Updated at: 09-01-2023 - By: Sienna Lewis

There are numerous herbaceous perennials, flowering shrubs, annuals, and biennials that thrive in New Mexico’s climate. You must be aware of the ideal growing conditions for the flowers you intend to plant in the state’s three growing zones. Make sure that your location’s exposure, air, and elevation are acceptable for your flowers before you begin planting.

Temperatures will be lower on the northern slope of New Mexico. Because valley gardens are more susceptible to frost, using a greenhouse to grow your flowers may be a better option. If you’re interested in learning more about growing plants inside under difficult conditions, check out Krostrade.com.

List Of The Best Flowers To Grow In New Mexico

Many flowering plants are ideal for New Mexico, according to researchers at New Mexico State University. Herbaceous perennials, flowering shrubs, as well as annuals and biennials, are all included in this category. When it comes to planting flowers, the addition underlines the importance of considering your surroundings.

Herbaceous perennials

You may expect grape hyacinths and daffodils to be in full bloom in New Mexico around the beginning of spring. Peonies, on the other hand, will begin to bloom, but only in colder climates. Butterfly weed and Liatris, on the other hand, are suitable for arid areas.

New Mexico Wildflowers

Crocus, tulips, iris, and daylilies are some of the numerous herbaceous perennials that thrive in New Mexico. Iris and daylilies are easy to grow and come in a variety of colors. As well as that, they can also bloom more than once, and the latter has a longer flowering period.

Flowering shrubs

These three shrubs are terrific choices for a riot of color in the springtime. Roses, vitex, althea, and crepe myrtle are all excellent choices for a lovely summer garden. However, depending on where you live, some shrubs may be able to withstand the cold and return the following year.

Annuals and biennials

Sunflowers, pansies, shasta daisies, and rudbeckias thrive in New Mexico’s hot, dry conditions. Some plants are able to survive the colder months. With the right conditions, desert marigold and Rocky Mountain zinnia are excellent choices for your garden.

Beardtongue Penstemons

Beardtongue There are many species of Penstemons, or “Beardtongues,” which are native perennials that produce dense spikes with tubular blooms. Color, form, plant kind, and bloom period variations are all possible thanks to their Rocky Mountain chain ancestry. On a tall stalk, penstemons can produce an abundance of tubular blooms. Lavender, salmon, and white are all possible colors for the flowers. In New Mexico, most types thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Firecracker, Pineleaf, Huskers Red and Scarlet Bulgar are just few of the fantastic options for a wildflower. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds will be drawn to your yard if you plant these flowers.

Blanket Flower

In the central and western United States, Gaillardia is found. It’s difficult to choose a favorite because there are so many new variations. They appear in a variety of hues, including yellows, oranges, and reds. They are low-growing perennials that reach a height of 18 inches and produce a large number of flowers in the summer when deadheaded (cutting the spent flower).

Cherry Sage Salvia

Sage and Cherry When it comes to flowers, Salvia greggii is a year-round blooming. With their ability to survive wind, drought, and heat, these plants are ideal for New Mexico. Depending on the kind, they can reach a height of between two and three feet. Colors range from red to pink to purple. Autumn Sage is another name for it.

Chrysanthemum

To describe Chrysanthemum, you merely need to name them “mums” because they come in so many variations. They’re available in a wide range of dimensions, hues, and forms. They’re easy to grow and will reseed themselves each year if left unattended. On Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Fourth of July, you should pinch the blooms off of your trees to ensure a beautiful fall color display.

Coral Bells

Hybrids of Heuchera are small and clumpy. Foliage colors of purple, orange, bronze and greens and yellows are evergreen in the fall. Lobed and sometimes frilled leaves are found on these plants. Colors of Coral Bells range from red to pink to white, and the tiny bell-shaped nodding flowers are held on wiry stems that measure 1 to 2 feet long. A little shade and moderate watering are all that is needed to cultivate these plants in a garden bed or as a filler in container plants.

Creeping Phlox

This common spring blooming, Phlox subulata, appears from early spring to late summer. Evergreen or semi-evergreen needle-like leaves cover a mat that rises to approximately 6 inches in height, with creeping stems. White, pink, and purple are the primary colors of flowers.

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Moonshine Yarrow

With its abundance of beautiful, long-lasting yellow flowers, Achillea ‘Moonshine’ is an excellent perennial. The aromatic gray to green foliage of this beauty will reach a height of 2 feet by 2 feet. Butterflies will be drawn to the “shining” yellow flowers.

Pansy

Violets appear in every color of the rainbow—and they’ll persist through the winter even if it’s covered in snow! They come in a variety of patterns, including stripes, blotches, and pure colors. Violas, the smaller-flowered variety, produce an abundance of blooms. In order to self-sow, the Johnny Jump ups will hurl seed. It is appropriate to combine them with dusty millers and dianthus, as well as mums and heuchera.

Roses

As far as garden plants go, roses are one of the most sought-after varieties. Every color, size, shape, and scent is available. Roses are a simple flower to grow, requiring little effort on the part of the gardener in exchange for lovely blooms. If you want to grow roses, you’ll need at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. Roses are an excellent choice for New Mexico because of the state’s ample sunshine. A site that is shielded from the late afternoon light may be beneficial for some kinds when summer temperatures reach 90 degrees. Roses thrive in loam soils that are well-drained and rich in nutrients. Late March is the optimal time to prune roses.

Of all the rose varieties, Hybrid Teas are the most well-known and well-loved. Each stalk bears a single enormous, classic-shaped flower. When the spent flowers are clipped off, they normally bloom from April/May through the first frost.

Flowers of Grandiflora roses resemble those of hybrid teas, except that they appear to bloom in clusters. Spring/May to the first frost is a good time to see them in full flower. Deadhead the spent flowers one more time.

Floribunda have huge clusters or sprays of small to medium-sized blooms. Because of its constant supply of bloom and color, the floribunda is a favorite.

The blossoms of miniature roses can be whatever color, shape, or size you like. Depending on the species and the growing conditions, plants can range in size from miniature to gigantic. Plant miniature roses in pots or borders for an abundance of blooms. Blossoms can be solitary or in groups.

There are a broad variety of shrub roses that can be used in both formal and informal settings. They are easy to grow and give a lovely and carefree garden thanks to their disease resistance, constant blooming, and wide range of colors.

A vast mass of blossoms is produced in the spring by Large Flowered Climbers, which have long canes and produce sporadic and sparse blooms during the rest of the summer.

There are a number of David Austin roses in existence, all of which were developed by David Austin in an effort to produce roses with both gorgeous flowers and strong perfume. Shrub roses make up the majority of the species.

Sunflower

New Mexico Sunflower (Helianthus maximilianii) is an invasive plant from the Eastern United States that has thrived in the state. Growing up to 10 feet tall and as wide, this clumping perennial may be a real show stopper. It doesn’t matter if the soil is sandy or clay-like; these hardy plants adore the sun and are drought-resistant once established. Columns of deep green foliage form in late summer and early fall, and dazzling yellow sunflowers fill the majority of the stalk. Just in time for winter, songbirds will swarm to this bloom in search of their favorite food.

Tomatoes

Grown in home gardens, Lycopersion esculentum is one of the tastiest and easiest veggies to come across. Growing our own food is becoming increasingly popular in New Mexico. To maximize output, tomatoes can be grown in nearly any soil type with organic content that is reasonably well drained. Using a high-quality potting soil, you may also cultivate them in a container. Determinate and indeterminate are the two varieties. As soon as they reach a specific height, determinate or bush kinds cease growing, producing all of their fruit at once. Tomatoes on indeterminate plants bear fruit for the duration of the growing season. Tomato cages or any other form of support will be required.

What Is The Best Flower To Plant Right Now?

There are currently no better flowers to plant than apache plume and chamisa. Because of the cooler temperatures and the likelihood of rain, August is an excellent month to plant flowers in New Mexico. Gardeners in New Mexico, however, will have more luck with native flowers due to the state’s high desert climate.

Apache plume

For the Apache plume to thrive, it needs to be placed in rocky areas such as hillsides or wayside. This flower is a member of the rose family, and it blooms between April and June.. Since it uses so little water and acts as a natural hedge, it’s the greatest flower to grow right now.

Chamisa

Because it thrives in hot, dry circumstances, the chamisa is an excellent plant to plant in August as well. Native to New Mexico, it is a hardy plant that can withstand harsh weather conditions. Chamisa’s aromatic blooms attract pollinators like butterflies, which is good for your garden’s health.

Can You Just Sprinkle Flower Seeds?

If you’re planting wildflowers, you can just scatter flower seeds around the area. Because you’ll be emulating their normal reproduction method in the wild, you’ll have a better chance of success. New Mexico has a wide range of zones, from 4b to 9a. This can effect the success of your dispersed seeds.

What Month Is The Best For Plant Flowers In New Mexico?

If you live in New Mexico, the greatest time to plant flowers is August due to rain and cooler temps. Some bushes, however, thrive better in the fall because the wind is less prevalent at this time of year. Spring’s weather can be unpredictable, but you can still use a greenhouse to cultivate spring-flowering plants.

What Plants Grow Well In Albuquerque?

Havard agave

Albuquerque’s native succulent is the havard agave. It has a long lifespan and requires little upkeep. Its unusual appearance, which may grow to a height of 3 feet and a width of 4 feet, gives interest to the garden.

Lavender

It is possible to grow lavender in Albuquerque because it is a hardy plant. You can pick from Spanish and French cultivars that thrive in hot, arid climates. Even the bush can be used as ground cover since it attracts pollination.

Yarrow

The yarrow flower grows well in Albuquerque. The blossoms of this plant can be found in a variety of colors, including red, pink, and yellow. In addition to attracting butterflies, yarrow is drought tolerant, so you won’t have to worry about it.

Flowering plants for New Mexico

Question:

I tried to grow flowers last year, but it didn’t work out. Before moving to this area, I had no idea what to expect. Ideally, I’d like to locate flowers that can thrive both in shadow and in full sun. I’m hoping you can help me out with some ideas. Thank you for all of your help.

Answer:

Many flowering plants can thrive in New Mexico, making this topic difficult to answer. It’s a mix of perennials, annuals, and biennial plants. I’ll give you a few things to think about, but keep in mind that these are suggestions, not rules. In addition to the ones I’ve listed below, there are many more. To broaden this list, visit your neighborhood nursery and have a look at the surrounding scenery.

This spring, I can’t wait for my peonies to bloom; they’re an excellent choice for cooler regions of New Mexico or colder sections in your yard. Despite the fact that my daffodils have finished blooming, my grape hyacinths are still in full bloom. Tulips and crocus are also popular choices. If you live in New Mexico, Iris is a wonderful choice, as it blooms more than once a year in most areas. Choosing the right variety of daylilies can give you a long season of blooms on this easy-to-grow flower. My butterfly weed, which flowers in the drier section of my garden, is also a favorite of mine. For the dry landscape, Liatris is also a suitable choice.

Another option is a flowering bush. Russian sage and cherry (or autumn) sage are two of the most popular xeriscape plants in the summer. Forsythia and february jasmine also bloom in the spring in New Mexico. Summer-blooming crepe myrtle is a nice option, but it may freeze back from New Mexico northwards. At higher elevations, cherry sage and crepe myrtle are unlikely to thrive.

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There is a vast variety of annuals and biennials to pick from. Plant Rocky Mountain zinnia and desert marigold in the garden’s drier areas. Cosmos and biennial hollyhocks require a little more water. New Mexico is a great place to grow sunflowers, rudbeckias, shasta daisies, and many other varieties. They will thrive in both the fall and spring, even the pansies (sometimes winter). You’ll have no trouble selecting flowering plants to grow in most landscapes, as there are many more than you can fit.

It’s critical that you either adjust your soil to accommodate the plants, or match the plants to your soil. This can be done with the use of a soil test. Organic matter levels in our soils are often low. Adding organic matter to the soil can help some of our xeriscape plants thrive, but not all of them. You may want to consider installing raised beds if the soil in your garden is too challenging to work with. Do not underestimate the importance of conserving New Mexico’s limited supply of water. In many cases, disease outbreaks in our gardens can be traced back to insufficient watering.

Conclusion

Gardeners in New Mexico have access to a wide variety of plants thanks to the state’s three distinct growing zones. Aside from annuals and biennials, the greatest flowers to grow in New Mexico include perennials, flowering trees, and herbaceous plants. August is the greatest time of year to plant flowers in New Mexico since the weather is more pleasant and the monsoon rains help to promote the growth of plants.

Be aware that certain plants do better in the cooler temperatures of autumn. A greenhouse is a good option if you have flowers that need to be grown in the spring because of New Mexico’s unpredictable weather.