Nothing says spring like blooming flowers. People in New Jersey take their state’s moniker as the Garden State quite seriously and pride themselves on the beautiful gardens they create in their yards to celebrate the end of winter. New Jersey has a plethora of plants and flowers that are suitable for everyone to have gorgeous gardens at this time of year. We hope this flower planting guide helps your New Jersey garden!
1. Butterfly and hummingbird attraction
Hummingbirds and butterflies begin appearing in New Jersey in the early days of April. New Jersey residents who are fond of these flying creatures and like to have them circulating in the yard all spring should consider planting flowers and shrubs that will attract them. Hummingbirds are especially attracted to flowers that are tubular in shape. The flowers should also be a source of nectar for the hummingbirds during the spring months and continuing until the early fall. The most successful hummingbird garden will include a cross-section of both annuals and perennials that have overlapping blooming periods, including flowering bushes that grow in NJ. One nice bonus of a hummingbird garden is that it’s okay to leave some wildflowers and weeds intact, as the hummingbirds and butterflies are naturally attracted to them.
Butterflies tend to be attracted to the same flowers that hummingbirds are, so planting the right mix of flowers can provide any New Jersey home gardener with a bevy of both creatures. Planting some tropical sage and butterfly bushes combined with a variety of local wildflowers including butterfly weed, bee balm, zinnia, and sunflowers create a garden that will have both butterflies and hummingbirds buzzing around as well as add visual interest to the landscape.
2. Daffodils
A beautiful and vibrant sign of spring in New Jersey is the appearance of daffodils. The vivid yellow and orange flowers are indicative of the warm sunlight that streams down to earth in the springtime. Assuring that a garden has daffodils in the spring does require a bit of forethought, though. Since they are a perennial flower, they have a planting schedule that aligns with your NJ garden. Their bulbs need to be planted ahead of time. But, planting the bulbs in late autumn will bring these beauties to bloom in spring. Since they’re perennials, they only need to be planted once, and they’ll continue to bloom year after year. Make sure to plant them where’s there’s plenty of room for expansion though; these flowers will multiply every season.
3. Tulips
Tulips are a great addition to any spring garden in New Jersey. They come in a variety of colors to fit into any landscape and to complement a variety of other colors in the garden. So when do these flowers bloom in NJ? There are several different varieties of tulips, so planting a few different types can assure a garden has some constantly blooming from the early spring through the early summer. These perennials are great either planted in flowerbeds and also work great as the borders of a garden. As with daffodils, tulip bulbs should be planted in the fall, so they are ready to bloom in the spring.
4. Azaleas
Azaleas are fabulous spring bloomers. These beauties are easy to grow, so they’re ideal for the novice gardener. Azaleas thrive in minimal sunlight, so they are a great option for people who have yards that have lots of trees or are otherwise shaded. Their blooming period lasts several weeks in the spring and produces lots of blooms. Azaleas can be planted in the fall or early spring for best results.
5. Rhododendrons
Although rhododendrons are native to Asia, they are a great flower to include in a New Jersey garden. The flowering shrubs boast blooms that are large and vibrant that are perfect for late spring in New Jersey. The size of rhododendron shrubs range from a mere one foot to over 20 feet in height, so it’s important to choose the right size to fit the size of the garden and surrounding landscape. The initial planting of an azalea bush should occur in the fall or spring, and multiple shrubs should be placed between two and six feet apart.
6. Dogwood flowers
Dogwood trees produce interestingly beautiful flowers during springtime in New Jersey. Depending on the variety of flower, the bracts, which many people mistake as the flower, can be white, pink, or red. The actual flower is always a greenish-yellow hue. Although the flowers appear to be singular, they are actually grouped in clusters of four. Dogwood trees and their accompanying flowers are great additions to gardens, particularly for those who are interested in adding some shade trees to their landscape.
Watching as a spring garden blooms is a special treat in New Jersey. Choosing the best flowers is a key factor in creating a garden that will continually produce vibrant and beautiful flowers throughout the season.
Thank you for reading our New Jersey flower planting guide and blog! How can we help you? Contact us today if you are in the Ridgewood, Allendale, or surrounding communities in NJ.