If you’re planning a garden in the Keystone state, you may want to know what flowers grow well in Pennsylvania. If so, I hope you find all you need in this article.
It’s almost cloudy all year round in Pennsylvania, and the winters can be cold and freezing, while the summers are warm and wet. However, all plant and flower varieties that thrive in USDA planting zones 5b to 7a will grow beautifully in your Pennsylvania garden, as long as you follow the adequate care instructions.
In this article, I discuss some of the best flowers that grow well in Pennsylvania, so keep reading to pick the right one to add to your floral garden.
10 Pretty Flowers that Grow Well in Pennsylvania
Whether you’re a novice or an experienced gardener, you’ll find a lot of beautiful blooms that you can grow in Pennsylvania. Here are some of the varieties that thrive in Pennsylvania’s cool weather.
Astilbe
Astilbe is a fast-growing plant that suits less experienced gardeners, growing tall blooms that can be pink, purple, red, and white. The flowers grow on top of long stalks that reach a height of 24 inches.
These flowers bloom throughout spring and summer, adding color to the shady parts of your garden or along the borders. The plant doesn’t tolerate long periods of drought, and the soil should be kept moist but not soggy. It should be watered at the base, and overhead watering should be avoided.
The astilbe plant thrives in slightly acidic, slightly rich, and moist soil. It prefers partial to full shade, but partial sunlight is occasionally needed. However, too much sun can scorch the foliage.
Spiked Speedwell
The showy blooms of the spiked speedwell start blooming in late spring or early summer. The flowers come in different shades of purple, blue-pink, and white, and the stems can be 3 feet tall, depending on the variety.
You need to grow spiked speedwell in a sunny spot in your garden or a border bed, but it can tolerate some partial shade. These flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators but don’t attract deer or rabbits.
The spiked speedwell plant thrives in loamy, well-draining soil and can tolerate clay and poor soil if you add compost. When the plant is young, you need to water it regularly, but it becomes drought-resistant once established.
Russian Sage
Russian sage is a perennial drought-resistant shrub that grows beautiful blooms that come in shades of blue, lavender, and purple. You can use it as a border to your garden because this plant prefers to be grown in masses for support.
In addition to regular pruning, the Russian sage shrub doesn’t need much care or attention, so it will work for you if you’re a novice gardener. However, it thrives in full sun and doesn’t tolerate the shade, which can make the plant too leggy.
The Russian sage plant can tolerate all types of soil, including sandy soil. Once established, it can tolerate medium to dry soil.
Sneezeweed
Also known as Helenium, sneezeweed is a perfect choice for woodland gardens. When sniffed, the flower causes sneezing, which, according to legend, will drive the evil spirits away from the body.
The sneezeweed flower blooms in late summer or fall and prefers to grow in full sun conditions. The flowers come in different shades of yellow, orange, red, gold, and coppery brown, adding beautiful warm colors to your garden.
The plant can tolerate some afternoon shade if it is planted in a dry area. Other than that, the shade can make the plant too leggy. It grows in slightly acidic soil and likes medium to heavy moisture. Adding a 3-inch layer of mulch will keep the soil moist.
Beardtongue
The beardtongue is an easy-to-grow perennial, growing spring and summer blooms that come in shades of purple, pink, blue, orange, yellow, red, and white. In most cases, these flowers appear in early summer, keeping your garden vibrant after the spring blooms disappear and before the maturing summer flowers show.
Unless you can provide your beardtongues with full sun exposure, they won’t be able to bloom and will start to droop. The plant can grow in rocky and sandy soil and actually prefers this soil over rich loamy soil.
Only one inch of water per week is enough to keep this plant in perfect shape. Applying an organic fertilizer once a year in the fall will be enough, as adding too much plant food will cause the overgrowth of flowers and eventually shorten the plant’s life.
Peony
The peony is an herbaceous perennial, although some varieties can grow from woody shrubs. You need to plant peonies before the ground freezes in fall, as this will allow the roots to settle.
The blooms come in different shades of coral, rose, purple, pink, red, and white and the plant can last for decades when taken care of. As long as your soil is well-draining, peonies will thrive and grow.
These flowers need access to full sunlight and should be planted where there’s some shelter from the strong winter winds. Unfortunately, despite the attractive look of the blooms, peonies are a little toxic to humans and highly toxic to your pets.
New England Aster
The New England aster plant has erect stems that can grow up to a height of 6 tall. In late summer and fall, the 1.5-diameter blooms appear and come in shades of purple, pink, and white, with bright yellow-orange centers.
You can grow the New England aster along your garden’s border or in a flower bed. It needs access to full sun and should be grown in slightly acidic, well-draining rich soil.
Moist soil that isn’t too soggy is essential to support the plant’s growth. You can use a liquid or granular fertilizer in spring to support blooming and growth.
Daylily
The daylily flowers grow from a perennial that reaches a maximum height of 5 feet. The flowers come in different shades of red, orange, pink, yellow, and purple, and the plant is deeply rooted. The name daylily refers to the flowers’ trait of blooming for 24 hours.
You need to expose your daylilies to full sun to help them grow. They need to grow in fertile loamy soil and can grow on a steep slope because the roots grow deep.
Regular watering is needed in the first growing season, but the plant can become drought-resistant once established.
Coreopsis
This plant is usually planted in flower beds or along your garden’s border, growing attractive red, orange, yellow, pink, and white flowers that bloom in summer and fall. These beautiful flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to your garden.
You can plant the coreopsis in spring after the frost has stopped, and the annual varieties will bloom in early summer. The perennial varieties bloom in the second growing season.
When fully grown, the plant can reach a height of 4 feet, so you need to space it out to allow for air circulation. In addition, some of the taller varieties need staking when they mature to stay upright.
The coreopsis plant needs access to full sun, as the partial sun will affect the number of blooms. It prefers neutral well-draining loamy or sandy soil and needs to be kept in moist but not soggy soil.
Bleeding Heart
The bleeding heart is a woodland plant that doesn’t tolerate high summer temperatures. Instead, it blooms in spring, growing drooping bell-shaped blooms that can be white, pink, or red. The roots stay alive in the soil, as long as you don’t dig them out, growing again in fall or spring when the temperature drops.
This plant prefers to grow in partial shade, so planting it under a deciduous tree will provide the plant and flowers with the needed protection. It can grow in any rich, well-draining, and moist soil.
Watering this plant is crucial, but only one inch of water is needed per week. In addition, you can add a layer of compost in spring to help the plant grow stronger.
Wrap Up: What Flowers Grow Well in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania is home to a lot of beautiful plants, and some of them will grow amazing blooms in your garden. You must follow the plant’s care instructions and watch it as it adds a pop of color to your landscape.
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