April 5, 2022
What to Plant in April in Texas (8 Flowers You’ll Love)
Now that spring has arrived, you may be wondering what to plant in April in Texas.
Now that the danger of frost has passed, many homeowners, HOA managers, and commercial property owners are looking to add some flowers to their landscapes. Many flowers that can withstand our brutal summers won’t start blooming for several more months. (For those, check out another post we did on “The Best Heat-Tolerant Plants for Texas.”)
But we get it; you want some color now! We are here to help with that.
This post will point you to some proven flowering favorites that really do well in our area (Dallas/Fort Worth) this time of year.
When is the Best Time to Plant Flowers in Texas
Technically, you can plant flowers any time now that we are safely beyond frost dates in Texas. It’s best to get plants in the ground when the temperatures are mild enough to avoid stressing them. In and around the Dallas/Fort Worth area, the best time to plant your flowers in late March to mid-April.
Suppose you want to add cool-season annuals (Dianthus, Hollyhocks, or Snapdragons) to your landscape. In that case, you can probably plant them earlier as soon as the temperatures are safely above freezing. They’ll provide nice color until summer.
For most of the annuals we see around North Texas, planting them early in the spring is best. Early planting allows the flowers to become fully rooted and established before the scorching summer heat arrives.
Try planting blooming shrubs such as Azaleas, Hydrangeas, Viburnum, Rhododendrons, and Butterfly Bushes sometime in March for best results. The same is true for any trees you’re considering adding to your landscape.
If pressed for time, you can plant any of these things later in the summer. You’ll just need to be sure to give them plenty of extra water and attention to help them survive the hotter, drier weather.
Now that we know when to plant flowers in Texas, let’s look at what you can plant!
Spring Flowers in Texas
Here’s a list of spring flowers in Texas that we’ve found to be proven winners. They are dependable bloomers that will provide you with incredible color in your landscape throughout the Spring and Summer, and in many cases, well into the Fall.
1. Alyssum – Even though this plant is considered a cool-season annual, if you plant Alyssum in March or early April, you can enjoy its blooms well into May. Once summer gets here, it won’t survive. But it makes a great “transition flower” between the dead of winter and the other flowers that will color your gardens in the summer.
2. Geranium – Another flower that does better in cooler temperatures; Geraniums are a sure sign of Spring. Because they prefer soil that drains well and won’t bloom much past May, one of the best ways to enjoy Geraniums for the next couple of months is to put them in containers on your porch or patio. Once they expire, you can easily swap them out for something else.
3. Petunia – Because this flower displays a variety of colors and mounding habits, Petunias are a crowd-favorite spring flower. Plant mounding petunias in your flowerbeds, and place trailing petunias in hanging baskets to enjoy their beauty from every angle! Be sure to take a look at the ‘Laura Bush’ and ‘Tidal Wave Red Velour’ varieties.
4. Gerbera Daisy – Blooming from March to May, this flower is a must-have for your spring landscape. After so many barren winter months, seeing its long stem and vibrant colors will most certainly bring a smile to your face.
5. Bluebonnets – Can a proper Texas landscape be complete without our state flower? Also known as Texas Lupine, Buffalo Clover, and Wolf Flower, Lupines texensis is on full display around our state (usually along roadsides) in the spring. While Bluebonnets seed in the fall, you can often find nurseries with established plants that you can now place in your landscape to enjoy them without going for a drive.
6. Helenium – This is another wildflower that has found a home in many flowerbeds. It blooms in late spring, but thanks to its robust root system and heat tolerance, it will continue to put on a show until the first frost later in the year. We recommend the variety, ‘Dakota Gold.’
7. Rock Rose – Looking for a ground cover with spring blooms? Rock Rose, officially known as portulaca gradiflora, is another winner in Texas probably because it also does well in hot, dry conditions. There are many colors to choose from, so there’s bound to be one that fits your property perfectly.
8. Verbena – While most of the flowers on this list are annuals, there’s nothing quite like a hardy perennial to make a gardener’s life easier. Verbena is a prolific bloomer in the spring and well into the Summer. Its low-maintenance carpet of tiny flowers will also attract a lot of bees and butterflies year after year once you pretty much plant it and forget it.
Let Us Be Your Spring Planting Guide in Texas
Our LH Services landscape pros have been installing incredible flowerbeds all around DFW and surrounding areas for over 20 years. We’ve got what it takes to deliver outstanding spring color to your property, so take a look at our Landscape Services, then schedule a free estimate!