If you’ve been wanting to plant flowers but just don’t know what flowers grow well in Massachusetts, you’ve come to the right place! Getting straight to the point, so what are the best flowers to grow in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts?
In general, flowers that grow well in Massachusetts are the ones that can thrive in cold winters and are capable of year-round blooms. Examples of flowers that thrive in the Bay State include Alyssums, Coral Bells, Dahlias, and Marigolds.
Flowers That Grow Well in Massachusetts
Some flowers require lots of care and time, whereas others will grow without much interference. So, it’s important to pick flowers that are ideal for your growing conditions. Factors such as soil type, sun exposure, and hardiness zones play important factors here.
Some flowers require lots of care and time, whereas others will grow without much interference. So, it’s important to pick flowers that are ideal for your growing conditions. Factors such as soil type, sun exposure, and hardiness zones play important factors here.
That said, here are eight flowers that are guaranteed to thrive in Massachusetts weather:
Alyssum
Alyssum is a ground cover plant. They boast beautiful blooms during spring and until the first hard frost. Alyssum is one of the hardiest garden annuals and it adds beautiful colors to your garden grounds.
What’s more, throughout its growing season, this flower produces exquisite honey-scented blooms. So, your garden is going to have a very appealing smell.
Alyssum is a part of the Brassicaceae family, commonly referred to as the mustard family, which tolerates a wide range of soil and light conditions.
Alyssum flowers are best suited to hardiness zones 1 through 8. They can tolerate zones 9 to 11, but won’t live as long.
Coral Bells
Coral Bells are known for their elegant, highly textured, bell-like flowers that rise above the greenery on long, thin branches.
The plants normally reach a height of 12 to 18 inches and thrive in hardiness zones ranging from 4 to 8.
Coral bells are known for being low-maintenance plants. Moreover, after flowering, you can cut back some of the flower stalks to give the plant more energy that can be used to develop more leaves.
Cut back the leaves if they become battered, especially after winter. You can cut them back and new leaves will quickly start sprouting.
Deadheading faded Coral Bell flowers on a regular basis can help make sure that they bloom all throughout the summer and into the fall.
Dahlia
Dahlia is one of the easiest flowers to grow. It doesn’t require fertilization or much water and can be grown in any soil condition. It’s the perfect beginner flower!
They’re suited for hardiness zones 2 to 7, but you should dig them up and place them indoors in harsh winters.
Dahlias come in a wide range of colors, patterns, and flower forms. Dahlias bloom rather late. In particular, summer through to the first signs of winter frost.
Despite their diversity, most dahlias have tall, straight stems that help the flowers stand out.
Gardening containers are a great place to put dahlias in, as they can practically grow anywhere you want them to, like indoors, on your balcony, or even put into a window box.
Marigolds
Marigolds are one of the most popular and consistent bedding flowers, boasting vibrant blooms, warm colors, and fern-like foliage.
These flowers flaunt continuous blooms for 5 to 8 months of the year, and all you need to do is just deadhead them to keep them healthy.
The size and form of Marigold blooms can vary significantly, from small single-petal flowers to massive blossoms on African marigolds. However, all marigolds reflect their Asteraceae family relationship with flowers that have a daisy-like aesthetic.
When grown from seeds, these plants grow fast and will reach maturity in a couple of months. These flowers are best suited for hardiness zones 2 to 11.
Hydrangeas
The hydrangea is a shrub that blooms mostly in the spring and summer. Despite their tendency to be remarkable attention grabbers in your yard, even a beginner gardener won’t need to learn how to grow hydrangeas because these darlings practically grow themselves.
The hydrangea, which can grow to be 15 feet in height, spreads quickly and can take up a lot of room in just one season.
They bloom all throughout the spring season and typically linger into the summer and early fall, making them an excellent foundation plant for any garden.
Hydrangeas are best suited for hardiness zones 3 to 7.
Russian Sage
The term “Russian sage” implies that this plant is resilient in colder climates. It’s classified as a sub-shrub, which is a woody stem plant that dies back to the ground every winter.
Russian sage requires only a thorough pruning in the spring, when the buds are just beginning to break.
Because it blooms on new growth, pruning it down to 6 to 8 inches in late summer enables the entire plant to fill in and burst into its dazzling blue color.
They’re best suited for hardiness zones 4 to 9.
Russian sage can put out runners, which should be eliminated as soon as possible before they establish roots.
The plants should be divided every 4-6 years to ensure a healthy and colorful lifespan.
Zinnia
Zinnias are native to hot regions, but they’re easy to grow in any garden. They’re warm-season annual flowers that grow quickly and bloom brilliantly with little maintenance. They’re great for bringing a splash of color to a container.
Although zinnias are known for their bright, hot-palette hues, new varieties are introduced every year. There are tall, short, and spreading variations, all of which are quite easy to grow and can resist even the harshest growing environments.
The leaves of zinnias are lance-shaped and quite rough, but other kinds can be larger and less scratchy. It produces a wide range of brightly colored, spherical blooms.
There are dwarf cultivars as well as tall types that can reach 4 feet in height. Zinnia flowers can be cactus-flowered or dahlia-like.
Zinnias are usually planted in spring, but what’s worth noting is that they’re one of the few spring flowers that you can plant in early summer and they’ll still bloom and grow.
Some flowers can only grow in the ground, but not zinnias. These flowers can thrive wherever you put them, including in pots, raised garden beds, window boxes, and even infertile soil.
Zinnias are one of the very few real annual plants. Many annuals are actually perennials that are only hardy in the hottest hardiness zones, but zinnias will be annuals everywhere.
Zinnias usually take a couple of weeks to bloom, but once the weather warms up, they’ll flower from late spring to late fall. Zinnias are best suited for hardiness zones 2 to 8.
Celosia
Celosia has a unique shape and structure that you’re not going to find in other flowers. Some can look like fluffy flames in your yard, while others resemble feathery plumes.
You can create a stunning rainbow effect with distinct textures and forms by making a complete flower bed with several species of celosia.
Celosias can reach a height of 3 feet in the garden, depending on the type of celosia planted.
Celosia flowers come in a variety of heights and styles, making them quite versatile and fun to work with.
If you like combining different flowers together, combining celosias with other low-maintenance annuals like marigolds and zinnias will add just the right pop of color.
They’re best suited for hardiness zones 2 to 11.
Wrap-Up On What Flowers Grow Well in Massachusetts
The right flowers can add so much beauty and warmth to your garden. A garden wouldn’t be a garden without some flowers, after all.
Even if you’ve never grown anything before, don’t fret; many of the above-listed plants are ideal for novice gardeners. So just pick one, and as your confidence increases, you can expand your flower garden.
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