The Best Flowers to Plant in Maine: 15 Flowers for a Gorgeous Bloom

What would we do without being surrounded by the beauty of flowers in Maine? Just because Maine has harsh winters does not mean that we should not still experience the breathtaking beauty of colorful landscapes, parks, and gardens.

By actively growing flowers in our gardens, we beautify our neighborhoods and homes, restore the ecology, and support the habitat that attracts birds, bees, butterflies, and other wildlife.

Maine is known for its rocky coastlines, enchanting forests, and the humble potato. You will also find a vast array of flowers spotted around neighborhoods. From the classic daisies to the elegant hibiscus, you are spoiled for choice. After the last frost, most of these flowers are ready to be planted in gardens across the Pine Tree State!

Let us explore some stunning, enchanting, and colorful flowers to plant in Maine!

1. Hibiscus

Best time to plant: Spring

As you witness the amazing splash of color when you pass the landscape, the parks, and neighborhood gardens in Maine, you realize that probably the most common plant on display is the tropical hibiscus tree. This tree shows off its exotic trumpet-shaped, large-petaled flowers in a wide array of colors with contrasting centers in pink, bright red, pastel orange, white, and yellow.

Hibiscus flowers grow individually or in clusters, lasting only one to three days before they drop off the tree. There are over 200 species to display the beauty this flower affords. Hibiscus thrives in full sun and partial shade, favoring moist, well-drained soil.

2. Dahlias

Best time to plant: Spring

Aaah! The dashing dahlia! This stunning perennial plant grows well in most garden soils and requires partial to full sun daily. With 49 species, this stunningly beautiful compound flowerhead comes in variable forms, with an inner disc of florets and surrounding ray florets in various shapes and sizes.

These exquisite flower colors include white, yellow, red, or purple. In addition, some varieties even have more than one color or shade on a single bloom. They attract butterflies and bees and are truly magnificent flowers to adorn a garden.

3. Petunias

Best time to plant: Spring

Petunias are one of the best flowers to plant in Maine. They have some of the most colorful blooms that will stand out among other striking flowers. Popping out from spring until frost (which they do not tolerate), these flowers have long-lasting blooms which can be used in hanging baskets, as beautiful borders, and as ground cover.

They come in various colors and patterns to adorn the space they take up. Petunias require at least 5 to 6 hours of full sunlight daily and moist soil to flourish.

4. Zinnias

Best time to plant: Spring

Zinnias will surely add a burst of color to your garden! These hardy annuals more than fulfill this task by dressing their flowers in various sizes, patterns, and color combinations. They love well-draining soil and 8+ hours of full sun daily to produce at their best. In addition, they do well in pots, window boxes, and patio planters.

Zinnias are annual flowers that only produce seeds and flowers one season a year. Therefore, you will need to plant zinnia seeds annually. These cheerful flowers have a long-lasting blooming period and will attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden. These flowers have uniquely layered petals that make for a great bouquet.

5. Tulips

Best time to plant: Fall

The elegant tulip, which generally has cup-shaped blooms with one flower on each stem, gives a garden a touch of class. However, some double blossoms are ruffled, fringed, and multi-flowering blooms. Tulips flourish in full sun and partial shade.

Consider planting different colors together in a patch to produce a splurge of colors from pure white to shades of yellow, brown, red, deep purple, to almost black. Tulips are a great addition to a picturesque garden!

6. Marigolds

Best time to plant: Spring

The mighty marigold, a member of the aster family, is vibrant and easy to grow, showing off in colors of yellow, orange, white, red, gold, and bicolor. The structure and size of the marigold flower varies considerably. French marigolds make beautiful edging or borders, while African marigolds look great in larger spaces.

Marigolds thrive when planted in full sunny conditions and moist, well-drained soil in raised beds. They can also thrive in cold, harsh winters if protected from frost with a frost blanket. A definite plus for the marigolds is their natural pest-repellant properties for insects, deer, or rabbits because of their offensive odor!

7. Daffodils

Best time to plant: Fall

Delightful daffodils are another popular flower for your Maine winter garden because they are hardy and colorful. Plant daffodils in well-draining soil in a sunny location for full or partial sun. Allow adequate space when planting bulbs so they are not overcrowded.

The flower presents from floral envelopes, giving rise to trumpet-shaped corona in colors of mainly yellow or white, but also orange and pink garden varieties, either in uniform or contrasting colors.

8. Lily

Best time to plant: Spring

Luscious lilies are a good choice for small spaces in a garden and bloom throughout the summer. Asiatic lilies, Oriental lilies, and Trumpet lilies are popular varieties in Maine. Full and partial sun and well-draining soil are needed for lilies to grow and thrive.

The flower head rises from a slightly elongated tube into a six-petal trumpet-shaped bloom. The petal segments may also curve back to form a turban-shaped bud growing from an erect, leafy stem. Lilies come in many colors and color blends, but the main color is white. They certainly add a serene look to any garden.

9. Black-Eyed Susans

Best time to plant: Spring

Beautiful Black-eyed Susans, also known as “Rudbeckia hirta,” is an upright plant that flowers in late summer to early autumn. At the end of a long stalk grows a composite flower head in a variety of colors, including yellow, orange, and brown, with the conical center of the head being a purplish-brown mass of minute flowers. 

This plant thrives in full sun or partial shade and attracts birds and butterflies. A mass of these vibrant-colored flowers makes for a great addition to the garden.

10. Coneflowers

Best time to plant: Spring

Classy Coneflowers, also known as Echinacea, of which there are ten species, are native to North America. They are large cone-shaped flowering heads which are usually, but not always, purple. Other colors include pink and white.

Bees and butterflies pollinate coneflowers and grow well in the sun or partial shade. They make a pretty show as a border edge or a stunning purple focal point of the garden.

11. Columbines

Best time to plant: Spring

Charming Columbines belong to the buttercup family, of which there are about 60 to 70 species. This beautiful flower is bell-shaped with petals that turn upward and inward and resemble an eagle’s talons in white, pink, purple, red, and yellow colors. They grow well in full or partial sun and well-drained soil. Hummingbirds are attracted to their nectar.

12. Lupines

Best time to plant: Late fall or early spring

Lovely lupines, also known as bluebonnets, belong to the pea family. These are fast-growing legumes with pea-like flowers that form a tall spire or spear-like colorful blooms, mostly purple, but also in blue, white, yellow, and red for quite a spectacular show.

Lupines require full or partial sun to flourish. Lupines also grow effortlessly in fields and on roadsides. These flowers can be toxic to humans and animals.

13. Asters

Best time to plant: Spring

Awesome Asters are daisy-like in appearance. The flower is composite, with a yellow center of florets and petals in shades of white, yellow, blue, purple, and red growing from single or multibranched stems. Growing well requires 2-6 hours of direct sunlight and only partial shade. Bees and butterflies are attracted to these beautiful blooms.

14. Daisies

Best time to plant: Fall

Delightful daisies! You can recognize a daisy by the composition of its flower head which has a center consisting of bright yellow disk flowers surrounded by 15 to 30 white ray flowers. Daisies require full sun to partial shade to grow well. Daisies also come in red, yellow, pink, and purple and color a garden space with a splash of brilliant color.

15. Tiger Lily

Best time to plant: Spring

The tiger lily is an Asian species but plentiful in North America. They grow in full to partial sun in well-draining soil, presenting their beautiful flowers in the summertime. The whimsical tiger lily blooms grow on long stems that have strappy leaves. The bright orange petals curve back sharply and have dark speckled spots.

Tiger lilies also come in red, yellow, pink, and white. A single stem can produce up to 10 blooms, making for a garden spot bathed in a prolific show of bright color! Although temperatures can drop in the state, the tiger lily is just one of the many flowers to plant in Maine that will spruce your landscape.

Summary of the 15 Best Flowers to Plant in Maine