Attention, Impatient Gardeners: These 10 Easy Plants Will Fill Your Garden Fast

Zinnias

Zinnias are classic summer flowers, but in the right conditions, they can also grow well in the spring. They are a great option for adding some quick color to your garden, since they can go from seed to flower in as little as eight weeks. However, they are not frost-tolerant and sensitive to cold temperatures, requiring soil temperatures of at least 60ºF to germinate.

That means starting zinnias in April is best for gardeners in warmer climates where the threat of frost has already passed, especially since they grow best when direct-sown rather than started in nursery pots and then transferred.

Sunflowers

Sunflowers are another heat-loving summer flower that can be started outdoors in April in warm climates. Like zinnias, sunflowers grow best when direct-sown, but can also be started indoors for gardeners still waiting for their last frost date to pass.

Varieties like Cherry Rose, Gypsy Charmer, and the ProCut series are all known for being fast-growing, going from seed to bloom in as little as 40 to 50 days.

Marigolds

Marigolds are a common sight in many gardens thanks to their ecological benefits (pest control, attracting pollinators, etc.), but they are also quick growers that can help fill garden beds fast.

In warm regions, seeds can be sown outdoors in April once the last frost has passed, and in cooler areas, seeds should be started indoors for best results.

Marigolds germinate quickly (within four to seven days), and flowers normally appear 50 to 80 days after planting.

Phlox

Phlox is a great way to fill out an early spring garden, especially for gardeners in cooler regions. Many varieties prefer cool temperatures and can withstand the season’s final light frosts.

Phlox ‘Spring Splash,’ a woodland phlox variety, is especially well-known for its early-spring blooms in shades ranging from pink to lilac, says Marion Meesenburg, Marketing Specialist at Darwin Perennials.

Phlox is most commonly purchased as nursery starts, but you can also divide mature plants and relocate the divisions in early spring.

Yarrow

Yarrow adds instant texture and charm to the garden with its lacy foliage and delicate blooms. Its blooms peak in summer, but when planted in early spring, its foliage can help gardens feel more lush.

“It can be planted in April from divisions or small plants and will settle in readily, even in poorer soils,” Elizabeth Waddington, a garden designer and writer with First Tunnels, says. “Yarrow is a wonderful support plant for fruit trees. Its deep roots improve soil health and bring nutrients up from deeper soil levels.”

Comfrey

As an eco-friendly and sustainable landscape designer, Waddington says that comfrey is one of her go-to plants for the garden, and that crowns do best when planted in April.

“Bocking 14 comfrey is one of the most useful and fastest-growing perennials you can add to a garden in April, quickly forming a dense clump of large, lush leaves that help beds feel full in a matter of weeks,” she says.

Not only does comfrey’s size add interest to the garden, but it is also beneficial to the surrounding environment because it attracts pollinators and enriches the soil.

Wild Strawberry

Wild strawberry is best planted once the risk of frost has passed, making April (especially late April) an ideal time for many gardeners across the country.

“They can be planted in April from small plants or runners and will establish readily in both sun and partial shade, making them ideal for tucking in around larger perennials or beneath shrubs,” Waddington says.

Her advice? Harvest regularly for continued fruiting and plant production.

Lettuce

Lettuce is a staple in the cool-season vegetable garden, and for good reason. It’s quick to harvest, thrives in mild weather, and can quickly fill a sparse garden with its lush foliage and range of colors.

If you’re eager to get a head start on your vegetable garden, lettuce is a great option, and many varieties do well when planted in April, regardless of your growing zone.