Best Flowers for Each Season
Each season in New Jersey brings its own unique beauty, and we love highlighting that with blooms that thrive in each phase of the year! From the early cheer of spring’s bulbs to the rich colors of fall, here’s a guide to the best flowers to grow and enjoy each season in NJ.
Spring: Fresh Beginnings (March - May)
After a long winter, spring breathes new life into the garden with delicate colors and soft fragrances. This is the season of rebirth, and these early bloomers are a treat for the eyes.
Daffodils: Among the first to bloom, daffodils come in sunny shades of yellow and white, signaling the start of warmer days.
Tulips: Available in a rainbow of colors, tulips add elegance and brightness to spring gardens. They’re hardy and grow well in New Jersey’s climate.
Hyacinths: Known for their sweet scent, hyacinths bloom in clusters of pink, purple, and blue, creating an inviting and fragrant garden.
Peonies: These lush, romantic blooms thrive in New Jersey and usually peak in May, adding a touch of luxury to the season’s offerings.
Ranunculus: With delicate, layered petals, ranunculus is perfect for spring bouquets, adding texture and color.
Spring Growing Tip: Plant bulbs in the fall for a springtime bloom. Daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths need to overwinter in the soil to perform at their best.
Summer: Peak Blooms (June - August)
Summer is the season of abundance, and flowers burst into full color, making it a paradise for gardeners and flower lovers alike. From bright yellows to deep purples, summer’s flowers thrive in the heat and bring plenty of vibrancy to the landscape.
Sunflowers: Known for their cheerful faces and tall stalks, sunflowers embody summer and can brighten up any garden or bouquet.
Zinnias: These colorful, long-lasting flowers bloom in red, pink, orange, and purple, and are ideal for both cutting gardens and pollinator beds.
Dahlias: Available in various colors and sizes, dahlias are summer showstoppers that can bloom well into fall.
Cosmos: These delicate flowers sway in the summer breeze and are available in soft pinks and whites, adding a whimsical touch.
Snapdragons: Tall and stately, snapdragons come in a variety of colors and are excellent for adding height to garden beds.
Summer Growing Tip: Keep flowers well-watered during hot, dry spells, especially varieties like dahlias and zinnias, which bloom better with consistent moisture.
Autumn: Warm and Rich Colors (September - November)
Fall’s cooler temperatures and shorter days bring out the season’s warm tones and rich colors. This is when the landscape becomes a tapestry of reds, oranges, and deep purples.
Chrysanthemums: Mums are synonymous with fall and bloom in various colors, from orange and yellow to deep burgundy, creating a classic autumn feel.
Marigolds: These bright orange and yellow flowers thrive in the cooler weather and add pops of color to autumn displays.
Dahlias: Dahlias continue their bloom into early fall, adding vibrancy to the garden even as the weather cools.
Celosia: Known for its unique, textured blooms, celosia is available in rich tones of red, orange, and pink, giving a fun texture to arrangements.
Ornamental Kale and Cabbage: Although technically not flowers, their bold colors and unique textures make them popular in fall floral arrangements.
Autumn Growing Tip: Many fall-blooming flowers, like chrysanthemums, benefit from being pruned back in early summer. This encourages fuller, more compact growth and more blooms in the fall.
Winter: Subtle Beauty (December - February)
While winter may be quiet on the flower farm, there are still options for color and greenery to brighten up the colder months. Indoor flowers and plants, along with winter-blooming shrubs, bring beauty to the season.
Hellebores (Lenten Rose): Known for blooming in late winter, hellebores add a soft touch of pink, white, or green to garden beds when most plants are dormant.
Witch Hazel: This hardy shrub blooms in late winter with small yellow or red flowers and brings a lovely fragrance.
Snowdrops: These dainty white blooms push through the snow and cold, adding early beauty to winter landscapes.
Amaryllis: Often grown indoors as a potted plant, amaryllis blooms in red, white, and pink, adding festive cheer to the season.
Cyclamen: These potted plants bloom in cooler indoor conditions, showcasing colors like pink, white, and red through the winter months.
Winter Growing Tip: Consider planting winter-blooming shrubs and bulbs in the fall for an early burst of color. Hellebores and witch hazel are hardy enough to survive New Jersey winters and offer beautiful, unexpected blooms.
Bringing the Seasons to Life with Flowers
At Three Petals LLC, we love helping you find flowers to match each season’s mood and colors. From the soft pastels of spring to the fiery tones of autumn, each flower brings a unique beauty to its time of year. Embrace the best of each season with flowers that showcase the magic of nature, and remember, every season has its beauty—just waiting to be celebrated!
Whether you’re gardening or picking flowers for an arrangement, these seasonal blooms will bring a bit of New Jersey’s seasonal magic right to your home.
