What’s Blooming Now: May’s Early Highlights

There’s a particular kind of magic to early May. The garden doesn’t shout yet—but it hums.

It’s a season of soft openings. The curtain is rising, but the lights are still low. Leaves are tender and bright, and blooms appear as if by surprise. If you blink, you’ll miss them—those fleeting, heart-lifting moments when everything is new again.

So before the garden fills with summer’s high drama, take a quiet wander. Here’s what’s blooming now—and what’s worth slowing down for.

🌸 Pulmonaria (Lungwort)

One of the first true stars of spring. Its silver-splashed leaves look ornamental all on their own, but the real show is the cluster of flowers that shift from pink to blue as they mature.

💐 Look for: ‘Trevi Fountain’ and ‘Raspberry Splash’—both bloom early and offer striking foliage well into summer.

🐝 Why it matters: A vital nectar source for early pollinators.

🌿 Brunnera macrophylla (Siberian Bugloss)

Brunnera is the quiet poet of the spring garden—modest in stature, but pure charm up close. Those baby-blue flowers hover above heart-shaped leaves like a cloud of forget-me-nots.

💐 Look for: ‘Jack Frost’ for its frosted silver leaves and delicate floral lift.

🌤️ Perfect pairing: Tuck it near hostas or ferns for a soothing woodland combo.

💫 Epimedium (Barrenwort)

If fairies had a favourite flower, it would be Epimedium. With heart-shaped leaves and nodding, intricate blooms, it thrives in dry shade—something of a unicorn trait.

💐 Look for: ‘Sulphureum’ or ‘Roseum’ for soft yellow and blush-pink tones.

🍃 Bonus: The foliage turns bronze or crimson in fall, so the show continues long after bloom.

💥 Dicentra spectabilis (Old-Fashioned Bleeding Heart)

No matter how many times you see it, a bleeding heart in full bloom still makes you pause. The arching stems, the perfect pink-and-white hearts—it’s garden romance in its purest form.

💐 Look for: Classic pink or the white ‘Alba’ for a more serene, moon-garden vibe.

🌸 Care tip: Let it go dormant naturally in summer—she needs her beauty sleep.

🌼 Primula (Primrose)

Primula is spring’s confetti—bright, cheerful, and gone too soon if you don’t look quickly. Whether in soft pastels or crayon brights, they’re like a cheerful wave hello from the soil itself.

💐 Look for: The ‘Crescendo’ series for longer bloom time and rich colour variety.

🌿 Tuck them into: Shady beds, under deciduous trees, or along the path to your shed (trust me, you’ll smile every time).

🌞 Arabis ‘Snow Cap’ (Rock Cress)

A soft cascade of white blooms in early spring, Arabis is the cool-toned cousin of sunshiney groundcovers. It hugs the soil, blooms generously, and brings brightness to the front of borders just when you need it most.

💐 Perfect for: Edging pathways, rock gardens, and spilling over low walls.

🌱 Pro tip: Loves full sun and good drainage. Trim lightly after blooming to keep it tidy and compact.

🐝 Don’t Forget the Flowering Extras

While your perennials begin to bloom, don’t overlook:

• Tulips and daffodils holding their final notes

• Flowering shrubs like Forsythia and early Rhododendrons

What to Do This Week (If You Feel Like It)

• Snip spent blooms on early bulbs, but leave the foliage.

• Top-dress garden beds with compost or shredded leaf mulch.

• Divide summer- or fall-blooming perennials like daylilies or rudbeckia if they’re overcrowded.

• Take notes—what’s blooming now? What’s missing? Future you will thank you come fall planting season.

Final Thoughts: Step Slowly, Look Closely

The garden in early May isn’t loud. It’s gentle. If you move too quickly, you’ll miss the unfolding. But if you pause, breathe, and get eye-level with the plants just waking up, you’ll find something extraordinary:

A new leaf unfurling. A bloom you didn’t know had opened. A bee, already hard at work.

This is the season to notice. To linger. And to fall in love with the garden all over again.