Virginia Flower Planting Schedule: When to Plant Annuals, Perennials, & Bulbs

There’s a common understanding among homeowners that springtime is for planting, and while that’s not untrue, there are other times of the year for planting, too. Ultimately, it comes down to your goals and what you’re planting.

This Virginia planting guide breaks down exactly when to plant annuals, perennials, and bulbs in Northern Virginia, so you can plan with confidence.

Virginia Flower Planting Calendar (At A Glance)

If you’re looking for a simple answer, here’s a quick breakdown:

• Early Spring (March–April): Cold-tolerant annuals, bare-root perennials
• Late Spring (April–May): Warm-season annuals (after last frost)
• Summer (June–August): Limited planting (heat stress risk)
• Early Fall (September–October): Best time for perennials, trees, and shrubs
• Fall (October–November): Plant spring-blooming bulbs

When to Plant Annuals in Virginia

Annuals are those flowers that grow and die in a single season. Therefore, they must be planted every year. This is different from perennials that are planted once and come back every year.

There are both spring and fall annuals, so depending upon what you’re looking for, you have seasonal options for both. Of course, you'll find that there is a much greater abundance of annual choices and spring-blooming flowers that cannot tolerate any cold at the local Virginia nurseries come spring.

• The best time to plant spring annuals is relatively early in the spring, after the threat of frost has passed.
• Cold-tolerant annuals can be planted early in the fall to get the most enjoyment from the plant.

As far as summer, some plants can be planted or moved, but they will require a tremendous amount of “TLC” to survive.

This could mean extra watering during the hot periods of the summer. If it’s an especially delicate flower that is not heat-tolerant, it’s probably a mistake to attempt to plant or move it at that time.

When to Plant Perennials in Virginia

As far as when to plant flowers in Virginia, perennials can potentially be planted in spring or fall. In the early spring (even before the threat of frost has completely gone away), many bare-root perennials (those that are dormant and therefore not actively growing) can be planted.

But fall, when the weather begins to cool, and the soil is still warm, is actually a really great time for planting. Also, your plants won’t have to forgo the stress of the summer heat. Actually, that’s why fall is an ideal time to plant trees and shrubs, so if that’s something on your radar, be sure to keep it in mind.
Of course, as it gets later into the fall, you’ll want to stick to cold-tolerant perennials, or else you could suffer loss from cold temperatures. The very act of planting does put stress on the plant, so avoiding extreme weather conditions helps ensure they establish successfully. If planted earlier in the fall and given time to become established, perennials will be more winter hardy.

While the intense summer heat typically does not make it the best time to plant, some heat-tolerant perennials can withstand higher temperatures and lots of sunlight.

When to Plant Bulbs in Virginia

When you think about a Virginia flower planting calendar, you might be thinking about immediate gratification. In other words, you want to plant some flowers and be able to enjoy them right away.

But with certain flowering bulbs, that’s simply not how it works.

With bulbs, you need to think ahead. There are a number of different bulbs that need to be planted in the fall in order to have springtime color. These include tulips, daffodils, irises, and lilies. Some lilies actually won’t bloom until the summer, but their beauty is worth the wait.

There is a window of opportunity during which you need to plant bulbs, so it does require some planning ahead.

Understanding the Best Time to Plant in Northern Virginia

We understand that knowing when to plant flowers in Virginia can feel a bit like an overwhelming task. After all, you don’t have a degree in horticulture, so having to know the planting schedule of several different plants can seem like a lot of work.

Of course, some homeowners absolutely love gardening, and learning about when to plant flowers in Virginia is actually a lot of fun.

At Rock Water Farm, we work with both types of clients. We have plenty of garden-loving customers who like taking on some of the responsibility of planting and caring for their landscape.

Others prefer a completely hands-off approach. They don’t want to worry about timing, plant selection, or installation details. Instead, they want the confidence of working with a professional who understands exactly what to plant, when to plant it, and how to ensure it thrives long-term.

Factors Involved in Planting in Virginia

Of course, there’s much more to planting than just the seasonal timing.

Location, design, and the consideration of the ongoing landscape maintenance needs are all important elements when it comes to creating the perfect landscape. There are also functional benefits to consider in terms of where plants are installed. For instance, if you’re looking to achieve privacy with some plantings, then you want to make sure strategic location decisions are made.

There are also microclimate considerations to take into account (which extend beyond the season). Even if you choose the right time of year to install a certain plant, if you don’t put it in the right area of the property, it could still fail. For instance, a sun-loving plant installed in a shady area is never going to perform well.

On top of that, you probably know there is a strong element of design when it comes to landscape plants. You want your plants to look good grouped, both in terms of layout (such as spacing) and color combinations. All of this contributes to the overall aesthetic appeal of the landscape.

Finally, there’s also landscape maintenance to consider. Once you have a new landscape installed, you’ll need to maintain it, too. Decisions made during the installation process ultimately impact how much maintenance will be needed.

If you’re someone who is looking for a low-maintenance landscape, then you’ll need to make smart decisions during the planting process. This includes choosing low-maintenance plants that won’t need a ton of extra care to continue to perform well. Plants that are drought-tolerant and overall hardy choices can be excellent in a landscape that doesn’t require tons of extra care.

Get Expert Help With Your Virginia Planting Schedule

We know that figuring out planting schedules and making other planting decisions can be a lot of work. If that’s not something you’re interested in, you can hand your planting worries over to a professional who will know exactly what to plant and when to plant it. This can eliminate the guesswork on your behalf.

At Rock Water Farm, we design and install beautiful landscapes and care for them as well. Whether you want to be hands-on or completely hands-off, our team can guide you through every step—from plant selection to installation and maintenance.

Ready to get a landscape that you love in your Northern Virginia yard? Schedule your consultation today, and let’s create a landscape that thrives in every season.