If you’ve been wanting to plant flowers but just don’t know what flowers grow well in Minnesota, you’ve come to the right place!
In general, flowers that grow well in Minnesota are those that thrive in cold climates (Minnesota’s winters can be harsh) and are capable of year-round blooms. Great examples of flowers that thrive in the North Star State include asters, peonies, zinnias, and marigolds.
7 Gorgeous Flowers That Grow Well in Minnesota
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 essential elements here.
That said, here are eight flowers that are guaranteed to thrive in Minnesota weather:
Asters
Most flowers begin to close up by the end of summer, but not asters. They bloom in late summer to mid-fall. They have purple or blue star-shaped flowers that contrast with the usual colors of orange and brown in the fall season. They can grow to be 6 feet in height.
It’s best to plant asters in the spring, but keep in mind that it’ll take years for them to grow to their full size. However, once these flowers are adequately situated, you can expect them to brighten your garden for years to come.
Asters prefer access to direct sunlight throughout the day and need a well-drained, loamy soil. So, plant accordingly.
They’re best suited for hardiness zones 3 to 8.
Cultivars of Asters
There are hundreds of different species of this plant, and if you want a more flashy variant of the native aster, check these out.
- Puff: They bloom a lot earlier than native asters. As for color, they have white petals with yellow centers.
- Celeste: These flowers have a darker shade of blue than native asters and also have bright yellow centers.
- Hazy: This one’s just a beautiful bright pink aster variant.
Peonies
Peonies are one of the most fluffy and velvety-looking flowers. Yet, don’t be fooled by their dainty appearance; they’re tougher than they look. Plus, they’re pretty low-maintenance and don’t require much upkeep.
Peonies love a bright and sunny location, so you should spend a little time choosing a good spot for them. An area where they can be safe from strong winds works best because their stems are relatively weak.
Nevertheless, they’re still quite hardy. As a matter of fact, experts say that some peonies can live for more than 100 years if you take care of them well.
Bear in mind that it’s unlikely for peonies to flower during their first year after planting. Yet, once they finally do, you can rest easy and let them do their thing.
Like humans, peonies like a little personal space. Hence, adding a 3-foot perimeter around the flower bed should do the trick.
They’re best suited for hardiness zones 2 to 8.
Coneflowers
Coneflowers are a staple garden plant native to the eastern regions of North America. They’re robust, drought-tolerant, and long-blooming. Another advantage is that they come in a broad spectrum of colors.
It’s hard to find a garden without at least one type of coneflower. They typically grow in three to four weeks and develop leaves three months after being planted in early spring. Though, it can take up to two years for them to fully bloom.
The purple coneflower is the more common species. Its fibrous root system makes it more resilient than other wild species, which helps when dividing the plant and replanting.
It has daisy-like blooms made up of layers of flowers, running from the biggest to the smallest. The smaller flowers have one main job: to attract insects to all the other fertile flowers in the central cone.
They’re best suited for hardiness zones 3 to 8.
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.
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 relatively 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.
Alyssum
Alyssum is a ground cover plant. It boasts beautiful blooms during spring and until the first hard frost. Alyssum is one of the hardiest garden annuals, and it adds beautiful color to your garden grounds.
What’s more, throughout its growing season, this flower produces exquisite honey-scented blooms, attracting all kinds of pollinators and hummingbirds.
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.
Zinnias
Zinnias are native to hot regions, but although they prefer warmer climates, you don’t have to worry about growing them in Minnesota as they’re capable of thriving in various climates. They tend to do just fine with little maintenance, too, so you don’t have to worry.
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 tolerate even the harshest growing environments.
You can plant zinnias in the early spring if you want to give them a head start. Nonetheless, they’re pretty resilient, so you can still easily plant them in the summer, and they’ll still be able to grow and bloom without any problems. The best thing is that zinnias will grow wherever you put them, including in pots, window boxes, raised garden beds, and even infertile soil.
Overall, there are two main types. First, there are the zinnias that grow only up to 8 inches tall, but they’re less common. The traditional zinnias grow to be four feet in height. They usually take a couple of weeks to bloom, but they’ll flower from late spring to late fall once the weather warms up.
Wrap Up On What Flowers Grow Well in Minnesota
If you’ve been neglecting your garden for a long time because you didn’t know what flowers grow well in Minnesota, we hope this post has shed light on what you can and can’t grow. This way, you’ll find it easier to choose the perfect plants for your garden.
The best part is that many of these plants are ideal for beginner gardeners. So, take your pick, and then, as your confidence improves, you can expand your flower garden to include more exotic and alluring plants.
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