It’s so exciting to see the first blooms of spring crop up in March. Daffodils, crocus, and other early bloomers are the first signs of spring in Utah, and you can ensure you get to enjoy the anticipation and rewards of a garden well into fall.
Seasons Come and Seasons Go
In Utah, we know all too well that the seasons are fleeting. Sometimes we experience winter, spring, and summer in one week! That doesn’t stop our vegetation from soldiering on, though, and rewarding us with leaves and foliage beginning as early as March. For the best results, though, we should focus on planting native species in our gardens so we can enjoy blooms from March through October. Hardy, Utah species can often bounce back after a late frost or a dry summer because it’s something they’ve learned to adapt for.
Perennials that Grow in Utah
Perennials are plants that come back year after year. Many will bloom for months, giving color and vibrancy to your garden spring through fall. Some, however, may only bloom for a couple of weeks. Be sure to check your climate zone before planting to make sure your plants of choice will thrive in your growing conditions.
- Anemones
- Columbine – Aquilegia
- Coral Bells – Heuchera
- Corkscrew Ornamental Onion – Allium
- Daylily – Hemerocallis
- John Cabot Rose –
- Munstead Lavender – Lavandula angustifolia
- Strawberry Seduction Yarrow – Achillea millefolium
- Yellow Tickseed – Coreopsis
While these perennials are known to thrive in Utah, you still need to place them where they’ll get the right amount of sun or shade in your yard. You may also need to amend your soil to support certain plants depending on where your Utah garden is located.
Annuals that Grow in Utah
Annuals are plants that need to be replanted each year. Once they’re spent, they need to be removed from your garden and replaced with a new plant. There are numerous annuals that are drought-tolerant, making them a perfect addition to any Utah landscape.
- Common Sage – Salvia
- Cosmos – Cosmos bipinnatus
- Globe Amaranth – Gomphrena globosa
- Marigold – Tagetes
- Mexican Sunflower – Tithonia rotundifolia
- Snapdragons – Antirrhinum
- Verbena
- Whiteweed – Ageratum
- Zinnia
In order to have a garden full of life during the warmer months in Utah, you need to mix up the perennials and annuals you plant. It’s important to know what blooms when, and for how long, when cultivating your garden.
When to Plant Flowers That Bloom in Spring
Did you know that if you want to see buds popping up in your garden in March and April, you should plant in the fall? In Northern Utah gardens, you should plant perennials bulbs in October and November in order to enjoy the fruits of your labors the next spring. It may be too late to plant tulips, daffodils, and alliums now but, according to Purdue University, you should be able to enjoy those bulbs next year even if you’ve planted them late.
Spring Flowers for Utah
Welcome spring with the arrival of some of the following early bloomers in Northern Utah.
- Candytuft – Iberis sempervirens
- Creeping Buttercup – Ranunculus repens
- Dutchman’s Breeches – Dicentra cucullaria
- Garden Rockcress – Arabis alpine
- Moss Phlox – Phlox subulata
- Pigsqueak – Bergenia cordifolia
Summer Flowers for Utah
You won’t mourn the loss of spent spring blooms when your garden is boasting the following plants that shine in the summertime.
- Blanket Flower – Gaillardia
- Bee Balm – Monarda
- Black-eyed Susan – Rudbeckia hirta
- Coneflower – Echinacea
- Ozark Sundrops – Oenothera macrocarpa
- Red Hot Poker – Kniphofia
- Shasta Daisy – Leucanthemum x superbum
Fall Flowers for Utah
If you want colorful plants that complement the changing deciduous leaves in the fall, incorporate some of these in your Utah landscaping.
- Daisy – Aster
- Goldenrod – Solidago
- Hydrangea
- Joe Pye Weed – Eupatorium purpureum
- Mums – Chrysanthemum
- Smokebush – Cotinus
- Stonecrop – Sedum
No matter what plant you’re cultivating in your garden, removing spent blooms promptly can encourage additional growth. Be sure you’re regularly dead-heading your flowers so more of the plant’s energy can be put toward generating new buds.
Also, be creative with your planting; not everything has to go directly into the ground. Experiment with container gardening, especially if you have a small space to work with. You may be able to get something non-native to Utah to thrive if you shelter it on a patio in a pot with enriched soil.
Give Blooms a Boost
We also recommend ornamental grasses and hardscaping to bring dimension, warmth, and color to your landscape year-round. At Cottonwood Landscapes, our design services include assessing your yard for the features you want, and the following offerings:
- Decks and patios
- Fire pits and outdoor fireplaces
- Garden boxes
- Outdoor kitchen
- Outdoor lighting
- Pergolas, arbors, and trellises
- Retaining walls
- Tree planting
- Water features
You can give natural blooms a boost by complementing them with the overall design of your yard, something Cottonwood Landscapes is here to help with.
