What to Plant This Spring

Spring is finally here, and it’s time to get your hands in the dirt! In Nebraska, the changing season offers a perfect opportunity to refresh your landscape with plants that can thrive in our unique climate. Whether you're looking to add pops of color, create privacy, or enhance your curb appeal, spring is the time to plant. At Priority Landscape, we’re here to help you make the most of the growing season by recommending the best plants for Nebraska’s soil and weather.

Colorful Perennials for Year-Round Beauty

Perennials are a great choice for Nebraska gardeners because they come back year after year, making them a low-maintenance option for lasting beauty. Some of our favorite spring-blooming perennials include:

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Purple coneflower is not only one of Nebraska's most iconic wildflowers, but it’s also incredibly easy to grow. This drought-tolerant plant attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies and adds beautiful, daisy-like flowers to your garden. Purple Coneflowers thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, making them perfect for Nebraska’s varied weather. 

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

Another Nebraska native, Black-eyed Susans, are tough and durable, making them ideal for our state’s hot summers and cold winters. With bright yellow petals and dark centers, they add vibrant color to flower beds, borders, or even as cut flowers in a vase. 

Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis)

For some spring drama, try planting Bleeding Heart. This perennial produces delicate, heart-shaped flowers in shades of pink or white, and it thrives in partial shade. It's perfect for adding texture and interest to shaded areas or around trees. 

Seasonal Annuals for Instant Color

While perennials are wonderful for the long-term, annuals offer the instant gratification of color that lasts through the season. Here are a few annuals that do particularly well in Nebraska:

Petunias

Petunias are classic spring annuals that perform well in Nebraska’s sunny conditions. Available in a wide range of colors, petunias are perfect for hanging baskets, containers, or flower beds. They’re low-maintenance and thrive with a little sunlight and regular watering.

Marigolds

Marigolds are known for their bold, cheerful blooms in shades of yellow, orange, and red. These easy-to-grow annuals are great for Nebraska's hot summers, and their flowers can help deter pests, making them an excellent choice for vegetable or herb gardens.

Impatiens

If you have a shady spot in your yard, impatiens are your go-to annual. These colorful plants can thrive in areas with minimal sunlight, and their flowers in pink, red, purple, and white will brighten up any corner of your garden.

Hardy Shrubs for Structure and Privacy

Shrubs offer structure, texture, and privacy to your landscape. Many shrubs do well in Nebraska’s wide range of temperatures and varying levels of rainfall. Here are a few to consider: 

Lilacs (Syringa vulgaris)

Lilacs are a classic spring shrub with fragrant blooms that fill the air with sweetness. They thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, making them perfect for Nebraska's climate. With their stunning purple, pink, or white flowers, they make a beautiful addition to any landscape. 

Spirea (Spiraea japonica)

Spirea is a hardy, low-maintenance shrub that offers both spring flowers and beautiful fall foliage. It thrives in full sun to part shade and can be pruned to maintain a compact shape. Spirea works well in both formal and informal landscapes, making it a versatile option.

Boxwood (Buxus spp.)

Boxwoods are excellent for creating hedges or adding year-round greenery to your yard. These evergreen shrubs are hardy, easy to maintain, and tolerate Nebraska’s cold winters. With their compact, rounded shape, boxwoods can be shaped and trimmed to fit your landscape design. 

Spring is a wonderful time to transform your Nebraska landscape with the right plants. Whether you’re looking to add perennial flowers, seasonal color, or hardy shrubs, there are plenty of options that can thrive in our unique climate. By choosing plants that are well-suited to Nebraska’s soil and weather, you’ll set yourself up for a successful and beautiful growing season.

If you need expert advice on what to plant this spring or help with planting, our team at Priority Landscape is ready to assist. Let us help you create a beautiful landscape that will thrive and grow for years to come!