May has arrived in all its glory — and the nursery is officially in full swing. After a long winter and a slow-building spring, we’re loving the energy that’s come with our first full month of being open. The trucks have rolled in, the inventory is stocked, and the plants? They're gearing up to put on a show.
This time of year is when everything starts to settle into its stride — the blooms are bolder, the colors richer, and your yard starts to feel like a space you want to spend all day in. With that in mind, we’ve handpicked four standout plants to highlight this month — a mix of timeless favorites and fresh varieties that are especially eye-catching right now.
Whether you're filling in a few empty spots or ready to kick off a bigger project, these picks bring texture, structure, and color in all the right ways. Keep reading to see what’s looking especially good this May — your next plant obsession might be one scroll away.
Sarah Bernhardt Peony
Image source: Bailey Nurseries
Description:
A classic favorite, with beautiful double pink flowers that are slightly paler at the edge of the petal giving it a silvery tip look. A great cut flower and like all peonies, this one is deer resistant, cold hardy and extremely long-lived.
Species Specs
Height: 36”
Spread: 30-36”
Shape: Bushy
Exposure: Full Sun
Foliage: Green
Zone: 3-7
Plant Care:
Provide them with ample sunlight, well-drained soil, regular watering, and proper fertilization. They also require a period of winter chill for herbaceous varieties to set spring buds, and they benefit from being spaced appropriately to encourage good airflow and prevent disease.
Black Hill Spruce
Image source: Bailey Nurseries
Description:
Shapely "Christmas tree" type evergreen, with short, blue-green needles. Shears easily. Useful as a specimen, hedge, or windbreak. Best in full sun, but tolerates light shade.
Species Specs
Height: 35-45’
Spread: 25-30’
Exposure: Full Sun
Foliage: Blue Green
Zone: 3-6
Plant Care:
Black Hills Spruce trees thrive in full sun and well-drained, slightly acidic soil. They require regular watering, especially during the first few years after planting, but once established, they are somewhat drought-tolerant. Black Hills Spruce generally don't need pruning, but dead or damaged branches can be removed.
Magical Diamonds Red Masterwort
Image source: Monrovia Nurseries
Description:
Most often available as a cut flower, this clumping perennial also looks fabulous in the landscape. The showy flowers on tall, dark stems are a beautiful rich berry-red.
Species Specs
Height: 24”
Spread: 18”
Shape: Clumping, Upright
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage: Green
Zone: 4-7
Plant Care:
Prefers moist, well-drained, organically rich soil. Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. For a neat appearance, remove old foliage before new leaves emerge. Divide clumps every 2 to 3 years in early spring.
Jazz Little Bluestem
Image source: Monrovia Nurseries
Description:
A shorter variety that will not flop over. Blue foliage takes on a purple hue in fall. Purplish-bronze flowers turn to fluffy white seed heads that may persist into winter. A highly adaptable plant that can take various types of soil, including clay with occasional water inundation. Good drought tolerance once established and tolerates high heat and humidity.
Species Specs
Height: 24-30”
Spread: 12-18”
Shape: Upright
Exposure: Full Sun
Foliage: Blue Green, turning to Purple in the fall
Zone: 4-7
Plant Care:
Grows easily in a wide range of soils and environmental conditions including clay, high heat, and humidity. Water deeply and regularly during the first growing season to establish an extensive root system. Once established, reduce frequency; tolerates drought. Cut to the ground in late winter to early spring.