What to Plant in November for a Beautiful Spring Garden

Many colorful tulips close-up in the garden of Keukenhof park — Credit:
IRINA NAZAROVA / Getty Images

Don't pack up your gardening tools just yet. November's cool temperatures are ideal for planting a number of different plants. That’s because many cold-loving plants are often less stressed if they're planted when the temperatures are lower, allowing them to establish a thriving root system so they're healthy and lush come spring.

To find out what to plant in November, we chatted with expert gardeners. Read on for their recommendations for what to plant this month and why.

Lindsey Chastain, gardener, homesteader, and founder of The Waddle and Cluck
Amy Yarger, senior director of horticulture at the Butterfly Pavilion

01 of 10

Daffodils

Daffodils (Narcissus spp.) are perennials planted in the fall. “These bulbs benefit from planting in November, so they can establish roots before winter,” says gardener and homesteader Lindsey Chastain. Over winter, these bulbs spend their time growing plenty of roots to anchor the plant in the ground before the flower stem and leaves can emerge in early spring.

Zones: 4 to 8
Size: 6 to 30 inches tall x 6 to 12 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun to part sun; average, well-drained soil

02 of 10

Garlic

Always plant garlic (Allium sativum) in the fall, but be sure to plant it about a month before the first frost. “Garlic thrives when planted in late fall and can handle the cold weather,” says Chastain. The plant will naturally overwinter on its own. But if you delay too long in planting it, garlic’s roots won’t be able to anchor it in the ground, and it will get pushed out of the soil when the ground freezes.

Zones: 4 to 9
Size: 12 to 18 inches tall x 6 to 12 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun, frequent watering

03 of 10

Coral Bells

Coral bells (Heuchera spp.) are planted in late fall or early spring. They provide ground cover, making them good complements to rock gardens and garden borders or edges. “These perennials are hardy, come in a range of colors, and can be planted in fall to establish roots before winter,” says Chastain.

Zones: 4 to 9
Size: 8 to 18 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wide
Care requirements: Partial to full shade; well-draining soil

04 of 10

Onions

In warmer climates, you can plant onions (Allium cepa) in the fall. Onions are slow-growing in winter but speed up in the spring. “Onions can handle cooler temperatures, so if you plant them in November from seeds, they will grow slowly over the winter,” says Chastain.

Zones: 4 to 9
Size: 12 to18 inches tall x 6 to12 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; fertile, well-drained soil

05 of 10

Common Milkweed

A native flower, milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) requires a cold period to germinate. “When our horticulture team is establishing a wildflower meadow, we often watch the forecast in November for periods of light snow," says Amy Yarger, senior director of horticulture at the Butterfly Pavilion. Right before the snow, they rake the ground and scatter the seeds. “The falling snow will provide natural cover and moisture for the new seeds.” By spring, the milkweed will then bloom.

Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 2 to 4 feet tall x 24 to 30 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-drained soil

06 of 10

Carrots

Carrots (Daucus carota) can also be planted in the fall, as the colder temperatures make them taste a little sweeter. “Just make sure to choose late varieties for carrots,” says Chastain. “Plant in a sunny area with well-draining soil and cover with mulch.”

Zones: 3 to 10
Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 1 to 3 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil

07 of 10

Allium

Plant these flowering bulbs in the fall. Unlike coneflowers and black-eyed Susans (other fall flowers), alliums (Allium spp.) don’t need deadheading and can be low maintenance. “Our horticulture team at Butterfly Pavilion prefers to wait until a week or two after the first frost to plant our spring-blooming bulbs,” says Yarger. So be sure to wait until your region’s night-time temperatures are cool enough to give alliums the cold period they need.

Zones: 4 to 10
Size: 1 to 4 feet tall x 3 to 10 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil

08 of 10

Tulips

Plant tulips (Tulipa spp.) in the fall. Colder regions can plant as early as September, but warm zones should wait until December to ensure the plant gets the cold it needs to thrive. For many regions, November is the perfect time to plant tulips because it’s not too warm or too cold for the bulbs. “In November, the ground is not frozen yet, so gardeners can dig more easily,” says Yarger.

Zones: 3 to 8
Size: 9 to 24 inches tall x 6 to 9 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil

For plants like garlic and tulips, timing is crucial. Plant garlic about a month before the first frost so the roots can anchor the plant, while tulips should be planted in November for most regions to ensure the bulbs get the cold period they need without the ground being frozen.

09 of 10

Lettuce

Fall is the best time to plant most types of lettuce (Lactuca sativa). “These leafy greens can tolerate frost, especially romaine and butterhead lettuce,” says Chastain. “Harvest the outer leaves first to promote continuous growth.” Cover the lettuce with a cold frame if your area gets more than a light frost in winter.

Zones: 2 to 11
Size: 6 by 12 inches tall x 6 by 12 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; fertile, well-draining soil

10 of 10

Bare-Root Roses

A rosebush hosts fully blossomed roses and rosebuds on the same stems. — Kevin Trimmer / Getty Images

Bare-root roses (Rosa spp.) are dormant roses removed from their soil and pruned of all blooms and leaves. “Fall planting gives these roses time to establish roots before spring, which leads to stronger blooms,” says Chastain. So, November is an ideal time for planting roses when they are in their bare-root form.

Zones: 2 to 11
Size: 3 to 5 feet tall x 3 to 15 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil

10 Things to Plant in November for a Beautiful Spring Garden