Bloom calendar

Plants for Zone 3 That Bloom in May

240 plants in the BloomsEye library that are hardy in USDA hardiness zone 3 and typically flower in May, such as False Indigo, Peony and Tulip. Each entry lists its bloom times, hardiness zones, and sun needs.

Showing 1 to 60 of 240 plants

How this list is made

Derived from each plant's bloom months and USDA hardiness zones, as stored in the BloomsEye library, which was written with AI assistance. Of these 240 plants, 190 have been checked against outside sources (11 fully verified); the rest have not been checked yet, and each plant's own page says which. The cards are AI-generated illustrations. Months here are Northern Hemisphere months; in the Southern Hemisphere, shift them by six months.

The flowers of May in zone 3

Every plant on this page is in flower in May. These are the ones with the shortest seasons around it, ranked by how much of each plant's flowering falls in April, May and June: a plant that opens and finishes here sits ahead of one that flowers from spring to frost, and ties go to the plants this site's guides name most often.

Actaea
Narcissus 'Actaea'
Full sunZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Alba
Lamprocapnos spectabilis 'Alba'
Part shadeZones 3–92.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Amazing Grace
Phlox subulata 'Amazing Grace'
Full sunZones 3–96 inLow
Amber Jubilee
Physocarpus opulifolius 'Jefam'
Full sunZones 2–76 ftModerate
American Cranberrybush Viburnum
Viburnum opulus var. americanum
Full sunZones 2–710 ftModerate
American Hornbeam
Carpinus caroliniana
Part shadeZones 3–925 ftModerate
Amethyst Dream Bachelor Button
Centaurea montana 'Amethyst Dream'
Full sunZones 3–81.5 ftLow
Amethyst in Snow Bachelor's Button
Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow'
Full sunZones 3–81.5 ftLow
Angelique
Tulipa 'Angelique'
Full sunZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Annual Phlox
Phlox drummondii
Full sunZones 2–1112 inModerate
Apeldoorn
Tulipa 'Apeldoorn'
Full sunZones 3–82 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Apollo Winterberry
Ilex 'Apollo'
Full sunZones 3–811 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Appalachian Sedge
Carex appalachica
Part shadeZones 3–88 inLow
Apricot Pride Darwin Hybrid Tulip
Tulipa 'Zantubeau'
Full sunZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Arctic Fire Red Twig Dogwood
Cornus sericea 'Farrow'
Full sunZones 3–74 ftModerate
Arctic Fire Yellow Dogwood
Cornus sericea 'SMNCSBD'
Full sunZones 2–74.5 ftModerate
Arrowwood
Viburnum dentatum
Full sunZones 3–88 ftModerate
Baby Kim Lilac
Syringa 'SMNSDTP'
Full sunZones 3–72.5 ftModerate
Bachelor's Button
Centaurea cyanus
Full sunZones 2–112.5 ftLow
Bailey Compact American Cranberrybush
Viburnum opulus var. americanum 'Bailey Compact'
Full sunZones 2–75.5 ftModerate
Ballerina
Tulipa 'Ballerina'
Full sunZones 3–82 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Basket of Gold
Aurinia saxatilis
Full sunZones 3–78 inLow
Bath's Pink
Dianthus 'Bath's Pink'
Full sunZones 3–910 inLow
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Bearded Iris
Iris germanica
Full sunZones 3–92.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Beauty of Moscow
Syringa vulgaris 'Krasavitsa Moskvy'
Full sunZones 3–710 ftModerate
Bergenia
Bergenia
Part sunZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
Beverly Sills Reblooming Bearded Iris
Iris 'Beverly Sills'
Full sunZones 3–93 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Black Ball
Centaurea cyanus 'Black Ball'
Full sunZones 2–112.5 ftLow
Black Barlow
Aquilegia vulgaris 'Black Barlow'
Part shadeZones 3–82.5 ftModerate
Black Chokeberry
Aronia melanocarpa
Full sunZones 3–85 ftModerate
Black Hero Double Peony Tulip
Tulipa 'Black Hero'
Full sunZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Black Parrot
Tulipa 'Black Parrot'
Full sunZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Blackhaw
Viburnum prunifolium
Full sunZones 3–913 ftModerate
Bleeding Heart
Lamprocapnos spectabilis
Part shadeZones 3–92.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Bloomerang Ballet Reblooming Lilac
Syringa pubescens 'SMNSPH'
Full sunZones 3–74 ftModerate
Bloomerang Dark Purple Lilac
Syringa 'SMSJBP7'
Full sunZones 3–75 ftModerate
Bloomerang Purpink Reblooming Lilac
Syringa pubescens 'SMNSPTP'
Full sunZones 3–74 ftModerate
Bloomerang Purple
Syringa 'Bloomerang Purple'
Full sunZones 3–75 ftModerate
Bloomerang Showmound Lilac
Syringa pubescens 'SMNSPWF'
Full sunZones 3–72.5 ftModerate
Blue Blaze Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum 'Blubzam'
Full sunZones 3–85 ftModerate
Blue Indigo
Baptisia australis
Full sunZones 3–93.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to cats
Blue Larkspur
Consolida ajacis
Full sunZones 2–113 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Blue Moon Wisteria
Wisteria macrostachya 'Blue Moon'
Full sunZones 3–920 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Blue Muffin Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum 'Christom'
Full sunZones 3–86 ftModerate
Blue Spectacle
Tulipa 'Blue Spectacle'
Full sunZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Blue Wonder
Nepeta × faassenii 'Blue Wonder'
Full sunZones 3–81.5 ftLow
Bobee Northern Bayberry
Myrica pensylvanica 'Bobzam'
Full sunZones 3–76 ftModerate
Bowl of Beauty
Paeonia 'Bowl of Beauty'
Full sunZones 3–83 ftModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Bridal Wreath
Spiraea × vanhouttei
Full sunZones 3–86 ftModerate
Brilliant
Dianthus deltoides 'Brilliant'
Full sunZones 3–98 inLow
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Brunner 'Jack Frost'
Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'
Part shadeZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
Brunner 'Silver Heart'
Brunnera macrophylla 'Silver Heart'
Part shadeZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
Brunnera
Brunnera macrophylla
Part shadeZones 3–81.5 ftModerate
Bugleweed
Ajuga reptans
Part shadeZones 3–96 inModerate
Bunchberry
Cornus canadensis
Part shadeZones 2–68 inModerate
Burning Hearts
Dicentra 'Burning Hearts'
Part shadeZones 3–910 inModerate
Listed as toxic to dogs and cats
Butterfly Blue Pincushion Flower
Scabiosa columbaria 'Butterfly Blue'
Full sunZones 3–91.5 ftModerate
Candy Stripe
Phlox subulata 'Candy Stripe'
Full sunZones 3–96 inLow
Candytuft
Iberis sempervirens
Full sunZones 3–810 inLow
Cat's Pajamas Catmint
Nepeta 'Cat's Pajamas'
Full sunZones 3–812 inLow

May bloom in zone 3 by flower color

A plant that comes in more than one color is counted under each. The picks rank the same way as the flowers above, so each color names the plants whose season sits closest to May.

White

83 plants

Yellow

22 plants

Orange

13 plants

Red

31 plants

Pink

73 plants

Purple

73 plants

Blue

38 plants

May bloom in zone 3 for shade

53 of these 240 plants will flower in less than a full day of sun.

Part shade

48 plants

May bloom in zone 3 by height

Mature height, in the three bands a border is planted in. Anything over 10 ft is structure rather than a border plant, and a climber is sized by whatever it is growing up, so both sit this out.

Front of the border

under 12 in

40 plants

Middle of the border

12 in to 3 ft

132 plants

Back of the border

3 ft and up

54 plants

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