15 Flowers to Plant in April

With those last anticipated frost dates either fast approaching or firmly in the rearview mirror, April is a great time to start filling your beds with flowers! As the adage goes, April showers bring May flowers. Even if you’re still within the freeze window, there are plenty of things you can plant this month that will survive a light frost and continue to flower well into the summer months. 

 A quick trip to your local nursery should give you a good idea of which plants will perform well in your climate right now. But who am I kidding? I’m sure you like to take your time perusing the inventory as much as I do. So pencil in some time and get ready to fill those beds with beautiful blooms. 

Since we aren’t past those frost dates in Zones 2-5, I will indicate which cultivars are frost tolerant. These are best for cooler climates this time of year, while some others will tolerate the hot weather of summer in warmer climates. 

Double Hollyhocks

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Charter’s Double Hollyhock Seeds

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Mexican Sunflowers

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Torch Mexican Sunflower Seeds

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French Marigolds

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Favorite Blend French Marigold Seeds

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Snapdragon ‘Potomac Lavender’

	common name Snapdragon ‘Potomac Lavender’
	botanical name Antirrhinum majus ‘Potomac Lavender’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2.5’-4’
	hardiness zones 7-11

Snapdragons are always on my list for springtime planting. They are perennial in zones 7-11, but you can grow them as annuals in most climates. They are frost-tolerant, so you can plant them several weeks to a month before your final frost. They tolerate temperatures in the 20s (around -7°C), and though they won’t flower at this temperature, their foliage still looks great. 

‘Potomac Lavender’ is a tall, gorgeous cultivar with soft purple flowers on stems that can reach up to four feet tall. It makes excellent cut flowers and blooms well into the summer months. In cool climates, give it plenty of light. In warm climates, give it shade in the afternoon to extend its season. 

Petunia ‘Lace Veil’

	common name Petunia ‘Lace Veil’
	botanical name Petunia ‘Lace Veil’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 15”
	hardiness zones 9-11

Petunias are not frost-tolerant, so these are perfect flowers for planting in April in warmer areas. They are perennial in zones 9-11 and annuals elsewhere. These look great in hanging baskets and spilling over the side of a container arrangement. They also look lovely as a border, as they remain low growing, and most have a creeping habit. 

‘Lace Veil’ is a fancy variety with finely textured edges on pure white flowers with a pale green throat. It would be gorgeous in a window box. Petunias are related to tomatoes and pepper plants, but they don’t produce edible fruit. However, they certainly make wonderful ornamentals!

Alyssum ‘Snow Crystals’

	common name Alyssum ‘Snow Crystals’
	botanical name Lobularia maritima ‘Snow Crystals’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6”-8”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Alyssum makes a wonderful filler and spiller in container arrangements, and it fills in spaces in the garden with its low, creeping habit. Masses of tiny flowers look like a blanket of blooms and show up from late spring until the first frost. This long blooming season makes it highly popular. It’s also pleasantly low-maintenance.

‘Snow Crystals’ is a shimmering white cultivar with larger, though still quite small, blossoms. The blooms are prolific and fragrant. In zones 9-11, it will grow as a perennial, but you’ll want to cut it back to keep it from getting leggy. It’s invasive in a limited range, so make sure to check your area.

Delphinium ‘Guardian Lavender’

	common name Delphinium ‘Guardian Lavender’
	botanical name Delphinium elatum ‘Guardian Lavender’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2’-4’
	hardiness zones 4-7

Delphinium, or larkspurs, are wonderful cut flowers and create a beautiful vertical element in the April garden or spring container arrangements. Bees flock to a mid-sized plant with tall, strong flower spikes. The finely cut foliage has a fern-like quality. It’s an excellent addition to the cottage garden.

‘Guardian Lavender’ is part of the Guardian series and blooms early in the season. The blooms are pale blue and lavender, with ruffled petals and a touch of white in the center. Blue is the most common color for delphiniums, but they also come in pink and white. Wear gloves when you work with these. They are poisonous but frost-tolerant. 

Cosmos ‘Daydream’

	common name Cosmos ‘Daydream’
	botanical name Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Daydream’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3’-4’
	hardiness zones 2-11

I love cosmos in the cutting garden, and it’s perfect for a meadow or cottage aesthetic. They’re tall but have a delicate appearance so that they won’t overshadow their neighbors. The feathery foliage complements the colorful blooms, attracting all kinds of native bees and butterflies. 

‘Daydream’ has pink flowers with a darker center that fades to blush around the edges. The bright yellow eye in the center is a cheerful accent and a pollen jackpot. These are exceptionally easy to grow, though they are susceptible to powdery mildew, so avoid overhead watering.

Viola ‘Sorbet Carmine Rose’

	common name Viola ‘Sorbet Carmine Rose’
	botanical name Viola ‘Sorbet Carmine Rose’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6”-8”
	hardiness zones 4-9

Violas are in the same group as violets and pansies, and they’re all frost-tolerant and semi-evergreen. Their sturdiness might surprise you, given their petite size and soft blooms. They are edible and make lovely decorations on baked goods, and pretty garnishes on cold dishes. Violas have smaller flowers than pansies, so they stand up better to inclement weather.

‘Sorbet Carmine Rose’ is especially floriferous with deep carmine flowers that have a yellow center and darker whiskering. When it’s in full bloom the flowers cover the entire plant. I prefer these in containers because of their small size, but they look nice as a border or bed as long as they don’t get overshadowed by larger neighbors.

Primrose ‘Mick’

	common name Primrose ‘Mick’
	botanical name Primula auricula ‘Mick’
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height 6”-8”
	hardiness zones 3-8

Primroses are another attractive and frost-tolerant spring flower. They are low growing, forming a basal rosette of light green leaves. A cluster of small, brightly colored flowers bloom in the center of the rosette. Their form is similar to an African violet. They’re easy to grow and hardy in a significant range of climates. 

‘Mick’ is evergreen and has eye-catching flowers. They’re deep red with a bright orange edge and a brilliant pop of yellow in the center. They make an excellent border in areas of the garden with a bit more shade. Full exposure is fine in cooler climates, but they need some afternoon protection in warmer environments.

French Marigold ‘Konstance’

	common name French Marigold ‘Konstance’
	botanical name Tagetes patula x erecta ‘Konstance’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1’-2’
	hardiness zones 2-11

French marigolds are a staple in my garden for their pest-repelling properties and brightly colored flowers. They are annuals but re-seed nicely, and I find it easy to collect and plant their seeds at the end of the season. With ornate foliage and a uniquely pungent aroma, these are a classic.

‘Konstance’ is a taller variety, growing up to two feet tall. It’s bushy and robust, with bronze-red flowers that bloom from spring to frost. These are a great way to put and keep color in your beds. They make wonderful companions in the vegetable garden, too!

Calendula ‘Neon’

	common name Calendula ‘Neon’
	botanical name Calendula officinalis ‘Neon’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2’-3’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Calendula flowers are similar to marigolds. The color and scent is alike, and they are both edible plants. However, their foliage and growth habits are different. Calendula is a sturdy plant and a great bloomer, and it’s useful as an herb. It retains most of its color when you dry it, so it’s good for dried arrangements and makes a nice tea. 

Most varieties come in shades of red, orange, and yellow. ‘Neon’ has bright orange flowers with tons of petals that have dark striping underneath. This coloration gives them a lot of depth. They are frost tolerant and great for planting in early spring in cool climates.

Dahlia ‘Feline Yvonne’

	common name Dahlia ‘Feline Yvonne’
	botanical name Dahlia ‘Feline Yvonne’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3’-4’
	hardiness zones 8-11

If you’re a warm climate gardener, dahlias are amazing perennials that are great for the cutting garden. Tall, impressive plants produce flashy, large, flamboyant flowers throughout the summer. They do require more work than some other plants, but if you have a cutting garden, they are well worth the effort. 

There are a great number of different cultivars in a wide range of sizes and colors. ‘Feline Yvonne’ is a large, fancy variety with neon pink flowers. It’s about mid to tall height for a dahlia, and has a busy growth habit. Dahlias are perennial in zones 8-11. Elsewhere, you’ll need to dig up the tubers for winter and store them until spring. 

Coneflower ‘Pink Poodle’

	common name Coneflower ‘Pink Poodle’
	botanical name Echinacea purpurea ‘Pink Poodle’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1’-3’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Coneflowers are a must in the April pollinator garden and cut flower bed. The flowers are not frost-tolerant, but the foliage stands up well to a light frost. Still, they prefer warm temperatures for peak performance. They are upright growers with branching stems that support large, colorful flowers. 

There is also a wide range of cultivars in this species. The most common has a large orange cone in the center and purple petals. ‘Pink Poodle’ is anything but common, with heavily petaled blooms in bubblegum pink with a green center. They are extra showy and fluffy.

Geranium ‘Ambericana Salmon’

	common name Geranium ‘Ambericana Salmon’
	botanical name Pelargonium ‘Americana Salmon’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1’-2’
	hardiness zones 9-11

The plants we commonly call zonal geraniums are actually not true geraniums, but we will call them that for the sake of convenience. Plants in the Pelargonium genus are not frost-tolerant, although I find the foliage is fine in a brief, light frost. They are shrubby evergreens with scalloped, decorative foliage that has a pleasing aroma.

‘Americana Salmon’ is a beautiful variety with coral-colored blossoms that grow in heavy clusters. If you deadhead your geraniums they will bloom from spring until frost, continuously. I love these in hanging baskets, but they work nicely in beds and borders, too. 

Phlox ‘Orange Perfection’

	common name Phlox ‘Orange Perfection’
	botanical name Phlox paniculata ‘Orange Perfection’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2’-3’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Phlox plants have cold-hardy roots, but a late April frost can cause the foliage and flowers to die back. This clump-forming perennial has large clusters of brightly colored flowers and, depending on the type, can be creeping, dwarf, or quite tall. Tall phlox make wonderful cut flowers with stiff stems and attractive foliage. 

‘Orange Perfection’ glows in the garden with salmon-colored blossoms with a bright red eye. The blooms complement the medium green foliage nicely. The blossoms are fragrant, and pollinators love them. They work well in a cottage garden or meadow setting.

Poppy ‘Schwarzer Drachen’

	common name Poppy ‘Schwarzer Drachen’
	botanical name Papaver somniferum ‘Schwarzer Drachen’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1’-2’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Poppies are frost-tolerant flowers and a great choice for colder climates in April. You would typically sow these seeds in the fall, but you can purchase plants for spring planting. They have pretty foliage, but my favorite feature is their fuzzy flower stems and buds. They give the plant a lot of character. 

‘Schwarzer Drachen’ is a mouthful, and it’s also a spectacular flower. The flowers are a mass of purple petals ranging from eggplant to violet. They are darker at the outer petals and lighter toward the center. A green pod sits in the center, which is where the poppy seeds form. At the end of the season, pop these open and collect the seeds for planting in the fall. 

Nemesia ‘Bluebird’

	common name Nemesia ‘Bluebird’
	botanical name Nemesia fruticans ‘Bluebird’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 10”-12”
	hardiness zones 8-10

Nemesia flowers are good for filling April containers. The plant has a shrubby growth habit and small foliage and flowers that form an attractive mound. It also makes a nice border or bed filler in the ground. It is not frost tolerant but has great heat tolerance, so it’s good for warmer climates with hot summers. 

‘Bluebird’ is lovely with sweet blue-violet blooms. The flowers have tiny yellow eyes, and they also have a pleasing fragrance. Nemesia is perennial in zones 8-10, and you can grow it in other zones as a warm-season annual.