Flowers are the perfect accessory to any home's exterior. The best thing you can do to decorate the exterior of your home, is plant some beautiful flowering plants, which will reward you with luxurious blooms. Summer and spring is a time when flowers are in their full splendor and beckon us with their brightly colored faces. This article aims at providing you with a list of some of the flowers that bloom in May. This is not a complete list, though efforts have been made to include as many as possible.
*Click on the images to enlarge
| Agapanthus |
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Commonly known as the Lily of the Nile, this African native flower blooms in sets of two rows. It blooms well in a sunny weather and comes in colors like purple, fading into blue and white. |
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| Amaryllis |
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This flower is also known as the belladonna lily, and again, grows in rows of two. It is native to South America and comes in warm shades like red, pink, orange, etc. |
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| Anemone |
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Literally translated, the name of this flower means the 'wind flower'. It comes from a family of over 120 sub species. The colors that you can find anemones in are white, blue, red, violet, etc.
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| Apple Blossom |
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The apple blossom or Pyrus coronaria, as it is scientifically known, is the flower that grows before apples appear on the trees. It is native to the state of Michigan and hence, is also the state flower of the same. Apple blossoms appear in white or pink shades. |
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| Bird of Paradise |
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The Bird of Paradise is also called Strelitzia and is native to South America. As you can see from the picture alongside, this flower has an exotic appearance and is now widely used in bouquets and flower arrangements. It has bright and brilliant colors that do complete justice to its name. |
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| Calla Lily |
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The Calla Lily is scientifically known as Zantedeschia aethiopica. This pretty, white lily variety has a very simple and elegant appearance and is native to Southern Africa. It can be grown in colors like white, red, yellow, orange, etc.
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| Casa Blanca Lily |
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Any variety of lilies is gorgeous to look at, but the Casa Blanca Lily has to be one of the top runners. Its pristine petals, coupled with their innate softness and elegant appearance makes them one of the most adored flowers! |
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| Cherry Blossom |
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The pretty cherry blossom is a flower native to Japan and is one of the hottest favorites there. When a cherry blossom tree is in full bloom, it has an ethereal beauty about it, which people from all over the country flock to watch and enjoy. There are annual cherry blossom festivals held too, according to the schedule of which people plan their daily activities. |
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| Clematis |
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Clematis flowers are available in different colors and varieties of hybrids too. They are best used in gardens to enrich the beauty with their rich pastel shades and also a very refreshing fragrance, which surprisingly does not get too overpowering.
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| Cornflower |
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The cornflower is a pretty blue flower that is often called the Bluebottle. Native to Europe, these flowers have their roots in Greek mythology. It has herbal medicinal properties, which can be used to treat tired eyes. |
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| Daffodils |
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Also known as Narcissus, these flowers have such a jolly appearance that they can refresh and cheer up almost anyone. But don't be fooled by their vibrant colors. They can be poisonous if ingested. So, be careful around them. |
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| Dahlia |
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The dahlia has been named after Andreas Dahl, who apparently mistook the plant for a vegetable, but later realized that the true beauty of the plant was in its blooms. Today, Dahlias, which are native to Europe are available in almost every color.
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| Delphinium |
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The name of this pretty blue flower has an interesting etymology. Delphis means dolphin in Latin, which is what this flowers' buds are shaped like. Beware, the plant, though used in medicine, can be poisonous too. |
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| Dogwood |
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Dogwood flowers grow in clusters and are generally assumed to have four petals. However, what people consider as petals are actually the bracts. The petals are the greenish structures inside. |
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| Forsythia |
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The Forsythia blooms have been named to pay a tribute to William Forsythe. He was the first person to create a rock garden in the United Kingdom. These flowers that are native to China make for a great privacy screen when grown in numbers.
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| Freesia |
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Freesia flowers are extremely cute to look at, can be grown very easily and are beautifully fragrant. That's what makes them a favorite for bouquets and even decorations for arches, and other kinds of flower arrangements. |
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| Gardenia |
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Gardenias, the pretty, off white, fragrant flowers are native to the tropics of Africa. They might take a little effort to plant and care for, and some coaxing to bloom, but the final effect is totally worth it. |
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| Gloriosa Lily |
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The Gloriosa lily has a unique appearance as you can see in the image alongside. It grows on vines, and delicate though it may seem, can be extremely poisonous if consumed. So, it's better to enjoy these flowers from a safe distance.
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| Heather |
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These flowers which come in hues of pink, purple red and white, are found extensively in Europe, Siberia and North America. They are native to the Scandinavia, Ireland, Scotland, etc. |
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| Hellebore |
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Hellebores are one of the many perennial flowers that look stunning. They come in various colors like white, pink, purple and even green! |
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| Hollyhock |
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The colors that you will find hollyhocks in will show you the extreme contrasts that they can exhibit. You'll find them in pale colors like white and yellows, and also in vibrant colors like maroon and red. They're perfect to be used as a border fence shrub.
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| Hyacinth |
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These small flowers are often used to symbolize rebirth. They are also called baby's breath. You can find hyacinths in colors like salmon, white, yellow, peach, lavender, blue and even pink, red, and orange. |
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| Lilac |
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A field of lilacs, when in full bloom, looks simply breathtaking! These purple colored flowers grow on shrubs that are, on an average, 10 feet tall. |
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| Lisianthus |
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Here's another flower that is available in myriad hues. These include white, off white, cream, pink, mauve, tan, and also blue. One of the major characteristics of this flower is that it attracts a lot of birds and bees.
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| Magnolia |
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Used most prominently as ornamental plants, magnolia flowers have the complete package for a garden plant. Dark green foliage, punctuated with pure white blossoms, which are as fragrant as they are beautiful, give this plant a regal appearance. It is also the state flower of Louisiana. |
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| Orchid |
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If there's one flower that can be termed as an exquisite beauty, it is the orchid. This flower looks as good in a bouquet, as it does in a bride's hairdo, and even on its creeper! |
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| Pansy |
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A pansy, though not an original flower, is just as beautiful as any other. It is a hybrid of a type of violet and is bred in colors like red, yellow, orange, purple, white, and of course, violet. |
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| Peach Blossom |
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Peach blossoms, as the name suggests, are the flowers that appear on the peach tree. They have a special place in Vietnamese folklore and their blossoming heralds the arrival of spring there. They are also the state flower of Delaware. |
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| Peony |
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Peonies are flowers that are native to Asia and Southern Europe. Their colors, when in full bloom can range from cream, pink, red, to darker colors like purple and even black (a very deep shade which is a combination of purple and red). |
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| Phlox |
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Phlox, apart from their adorable name, are also adorable in appearance. They are tiny flowers that seem to canvass the entire area that they grow in. They are fragrant blossoms and because of their vivaciously colored flowers, they tend to attract a lot butterflies and hummingbirds. |
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| Poppy |
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The most common color of poppies is red, but is available in other colors like orange, yellow, etc. too. Often used to denote a deep sleep or death (due to the opium), it is also seen as a sign of resurrection after death, in Classical mythology. |
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| Protea |
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Among the different varieties of the Protea, the King Protea is definitely the most popular one due to its large size. However, there are other equally gorgeous varieties of the flower, in colors like yellow, red, white, pink, etc. |
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| Pussy Willow |
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Pussy Willows are a widely used flower in the Chinese New Year celebrations. When the buds reach the fuzzy white stage, they are frozen and delivered to florists and bee keepers, who benefit from the catkins that the buds turn into when allowed to grow fully. |
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| Ranunculus |
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At first glance, this flower may look like a rose variety, but don't be fooled. These brightly colored flowers are known mainly for being beautifully layered and for smooth textured petals. Their colors include red, yellow, cream, orange, and white. |
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| Rhododendron |
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Rhododendrons are at the peak of their beauty in May, when they are in full bloom. The deep green foliage, complemented by the spectacular display of vividly colored flowers, makes for a great sight in a garden. |
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| Rose |
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The king of flowers needs no introduction, does it? One of the most preferred flowers all around the world, for a variety of reasons and occasions, it is native to Asia, and has more than a hundred species, and is available in a diverse range of colors too! |
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| Solidago |
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These flowers are nicknamed 'golden rods' due to the similarity in the appearance. They are basically wild flowers that are native to North America. They have flat tops and appear to be shaped like little yellow wands, flitting in the breeze. |
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| Stargazer |
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When you look at this flower, you can't help but associate it with an actual star. With its cute little freckles, it is again one of the prettiest lily varieties and is sweetly fragrant too! |
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| Stephanotis |
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This flower has a nice etymology too. Stephanos stands for crown, while otis stands for ear in Greek. This basis forms the name of this flower that appears to have a head of tiny flowers that resembles a crown. They are usually white in color. |
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| Strawflower |
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Strawflowers are used in bouquets and arrangements after having them dried. They need to be harvested when they are not fully bloomed and then hung upside down to dry. The flowers open their petals in the process of drying and you have gorgeous flowers for dry flower arrangements. |
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| Sundrop |
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The botanical name of the Sundrop is Oenothera. It is native to the Americans and its blossoms have a pallid to yellow shade, which resembles the sun's light at dusk. Hence, this flower is also called the Evening Primrose. |
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| Sweet Pea |
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Just looking at this flower gives you a calm and peaceful feeling. The original sweet pea flower was sent by a Sicilian monk to England, if history has it right. The flower has been modified in appearance tremendously since then. |
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| Trillium |
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Trilliums, as is apparent by the name, is flower that has 3 petals. It is a much protected species, and it is against the law to pluck one of these white flowers from its plant, without State permission. |
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| Tulip |
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There's something about tulips that can make you feel all mushy inside, isn't there? Their beauty lies in their simplicity, which gets accentuated by the vibrant colors that they come in. They look nice when planted in gardens and fields, or even in a pot on a window sill. |
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| Viburnum |
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Viburnum shrubs are probably the most widely used landscaping shrubs ever! Since they're so easy to plant, and adjust well to different weather conditions, they're a favorite among gardeners. The flowers are available in white, pink, red, yellow, blue, etc. |
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| Weigela |
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This native East Asian flower usually comes in pink and white or red, and is sometimes (very rarely though) also seen in yellow. It is used mostly as an ornamental shrub in gardens and has many hybrid varieties of itself. |
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| Yarrow |
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Belonging to the sunflower family, yarrows are medicinal flowers that have been used by Native Americans since ages. The flowers are characterized by their long stems and the 'million' petals that they have, which gives them their scientific name: Achillea millefolium. |
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| Zinnia |
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Using Zinnias in your garden will give it a colorful and loud look that can make it very attractive indeed. These flowers, when planted in beds, have the tendency to attract butterflies and small birds, which will further enhance the beauty of your garden. |
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Apart from the ones mentioned above, Brodea, Cosmos, Delwood, Larkspur, Liatris, Seeded Eucalyptus, Statice, Stock, Wax flower, etc. are also flowers that bloom in May. So, take your pick and decide which pretty ones you want for adorning your garden.