What flowers can I plant in early spring before the last frost?

Cool-season, frost-tolerant flowers can go in weeks before your last frost date: pansies, violas, snapdragons, sweet peas, calendula, dianthus, primrose and stock. Many of these actually prefer the cool weather and fade once summer heat arrives. Hardy annual seeds like poppies, larkspur and bachelor's buttons can be direct-sown even earlier, since they germinate in cold soil. Wait on anything tender until after your last frost.

Should I start spring flowers from seed or buy plants?

Both work; it depends on your timeline. Fast, easy annuals like zinnias, marigolds, sunflowers and cosmos are cheap and reliable direct-sown from seed after frost. Slow growers like petunias, begonias and snapdragons are usually easier bought as transplants or started indoors six to ten weeks before your last frost. Seed is far cheaper for large plantings; transplants give instant color and a head start.

What are the easiest spring flowers for beginners?

Marigolds, zinnias, sunflowers, cosmos and nasturtiums are the classic beginner flowers because they germinate quickly, tolerate imperfect soil and bloom all season with little fuss. Among transplants, pansies, petunias and impatiens are forgiving and widely available. Start with a few of these, get the timing right for your zone, and you will have flowers within weeks rather than months.

Do I need to fertilize spring flowers at planting?

A light feeding helps, not a heavy one. Work compost into the bed before planting and add a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the label rate, or use a dilute liquid feed every couple of weeks for hungry annuals in containers. Too much nitrogen produces lush leaves and few flowers, so favor a balanced or slightly bloom-focused formula once plants are established rather than pushing growth early.

Spring Flowers to Plant: A Zone-by-Zone Planting Guide

Q: When is it safe to plant warm-season flowers?

After your last spring frost date has passed and the soil has warmed to about 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, usually one to two weeks after the last frost. Warm-season annuals such as marigolds, zinnias, petunias, impatiens, begonias and celosia are killed or stunted by frost and sulk in cold soil, so patience pays. If a late cold snap threatens, cover newly planted tender flowers overnight or delay planting a week.

Written & researched by Elena Marsh Gardening & Landscaping Editor

Updated March 2026

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The spring flowers to plant split into two waves. First, weeks before your last frost, plant cool-season, frost-tolerant flowers: pansies, violas, snapdragons, sweet peas, calendula and primrose, plus hardy annual seeds like poppies and larkspur. Second, after the last frost when soil hits about 60°F, plant warm-season annuals: marigolds, zinnias, petunias, impatiens, begonias and cosmos. Timing to your last frost date is the whole game. This guide gives you both waves, the best picks in each, and a zone-by-zone planting calendar.

Our picks rest on university extension guidance and gardener consensus rather than first-hand growing trials, as explained in how we rank.

The two waves of spring planting

Every spring flower is either cool-season or warm-season, and confusing the two is the number-one spring planting mistake. Cool-season flowers thrive in the chilly weeks around the last frost and decline in summer heat. Warm-season flowers need warm soil and are killed by frost. Plant a marigold too early and cold soil stunts it; plant a pansy too late and summer heat cooks it.

The pivot point is your average last spring frost date, which you can get from your local extension office or the NOAA climate data for your area. Everything below is timed relative to that single date.

Cool-season flowers to plant before the last frost

These tolerate light frost and actually prefer cool weather, so you can plant them two to six weeks before your last frost for early color.

Flower	Plant relative to last frost	Type	Notes
Pansy / Viola	4 to 6 weeks before	Transplant	Fades in summer heat
Snapdragon	2 to 4 weeks before	Transplant	Reblooms if deadheaded
Sweet pea	4 to 6 weeks before	Direct seed	Loves cool roots, needs support
Calendula	2 to 4 weeks before	Direct seed	Edible, long bloom
Poppy / Larkspur	4 to 6 weeks before	Direct seed	Needs cold soil to germinate
Primrose	2 to 4 weeks before	Transplant	Best in part shade

Warm-season flowers to plant after the last frost

Wait until frost has passed and soil has warmed to 60 to 65°F, typically one to two weeks after the last frost. These are the workhorses that carry your beds from late spring through fall.

Flower	Method	Sun	Bloom window
Marigold	Seed or transplant	Full sun	Late spring to frost
Zinnia	Direct seed	Full sun	Summer to frost
Petunia	Transplant	Full sun	Spring to fall
Impatiens	Transplant	Shade to part shade	Late spring to frost
Cosmos	Direct seed	Full sun	Summer to frost
Begonia	Transplant	Part shade	Late spring to frost

For sun-loving showstoppers, sunflowers and dahlias also go in after frost; see how to grow sunflowers and when to plant dahlias for their specific timing.

Spring-planted perennials and flowering shrubs

Spring is also prime time to plant many perennials, especially those that resent cold, wet winter soil and so do poorly from a fall start. Lavender, salvia, warm-season ornamental grasses and marginally hardy perennials all establish best planted into warming spring soil. Roses, too, are traditionally planted in spring in cold zones once the ground is workable. For siting and care, see how to care for roses and when to plant lavender.

Spring planting calendar by USDA zone

USDA zone	Typical last frost	Start cool-season	Start warm-season
3 to 4	Late May to early June	Early to mid May	Early to mid June
5	Mid May	Late April	Late May
6	Late April to early May	Early to mid April	Mid May
7	Mid April	Mid to late March	Late April
8	Late March	Late February to March	Mid April
9 to 10	February or none	Fall through winter	March

How to plant spring flowers step by step

Know your last frost date and count back or forward from it for each flower.
Prep the bed. Loosen soil to 8 to 12 inches and mix in 2 to 3 inches of compost.
Harden off transplants. If you started seeds indoors, acclimate them outdoors over 7 to 10 days before planting to prevent shock.
Plant at the right soil temperature. Cool-season into cool soil; warm-season only once soil reaches 60°F.
Water in and feed lightly. Soak at planting; add a balanced slow-release fertilizer at the label rate.
Deadhead to prolong bloom. Removing spent flowers keeps annuals producing all season.

Common spring planting mistakes

Planting tender flowers too early. A single late frost wipes out warm-season annuals; watch the forecast and cover if needed.
Ignoring soil temperature. Air can be warm while soil is still cold; seeds rot and transplants stall in cold ground.
Skipping hardening off. Indoor-grown seedlings sunburn and wilt if moved straight outside.
Overfeeding with nitrogen. Lush foliage, few flowers. Use balanced feed.
Forgetting to deadhead. Annuals that set seed slow their bloom; keep picking.

Match the flower to the wave, time it to your frost date, and spring color is close to foolproof. For established plants, a balanced feeding program helps; see the best fertilizer for hydrangeas. Everything else on blooms is at the Flowers & Ornamentals hub.

Spring Flowers to Plant