What blooms when
Bloom time is the part of the year when a plant flowers. It is not fixed by the calendar alone. Most plants open when they have had enough daylight and warmth, so the same species can flower in April in one garden and June in another.
This guide groups more than 7,000 plants by the months they bloom. Pick a month to see what is flowering then, or start with a season if you are planning a whole border.
Browse by month
Each page lists plants recorded as blooming in that month, with links to the full plant profiles.
What blooms in January?
129 plants
See January bloomers →What blooms in February?
204 plants
See February bloomers →What blooms in March?
436 plants
See March bloomers →What blooms in April?
1,578 plants
See April bloomers →What blooms in May?
2,411 plants
See May bloomers →What blooms in June?
2,687 plants
See June bloomers →What blooms in July?
2,651 plants
See July bloomers →What blooms in August?
2,105 plants
See August bloomers →What blooms in September?
1,317 plants
See September bloomers →What blooms in October?
321 plants
See October bloomers →What blooms in November?
80 plants
See November bloomers →What blooms in December?
74 plants
See December bloomers →Browse by season
Seasons group three months at a time, which is useful when you are choosing several plants that should bloom in sequence.
Why bloom times differ
Daylight is the first trigger. As days lengthen in spring, plants that measure light begin to flower. This is why some species bloom at almost the same date every year, even when the weather varies.
Temperature is the second trigger. Soil and air warmth speed up or slow down development, so a cool spring can push flowering back by two or three weeks. Plants that bloom on new growth, such as many summer perennials, are the most sensitive to this.
Your zone and microclimate shift the timing again. A sheltered, south facing bed can run warmer than the rest of the garden, and coastal or urban sites are often ahead of inland or rural ones. Treat the months on these pages as a typical range, not a fixed date.
How to use this guide
Start with the month you care about, then narrow the list by hardiness zone, sun, and water in the plant library. A plant that blooms in your target month is only useful if it also survives your winters and suits the spot you have.
For colour that lasts, pick plants from consecutive months rather than several that bloom at the same time. A few early bloomers, a group for midsummer, and a late set will cover more of the year than one heavy spring display.
If you are not sure which zone you are in, the interactive hardiness zone map will find it from your location or ZIP code.
Common questions
What does bloom time mean?
Bloom time is the period when a plant produces flowers. It is usually given as a month or a range of months.
Why does the same plant bloom at different times for different people?
Daylight, temperature, and your local climate all affect when a plant flowers. Two gardens in the same zone can still be weeks apart because of shade, soil, or shelter.
Does hardiness zone change bloom time?
Zone mostly tells you whether a plant survives winter, not exactly when it flowers. Warmer zones often bloom earlier, but the plant's own daylight response matters just as much.
How do I get flowers for more of the year?
Choose plants whose bloom months follow one another, and include a few that flower on new growth in late summer. The blooming season guide walks through the sequence month by month.