Planting calendar
Zone 5 Planting Calendar
In zone 5 the last spring frost typically passes late April to mid-May and the first fall frost arrives early to mid-October. The classic four-season garden calendar. The calendar below hangs every planting window on those two dates.
January in zone 5
Deep winter in zone 5: the ground is closed and the last frost is still ahead (late April to mid-May). A month for planning, not planting. Browse the guides.
February in zone 5
Deep winter in zone 5: the ground is closed and the last frost is still ahead (late April to mid-May). A month for planning, not planting. Browse the guides or see what is in flower in February in zone 5.
March in zone 5
One more month of winter in zone 5: hardy planting opens in April, as the soil loosens ahead of the late April to mid-May last frost. Browse the guides or see what is in flower in March in zone 5.
April in zone 5
Frost is still likely until late April to mid-May, but the soil is opening: hardy plants can go in as soon as it is workable.
Perennials, shrubs and trees889
- Abbotswood
- Abraham Darby
- Adirondack
- Akebono Cherry
- Alaska
- Alba
- Albostriata
- Alexandrina Magnolia
- Alma Pötschke
- Amazing Grace
- Amber Jubilee
- American Boxwood
- American Gold Rush
- Amethyst
- Amethyst Falls Wisteria
- Anah Kruschke
- Angel Face
- Anise Hyssop
- Ann Folkard
- Ann Magnolia
- Anna's Red
- Annabelle
- Anthony Waterer
- Aphrodite
- Appalachian Red
- Apricot Delight
- Apricot Sparkles
- April Night
- Arborvitae
- Arizona Apricot
Showing 30 of 889; every plant hardy here is on the zone 5 hub.
Bulbs to plant5
Start a zone 5 April planting list in the Studio
Already planted? See what is in flower in April in zone 5.
May in zone 5
Frost danger in zone 5 typically ends late April to mid-May, so the tender plants below go in as that date passes where you are, not before it.
After the last frost503
- African Daisy
- African Marigold
- Agapanthus
- Ageratum
- Angelface Raspberry
- Angelonia
- Annual Phlox
- Apricot Calendula
- Apricot Lemonade
- Apricot Lisianthus
- Apricot Marguerite Daisy
- Apricot Statice
- Apricot Strawflower
- Apricot Sweet Alyssum
- Apricot Tuberous Begonia
- Apricot Vinca
- Arabian Night
- Australia
- Autumn Beauty
- Bachelor's Button
- Bacopa
- Bandana Cherry
- Bandana Pink
- Bandana Rose
- Basil
- Begonia
- Benary's Giant Wine
- Bengal Tiger
- Bicolor Geranium
- Bicolor Marigold
Showing the first 30 of 503 by name.
The perennial, shrub and tree window that opened in April is still open (889 plants).
The bulb window that opened in April is still open (5 plants).
Start a zone 5 May planting list in the Studio
Already planted? See what is in flower in May in zone 5.
June in zone 5
The perennial, shrub and tree window that opened in April is still open (889 plants).
The tender planting window that opened in May is still open (503 plants).
Already planted? See what is in flower in June in zone 5.
July in zone 5
Zone 5 sits well between frosts this month; the season runs until early to mid-October.
Perennials, shrubs and trees1
Already planted? See what is in flower in July in zone 5.
August in zone 5
The soil is still warm and the first frost (early to mid-October) is weeks away: the fall planting window opens now.
In the ground this August: start with these
Perennials, shrubs and trees905
- Abbotswood
- Abraham Darby
- Adirondack
- Akebono Cherry
- Alaska
- Alba
- Albostriata
- Alexandrina Magnolia
- Alma Pötschke
- Amazing Grace
- Amber Jubilee
- American Boxwood
- American Gold Rush
- Amethyst
- Amethyst Falls Wisteria
- Anah Kruschke
- Angel Face
- Anise Hyssop
- Ann Folkard
- Ann Magnolia
- Anna's Red
- Annabelle
- Anthony Waterer
- Aphrodite
- Appalachian Red
- Apricot Delight
- Apricot Sparkles
- April Night
- Arborvitae
- Arizona Apricot
Showing 30 of 905; every plant hardy here is on the zone 5 hub.
The perennial, shrub and tree window that opened in July is still open (1 plant).
Start a zone 5 August planting list in the Studio
Already planted? See what is in flower in August in zone 5.
September in zone 5
About a month remains before the typical first frost (early to mid-October): prime time for fall planting.
Bulbs to plant118
- Actaea
- Alba
- Album
- Alpine Squill
- Angelique
- Anna Marie
- Apeldoorn
- Apricot Beauty
- Asiatic Lily
- Autumn Crocus
- Ballerina
- Black Parrot
- Blue Giant
- Blue Jacket
- Blue Pearl
- Blue Shades
- Carnegie
- Charmer
- Checkered Lily
- Checkered Lily Alba
- Cheerfulness
- City of Haarlem
- Couleur Cardinal
- Cream Beauty
- Crocus
- Crown Imperial
- Crown Imperial Lutea
- Crown Imperial Rubra
- Daffodil
- Delft Blue
Showing 30 of 118; every plant hardy here is on the zone 5 hub.
The perennial, shrub and tree window that opened in July is still open (1 plant).
The perennial, shrub and tree window that opened in August is still open (861 plants).
Start a zone 5 September planting list in the Studio
Already planted? See what is in flower in September in zone 5.
October in zone 5
The bulb window that opened in September is still open (118 plants).
Already planted? See what is in flower in October in zone 5.
November in zone 5
November sits just past zone 5's typical first frost (early to mid-October): the ground is closing, and next year's plan is the best thing to plant. Browse the guides or see what is in flower in November in zone 5.
December in zone 5
The garden sleeps in zone 5 through December; hardy planting returns in April, ahead of the late April to mid-May last frost. Browse the guides.
Timing here is anchored to typical zone frost averages (NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals, as summarized in university extension frost tables). Your local dates can differ by several weeks, so confirm the last and first frost dates for your own area.
Design your garden
Drop plants onto a 3D plan, see how they fill in, and watch the whole garden bloom across the year.