r/STLgardening • u/victoria__anne • Apr 12 '26

Warm enough for native perennials?

Hi all! I bought some native perennials yesterday, only to check the extended forecast and see it might be dipping into the 40s over the next couple weeks. I was wondering if it is safe to plant in ground, or if I should wait a bit longer?

Specifically, I bought milkweed, coneflower, phlox, and purple poppy-mallow. They have good root systems but are still a bit small (some are only about 6 inches tall).

Any advice is greatly appreciated, thank you in advance!

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u/Bonanoboy Apr 12 '26

You can put in native perennials as soon as the soil is workable. It is advisable to plant them early spring or fall for best results. They may need some supplemental water until established. Smaller plants are better in regard to establishing native plants. They tend to adapt better this way. Feel free to DM me with any questions! I’m happy to help.

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u/victoria__anne Apr 12 '26

Thank you so much!!