19 Best Perennials To Plant In March For A Stunning Garden

March is a special month for gardeners. While winter still lingers in many regions, spring begins to show its first signs. This makes March a perfect time to plant perennials that can tolerate a bit of frost and will benefit from an early start.

Planting early helps your plants grow strong roots, survive summer heat, and bloom beautifully throughout the season.

Whether it’s flowers, herbs, fruits, or shrubs, March offers the perfect opportunity to get ahead in your garden. Here’s a guide to 19 perennials you should consider planting this month.

Why Plant Perennials in March?

Planting perennials in March gives them a chance to establish deep roots. These roots help plants find nutrients and water more efficiently, making them resilient to summer droughts and pests.

Early planting also allows your garden to take advantage of cooler temperatures when plants need less water and the soil retains moisture longer.

Tip: Water plants deeply after planting, but avoid overwatering. Protect young plants from late frosts if needed.

Top 19 Perennials to Plant in March

1. Asparagus

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is hardy in zones 2–9. Plant in full sun with moist, well-draining soil. Early planting ensures delicious spears are ready to harvest before other vegetables.

2. Azaleas

Azaleas (Rhododendron spp.) bloom early, often in March–April. Plant them in acidic, rich soil with part shade. Give them room to spread and develop strong roots for next year.

3. Black-eyed Susans

Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) attract pollinators and make excellent cut flowers. Hardy in zones 3–8, they self-seed prolifically. Plant in full sun or light shade with moist soil.

4. Bleeding Heart

Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spp.) has heart-shaped flowers in pink, red, or white. Hardy in zones 3–9, it dies back in summer but returns each year, spreading seeds to fill your spring garden.

5. Blue Sage

Blue Sage (Salvia azurea) thrives in zones 5–9. Plant in full sun with well-draining soil for stunning summer blooms that attract butterflies and bees.

6. Blueberries

Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) need acidic soil and full sun. Plant in late winter or early spring. Protect from birds with netting to enjoy a bountiful harvest.

7. Chives

Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are hardy in zones 3–9. Plant in full sun with moist soil. The stems and flowers are edible, and seeds self-sow easily.

8. Coneflowers

Coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) bloom in summer and are great for pollinators. Hardy in zones 3–8, they thrive in full sun and well-draining soil.

9. English Lavender

English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) grows well in zones 5–9. Plant in full sun with well-draining soil. Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot.

10. Garden Phlox

Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata) grows up to 4 feet and blooms in late summer. Hardy in zones 4–8, space plants for airflow to avoid powdery mildew.

11. Oregano

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is hardy in zones 3–10. Plant in sandy, sunny soil. Use as ground cover or in pots to prevent aggressive spreading.

12. Rhubarb

Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) is frost-tolerant in zones 3–8. Plant in rich, well-draining soil. Only stalks are edible; leaves are toxic.

13. Rosemary

Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is hardy in zones 8–10, with cold-hardy varieties for early planting. Grow in pots to overwinter indoors if needed.

14. Roses

Roses (Rosa spp.) are best planted as bare-root in early spring. Hardy in zones 5–11, plant in full sun with well-draining, rich soil.

15. Stonecrop

Stonecrop (Sedum spp.) blooms late summer to fall. Hardy in zones 3–9, it grows in various soils as long as drainage is good.

16. Strawberries

Strawberries (Fragaria spp.) work as ground cover and fruit plants. Hardy in zones 4–9, plant in full sun with well-draining soil.

17. Thyme

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is hardy in zones 5–9. Plant in sandy, well-draining soil. Use as a herb, ground cover, or pollinator-friendly plant.

18. Tickseed

Tickseed (Coreopsis grandiflora) blooms from late spring to fall. Hardy in zones 4–9, plant in full sun with moist, well-draining soil.

19. Yarrow

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) grows in zones 3–9. Full sun and well-draining soil help it bloom long, with daisy-like flowers. Spread is easy but not invasive.

Planting Tips

Plant	Sun Needs	Soil Type	Zones	Special Notes
Asparagus	Full Sun	Moist, well-draining	2–9	Early harvest
Azaleas	Part Shade	Acidic, rich	3–10	Give space to spread
Black-eyed Susans	Full Sun/Light Shade	Moist	3–8	Self-seeding
Bleeding Heart	Partial Shade	Moist, rich	3–9	Dies back in summer
Blue Sage	Full Sun	Well-draining	5–9	Attracts pollinators
Blueberries	Full Sun	Acidic, rich	3–10	Cover for birds
Chives	Full Sun	Moist	3–9	Edible leaves & flowers
Coneflowers	Full Sun	Well-draining	3–8	Summer bloom
English Lavender	Full Sun	Well-draining	5–9	Avoid overwatering
Garden Phlox	Full Sun	Average to rich	4–8	Space plants for airflow
Oregano	Full Sun	Sandy	3–10	Use pot to control spread
Rhubarb	Full/Part Sun	Rich, well-draining	3–8	Only stalks edible
Rosemary	Full Sun	Well-draining	8–10	Cold-hardy varieties available
Roses	Full Sun	Rich, well-draining	5–11	Bare-root in early spring
Stonecrop	Full Sun	Well-draining	3–9	Late summer bloom
Strawberries	Full Sun	Rich, well-draining	4–9	Spread via runners
Thyme	Full Sun	Sandy, well-draining	5–9	Great ground cover
Tickseed	Full Sun	Moist, well-draining	4–9	Long bloom
Yarrow	Full Sun	Well-draining	3–9	Deadhead to control spread

March is the perfect month to give your garden a head start. By planting perennials early, you allow them to establish strong roots, grow healthy, and bloom beautifully throughout the season.

From edible plants like asparagus and strawberries to stunning flowers like bleeding heart and yarrow, these 19 perennials will create a garden full of colour, fragrance, and life. Early planting also ensures your garden is better prepared for summer heat, droughts, and pests.

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