘balls’. These open to reveal pure white flowers, followed by red, orange colour berries in the autumn months.
- Flowers May to June
- Hardy
- Grows to 350cm tall and 350cm wide
- Moist, well-drained soil
- Part shade
- Exposed
7. Camassia leichtlinii subs. Suksdorfii (Camassia)
If you have moisture-retentive clay soil then this beautiful perennial is the ideal plant for your garden! In late spring, it produces tall stems with spires of lilac-blue star-shaped flowers and looks particularly good growing in a wildflower meadow setting. It can also be planted in large containers, ideally in a sheltered spot, with protection from hard frosts.
- Flowers May to June
- Borderline hardy
- Grows to 150cm tall and 50cm wide
- Fertile, moist soil
- Full sun to part shade
- Sheltered
Lupins are the perfect choice for a cottage garden planting scheme. The plants produce strong, vertical flower spikes, making them a great choice for many other types of border planting. This cultivar delights with its stunning, spicy-scented, white-flecked, lagoon-blue flowers. If planted in an exposed location, it’s a good idea to tie the flower stems to narrow stakes as they appear. Cut stems immediately after they fade as this often results in a second wave of smaller flower spikes.
- Flowers May to June
- Hardy
- Grows to 90cm tall and 50cm wide
- Well-drained, fertile, moist soil
- Full sun
- Exposed
9. Pachysandra terminalis (Japanese Spurge)
If you have an area of dry shade where nothing much will grow, this could be the problem-solving plant for you! It’s a low-growing, trouble-free evergreen with glossy, dark green leaves, complete with serrated edges. Clusters of small, pretty, white flowers appear from May until June. And these make the ideal ground cover plant for full or part shade.
- Flowers May to June
- Hardy
- Grows to 20cm tall and 100cm wide
- Most well-drained soil types
- Full to part shade
- Exposed
10. Polygonatum x hybrid (Solomon’s seal)
Although most textbooks advise planting Solomon’s seal in shade, it will also grow well in full sun. As long as your soil stays reliably moist! May is when the pretty, cream flowers, running the length of their beautiful, arching stems, fully open. You’ll notice them dangling, like miniature bells. When in full flower it is architecturally striking and looks particularly effective when planted en-masse in borders.
- Flowers May to June
- Hardy
- Grows to 100cm tall and 75cm wide
- Well-drained soil
- Part shade to full sun
- Exposed
These top ten plants are sure to transform your garden, this May.
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David Domoney is a Chartered Horticulturalist, Broadcaster, and Author. David has worked with a number of the UK’s leading garden retailers as a plant buyer and strategic consultant. With more than 30 years experience, in horticulture, David is as passionate about plants now as he was when he bought his first plant at a village fete.
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