National Plant a Flower Day is on Friday, March 12, 2027, and it falls on March 12 every year. It’s an early nudge to get color into your yard, balcony or windowsill. In much of the country, it’s still frost season, so choosing the right flowers matters.
When Is National Plant a Flower Day?
It’s always March 12. It’s an unofficial day, and what you can plant depends on where you live.
Who Started National Plant a Flower Day?
No founder or start year has been documented.
What Can You Plant in March?
Start by checking your hardiness zone. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map divides the country into 13 zones, each split into two half-zones, based on the average coldest winter temperature.
The USDA updated the map in 2023, and about half the country shifted to a warmer zone, NC State Extension notes. Type your ZIP code into the USDA’s online map to find yours.
Flowers that can handle a March frost
Cool-season annuals are your best bet this early. South Dakota State University Extension lists these frost-hardy picks:
- Snapdragons: survive temperatures as low as 25°F.
- Sweet alyssum: tolerates temperatures as low as 28°F.
- Pansies: tolerate frost and bloom best between 55°F and 75°F.
- Dianthus and African daisies: can take a light frost.
Harden off transplants first by setting them outside for a few hours a day over a week.
How to Celebrate National Plant a Flower Day
- Fill a container: plant pansies and sweet alyssum together in a pot by your front door.
- Start seeds indoors: if the ground is frozen, sow zinnias, marigolds or cosmos in trays on a sunny windowsill.
- Plant for pollinators: save space for native flowers that feed bees and butterflies later in spring.
- Give a potted flower: bring a pot of primroses or mini daffodils to a neighbor or coworker.
- Start a kids’ garden: let children plant sunflower or nasturtium seeds in cups and track how fast they sprout.
- Plan your summer beds: sketch where tall flowers go in back and short ones in front of the bed.
- Force bulbs indoors: set paperwhites or hyacinths in a jar of pebbles and water for blooms in a few weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if a hard freeze is forecast after I plant?
Cover young plants overnight with a sheet, bucket or frost cloth, and remove it in the morning. Avoid plastic touching the leaves.
When can I plant petunias?
Wait until after your area’s average last frost. Established petunias can survive a light frost, but young transplants are safer once nights stay mild.
Do cool-season flowers last all summer?
Many slow down in summer heat but can bloom again in fall, SDSU Extension notes.