Montana’s freezing cold winters means that only certain flowers can thrive in it. So before you get started with your garden, you want to look for flowers that can handle those infamous Treasure State winters!
This begs the question, what flowers grow well in Montana?
Well, there are lots of flowers than can survive (and even thrive in) Montana’s freezing winter temperatures. Some of them are native to the state, like the blanket flower, purple coneflower, bitterroot and more, whereas others aren’t native but can adapt to it, like tiger lily and bleeding hearts.
If you want to know our picks for the best flowers to grow in Montana and how to take good care of them, then this article is for you! Stick around.
Best Flowers to Grow in Montana
Montana has one of the coldest climates in the United States, but these weather conditions can vary depending on what region you’re in.
The western part of the state often has moderate winters and summers that are somewhat cooler. On the other hand, the eastern part experiences warm summers and colder winters.
Don’t worry; there’s no need to dive deep into the gardening world to find the flowers suitable for your specific location in Montana.
Simply check out our list of the 10 flowers that grow well in Montana.
1. Tiger Lily
Tiger lily flowers come in many shades of white, pink, yellow, and red, but the most unique-looking one is the orange flower with dark speckles all over its petals!
They also need full sun exposure or partial shade and moderate irrigation until the plant is mature enough, then it can tolerate some drought.
Tiger lilies’ planted bulbs can survive the freezing cold as well as higher summer temperatures.
Just make sure you plant them deep enough to keep them protected from weather changes until they start to bloom in mid or late summer. You can easily plant them using a bulb planter or a drill bit.
They grow best in moist, slightly acidic soils that are well-drained, and can grow up to 5 feet tall and 8 inches wide.
Tiger lilies are hardy for USDA zones 3 – 9.
2. Bleeding Hearts
These heart-shaped flowers with beautiful shades of white, pink, and red, will take your garden view to another level!
Bleeding hearts are sensitive to heat so they like to grow in partial shade with constant watering, especially through hot summer days.
As for soil, they grow best in slightly acidic rich soils, but that’s not a must since it can adapt to other types of soil as well.
Bleeding hearts start to bloom in the spring and continue blooming for many weeks. They usually grow up to 3 feet tall and 1-3 feet wide.
Bleeding hearts are hardy for USDA zones 2 – 9.
3. Blanket Flower
Blanket flower, or Gaillardia, is a multicolored flower that looks like a daisy, with vibrant shades of yellow, orange, red, and peach.
These flowers grow fast and can slowly spread the blooms covering the surrounding area, hence the name “blanket”.
They grow best in full sun exposure and slightly acidic well-drained soils, and they don’t like rich soils or a lot of fertilization.
Blanket flowers often start to bloom from summer to fall, and they can grow to 36 inches tall and spread to 24 inches.
Blanket flowers are hardy for USDA zones 3 – 10.
4. Lily of the Valley
Lily of the valley is a fragrant tiny white bell-shaped flower that looks like it’s nodding down from its long stem, but it’s not actually part of the lily family! Other types of lily of the valley can have shades of yellow and pink as well.
These flowers are easy to grow and care for. They thrive best in partial shade and moist yet well-drained soils, but still adapt well to other conditions like full sun and dry or full shade.
Lily of the valley usually starts to bloom in the spring and can grow up to 12 inches tall and 9 – 12 inches wide.
Lily of the valley is hardy for USDA zones 2 – 9.
5. Foxglove
This unique-looking flower has clusters of lavender tubular blooms that are perfect for using vertical spaces. The flowers can also come in shades of white, purple, yellow, pink, and red.
They grow best in full sun exposure and well-drained loamy soils, but when it’s too hot, they’ll need to have partial to full shade.
Foxgloves start to bloom in late spring or early summer and can grow to 5 feet tall and 2 feet wide.
Foxgloves are hardy for USDA zones 4 – 10.
6. Iris
This Iris flower, which is named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow, comes in several beautiful shades of white, yellow, purple, and blue.
These flowers are also easy to grow and thrive best in full shade, even though some types can tolerate partial shade. They also need well-drained moist and rich soils to grow.
Although iris flowers need consistent watering to bloom, many varieties can tolerate some drought, so they won’t die quickly when they’re given enough water.
They can start to bloom in late spring, early, or late summer, and grow anywhere from 6 inches to 4 feet tall.
Irises are hardy for USDA zones 3 – 9.
7. Butterfly Bush
Butterfly bushes have tall spikes that are full of bright purple flowers. They surely make for a splendid addition to your garden! They can also come in many shades of white, yellow, pink, and blue.
These flowers are easy to grow with minimal care, and they grow best in full sun exposure and well-drained soils with medium moisture.
Also, you don’t have to give them much fertilization unless they’re planted in poor soil.
They often start to bloom from spring to the end of summer, and depending on the type, they can grow to 3 – 12 feet tall and 3 – 8 feet wide.
Butterfly bushes are hardy for USDA zones 5 – 9.
8. Coneflowers
Coneflowers, which are part of the daisies family, are beautiful, hardy, and easy to grow. These pretty flowers can come in shades of purple, pink, and more!
Coneflowers grow best in full sun with regular irrigation, but tolerate partial shade as well. As for soil, you’ll need to plant them in neutral soil, although they can adapt well to other types.
They usually start to bloom from mid-summer to fall, and they grow up to 5 feet tall and 2 feet wide.
Coneflowers are hardy for USDA zones 3 – 8.
9. Crocus
Another purple beauty that comes from the Iris family is the crocus.
Crocus tube-shaped flowers can grow well in a range of conditions, and they come in shades of yellow, lavender, and mauve.
They like to grow in any type of soil as long as it’s well-drained, and with full or partial sun exposure.
The flowers start to bloom in the spring and can grow to 6 inches tall and 1 – 3 inches wide.
Crocus flowers are hardy for USDA zones 3 – 8.
10. Daffodils
Daffodils are among the most popular spring flowers. They come in many beautiful shades of yellow, white, and pink. Additionally, some types can be multicolored.
These spring flowers grow best in rich and moist soil that’s well-drained and in full to partial sun exposure. They also like regular watering in spring and fall but prefer drier soil during summertime.
The daffodil flowers start to bloom in the spring and can grow to 6 – 30 inches tall and 6 – 12 inches wide.
Daffodils are hardy for USDA zones 4 – 8.
Wrap-Up On What Flowers Grow Well in Montana
Building the perfect garden means a lot of time spent on planning and searching for the perfect flowers and plants to grow.
If you live in Montana, you can’t go wrong with any of our top picks. Just be sure to read up on how to care for each one, along with their respective requirements.
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