What to Plant in May
Seeds to sow, young plants to put out, and what's flowering in May in UK gardens — drawn straight from the GardenWizz plant encyclopedia.
🌱 Sow in May
Sow these seeds this month (33 plants).
Avens (Geum)
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Beetroot (Beta vulgaris)
Carrot (Daucus carota)
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)
Courgette (Cucurbita pepo)
Dill (Anethum graveolens)
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
Field Maple (Acer campestre)
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
Heather (Calluna vulgaris)
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
Marigold (Tagetes)
Mint (Mentha)
Onion (Allium cepa)
Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
Poppy (Papaver)
Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima)
Red Campion (Silene dioica)
Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia fulgida)
Runner Bean (Phaseolus coccineus)
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa)
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)
Thyme 'Silver Queen'
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
🪴 Plant out in May
Put these into the garden now (76 plants).
Apple (Malus domestica)
Avens (Geum)
Bay (Laurus nobilis)
Bearded Iris (Iris germanica)
Beetroot (Beta vulgaris)
Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus)
Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)
Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)
Buddleia (Buddleja davidii)
Bugle (Ajuga reptans)
Camellia (Camellia japonica)
Catmint (Nepeta)
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Clematis (Clematis)
Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
Common Rose (Rosa gallica)
Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Coral Bells (Heuchera)
Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)
Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)
Dahlia (Dahlia pinnata)
Daylily (Hemerocallis)
Dill (Anethum graveolens)
Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea)
Elder (Sambucus nigra)
English Ivy (Hedera helix)
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
Fern (Dryopteris filix-mas)
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
Gorse (Ulex europaeus)
Hardy Geranium (Geranium)
Heather (Calluna vulgaris)
Hellebore (Helleborus)
Holly (Ilex aquifolium)
Honeysuckle 'Graham Thomas'
Honeysuckle 'Serotina'
Hosta
Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
Lavender 'Hidcote'
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Lavender 'Munstead'
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
Lupin (Lupinus)
Marigold (Tagetes)
Mint (Mentha)
Onion (Allium cepa)
Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
Pea (Pisum sativum)
Penstemon
Poppy (Papaver)
Privet (Ligustrum vulgare)
Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima)
Raspberry (Rubus idaeus)
Red Campion (Silene dioica)
Rhododendron
Rosebay Willowherb (Epilobium angustifolium)
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)
Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia fulgida)
Runner Bean (Phaseolus coccineus)
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)
Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)
Stonecrop (Sedum)
Strawberry 'Cambridge Favourite'
Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa)
Strawberry 'Hapil'
Strawberry 'Honeoye'
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus)
Thyme 'Silver Queen'
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
🌸 In flower in May
What's blooming this month (65 plants).
Alder Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula)
Apple (Malus domestica)
Bay (Laurus nobilis)
Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
Bearded Iris (Iris germanica)
Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus)
Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)
Blueberry 'Spartan'
Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)
Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)
Bugle (Ajuga reptans)
Catmint (Nepeta)
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Clematis (Clematis)
Common Hazel (Corylus avellana)
Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
Daffodil (Narcissus)
Dog Rose (Rosa rugosa)
Elder (Sambucus nigra)
English Oak (Quercus robur)
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
Field Maple (Acer campestre)
Goat Willow (Salix caprea)
Gorse (Ulex europaeus)
Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus)
Hardy Geranium (Geranium)
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
Holly (Ilex aquifolium)
Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)
Laburnum (Laburnum anagyroides)
Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)
Lupin (Lupinus)
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
Pea (Pisum sativum)
Pear (Pyrus communis)
Peony (Paeonia lactiflora)
Potato (Solanum tuberosum)
Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
Raspberry (Rubus idaeus)
Red Campion (Silene dioica)
Rhododendron
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)
Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)
Runner Bean (Phaseolus coccineus)
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)
Strawberry 'Cambridge Favourite'
Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa)
Strawberry 'Hapil'
Strawberry 'Honeoye'
Strawberry 'Rhapsody'
Strawberry 'Symphony'
Tulip (Tulipa)
Wild Cherry (Prunus avium)
Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum)
Wild Service Tree (Sorbus torminalis)
Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca)
Willow (Salix viminalis)
Wisteria 'Amethyst'
Wisteria 'Prolific'
Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)
Wood Anemone (Anemonoides nemorosa)
Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yew (Taxus baccata)
❄️ UK frost dates by region
Approximate last spring / first autumn frost — always check your local forecast before sowing or planting out tender plants.
| Region | Last spring frost | First autumn frost |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland & far north | late May | late September |
| North of England | mid May | mid October |
| Midlands & Wales | early–mid May | late October |
| East & South East England | late April–early May | late October |
| London & urban areas | mid April | early November |
| South West & coastal | mid April | November |