May has a way of making the garden feel alive in every direction. Trees are leafing out, perennials are stretching awake, and fresh blooms are beginning to steal the spotlight. It’s the time of year when landscapes start transforming quickly, rewarding us with color, texture, and the excitement of another growing season fully underway. This month’s featured plants showcase some of the best of spring, from flowering favorites to dependable landscape anchors that bring beauty for years to come.
North Star Cherry is a standout for anyone dreaming of homegrown fruit, offering bright red cherries on a hardy, manageable tree perfect for northern climates. Peony Bowl of Beauty is beginning to put on its annual show with massive, fragrant blooms that practically stop visitors in their tracks. Legacy Maple brings strong structure and dependable shade to the landscape, paired with beautiful fall color that makes it worth planting now for years of enjoyment ahead. And Taylor Juniper adds year-round interest with its narrow, upright shape, making it a fantastic option for screening, vertical accents, or adding evergreen color to the landscape.
These plants each bring something special to the garden, whether you’re looking for blooms, structure, privacy, or even fresh fruit. Stop by the nursery to see them in person and get inspired as the 2026 season continues to come to life.
North Star Cherry
Image source: Bailey Nurseries
Description:
Genetic dwarf introduced by the University of Minnesota in 1950. Red fruit with a small stone. Very productive. A sour pie cherry. Blooms in early May.
Species Specs
Height: 8-10’
Spread: 6-8’
Exposure: Full Sun
Zone: 4-8
Plant Care:
North Star Cherry grows best in average, well-drained soil and benefits from consistent watering, especially while fruit is developing. Young trees need regular deep watering to establish, while mature trees appreciate extra water during dry periods. Avoid overly soggy soil, as cherries prefer conditions that can dry slightly between waterings.
Apply a slow-release fertilizer in early spring and prune in late winter to maintain airflow and healthy growth. North Star Cherry is self-pollinating, though planting another tart cherry nearby can help increase fruit production. Fruit typically ripens from late spring into early summer.
Peony Bowl of Beauty
Image source: Monrovia Nurseries
Description:
Lovely fuchsia pink petals create a bowl around the pale lemon yellow center of each bloom. The stunning spring flowers are displayed on sturdy, upright stems above the lush green foliage. An excellent background plant for spring bulbs, or for use in mixed or shrub borders. A choice cut flower. An herbaceous perennial. This herbaceous peony needs winter chill to set buds. It will not flower in zones 9 - 11.
Species Specs
Height: 24'“
Spread: 2-3”
Exposure: Full Sun
Zone: 4-8
Plant Care:
Provide organically rich, slightly acidic, well-drained soil; plant with crown slightly below soil level. Water deeply, regularly in first growing season to establish an extensive root system. Remove spent blooms for a tidy appearance. Needs little fertilization; apply a side dressing of organic compost annually. Prune old foliage in fall.
Legacy Maple
Image source: Shade Tree Farm
Description:
The Legacy Sugar Maple has outstanding foliage which looks good throughout the growing season. The glossy, dark green leaves are resistant to Japanese Beetle damage, leaf tatter and drought stress. The fall color on this tree is particularly eye catching. A reliable performer turning intense shades of reddish orange in autumn.
Species Specs
Height: 40-50’
Spread: 35-40’
Exposure: Full Sun to Part Shade
Zone: 3-8
Plant Care:
A low-maintenance, hardy shade tree that thrives in full sun and rich, moist, well-drained soil. It requires regular water for the first two years, deep weekly watering during droughts thereafter, and is best pruned in summer to avoid sap "bleeding".
Taylor Juniper
Image source: Bailey Nurseries
Description:
With a distinctively narrow, upright form, tight branching and dark grey green foliage, consider 'Taylor' the "Italian Cypress" of the North! It is tolerant of poor, dry sites and high pH soils. Can be used in tight spaces as a specimen, or as a hedge.
Species Specs
Height: 25’
Spread: 3’
Exposure: Full Sun
Foliage: Green-gray
Zone: 3-7
Plant Care:
Thrives in well-drained soil, making it perfect for narrow privacy screens. Key care includes moderate watering during establishment, high drought tolerance once mature, and minimal pruning.