Here’s what to plant this spring
March 2025
Standing out in a crowd: Tiramisu Coral Bells (Heuchera villosa). Who needs flowers when the foliage is as extravagant as the cultivar of this Virginia-to-Tennessee native? (courtesy Scott Burrell)
by Scott Burell, Contributing Columnist
Listen up gardeners, landscapers, arborists and outdoor enthusiasts — on March 20, it’s time to “March” into spring. We will leave behind the dark days of dormancy and subfreezing temperatures and welcome warm breezes and a world transformed to green.
Some basics for those cultivating the land and seeking success with plants this spring are the following:
AVAST, ME HARDIES …
Know your plant hardiness zone based on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. The map is interactive and printable and available here: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
This newly revised map, which reflects your area’s average extreme minimum temperature, has moved many of us up half a zone warmer than the previous 2012 map indicated.
I live close to Richmond, Va., which is now classified within Zone 7B, where the average minimum winter temperature ranges from 5 to 10 degrees. This zone is now the same as the coastal areas in Delaware and the Baltimore Highlands. The 2012 map categorized this area as Zone 7A.
The Hardiness Zone Map, along with the American Horticultural Society’s Heat Zone Map (ahsgardening.org), is a crucial predictor of plant survivability, considering factors like soil types, humidity, water availability, and the microclimates unique to your area.
Freckles is an annual romaine lettuce. Zonal hardiness will impact planting and harvest dates. Most of Maryland and Virginia are in Zones 6-7, which will work for this lettuce variety. (courtesy Scott Burrell)
SEEDS OF SPRING
Now that we’ve clarified that, let’s discuss plants. I’m always excited for another wonderful introduction to Coral Bells (Heuchera genus). These perennials — plants that endure our cold winters and hot summers for over two years — showcase hundreds of cultivars with mounding leaves that vary (depending on the cultivar) from green to bright yellow, soft red, peach, and even almost black (like Heuchera Obsidian and Black Pearl).
One of my favorites is Heuchera americana (Dale’s Strain), which is hardy in Zones 4-7. It’s low-maintenance, native, and provides three seasons of interest with silver-overlaid leaves and delicate, wiry pink flower stalks. It is heat-tolerant, can function as a groundcover, adapts to various soils, and thrives in part shade to full sun. However, if you stress it too much with cold temperatures — think Zone 3 — or warm temperatures — think Zone 8-10 — you risk losing it. So, know your plant and be mindful of its preferred zones.
A short list of other fantastic low-maintenance, multi-season ornamental perennials and their cultivars to watch for in 2025 must include: the Heucherellas (crosses of Coral Bells and the native Foamflower/Tiarella); the Baptisias (long-lived, with cultivars showcasing blue-purple, shocking yellow, and the soft cream flowers of Baptisia Vanilla Cream 2); the hardy hibiscus, H. moscheutos Edge of Night with bold purple foliage and saucer-sized pink flowers; the Amsonia (Bluestar) group; the perennial salvias like Salvia greggii; and the fall-to-late-winter blooming Helleborus, also known as Christmas or Lenten roses.
A NEW SEASON
People often ask me when to plant, prune or water their plants. My initial response is, “Whenever you have time.” Yes, you can plant in the spring but consider this: planting in the fall allows new perennials — herbaceous types (non-woody) and woody trees and shrubs — the whole winter to develop roots in preparation for the rigors of summer heat and water stress.
An exception is cool-season annuals like spinach, cilantro, kale, peas, kohlrabi, radishes and collard greens, which should be planted when temperatures are cool to moderately cold (generally above 38 degrees) in early March. The increasing day length leads to great overall production and allows them to mature before the hot days of June eliminate all but heat-hardy varieties such as Jericho romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa), bred for Israel’s desert heat and also showing good mildew and disease resistance in the mid-Atlantic. It’s a brave new world to “March” into, so get going!
Scott Burrell is a certified horticulturist who served as the horticulture director for the Virginia Historical Society for nearly 30 years.