Gardening Sweet Spots
By Donna Hessel
Astrology? Really?! I’m not an astrology afficionado. I don’t check my horoscope. But I respect astrologers’ knowledge, and if applying it to my gardening will improve it, I’m all in. The following information is from Celeste Longacre, an astrologer and (vegetable) gardener. Floral preferences are from an article in “The Farmers’ Almanac,” written by Theresa Reed, also an astrologer.
Every zodiac sign has characteristic traits and by utilizing them, gardeners can correlate their gardening efforts with their astrological tendencies. Let’s delve into the zodiac and find out what our profiles recommend planting.
Aries – March 21-April 20
If you are an Aries, you are an energetic person who likes invigorating plants and foods. Onions, garlic, leeks, hot peppers and tomatoes are naturals for you. Red is your color choice. Red bee balm, poppies, zinnias and celosia are appealing. Honeysuckle and tulips represent passion, new beginnings and confidence. You love to be a pioneer and new plant varieties will find a home in your garden.
Taurus – April 21-May 20
Practical and value-oriented, Taurus likes consistency and stability, the tried and true; comfort food versus experimental dishes. Deeply rooted carrots, beets, potatoes and turnips appeal. A heightened sense of taste and touch are characteristic and all forms of potatoes are favored. Heirloom varieties flourish in their garden. Poppies are symbolic of their strength, loyalty and long memory. Lily of the Valley represents their sentimentality.
Gemini – May 21-June 20
Gemini’s light and airy personality favors herbs such as dill, calendula, caraway and parsley. Wild carrots and dandelions – with airborne seeds that twirl in the wind – elicit joy. Salads abound. Yellow flowers are particularly loved. Lavender is associated with Gemini because of its adaptability and bright energy, as well as its ability to provide calm to Gemini’s sensitive nervous system. The scent of lilacs will lift your spirit on gloomy days.
Cancer – June 21-July 22
For tender-hearted, nurturing Cancers, home and family are everything. Keen memory is also a characteristic. White roses are Cancer’s flower, symbolizing purity, loyalty and love. Other white flowers, and perhaps a white garden, are in Cancer’s purview, including moonflowers, stock and night-blooming cereus that fill the evening with fragrance. Vegetables that can be combined in nourishing soups and casseroles should be considered for a veggie garden, or planted among the flowers.
Leo – July 23-August 22
Ruled by the Sun, Leo never does things halfheartedly, so massive displays of orange gaillardia, poppies, marigolds and zinnias are in your future. Loyalty, joy and positivity are characteristic. Big, vibrant sunflowers and black-eyed Susans are favorites. Your zest for living includes salsas, gazpachos and saffron dishes, prepped in a beautiful and efficiently planned kitchen. Certainly hot peppers, tomatoes and other ingredients for savory dishes can be found in your garden.
Virgo – August 23-September 22
Buttercups are Virgo’s flower, symbolic of innocence, devotion and humility. Chrysanthemums also are favorites of Virgo perfectionists. Virgo is reserved and detail-oriented, loving to organize and micromanage, and their gardens reflect that. This sign represents the harvest season and potatoes, as well as corn and varieties of winter squashes, which are planted in neat rows in Virgo gardens destined for meat-and-potato entrees regularly on the menu. Is popcorn your favorite munchy?
Libra – September 23-October 23
Venus, planet of love and beauty, rules Libra. Passionate romantics, Libras also care about justice, harmony and balance. Their gardens reflect that. Flowers of all kinds abound, colors from bright to subtle, are artfully arranged throughout the landscape. Blooms that match Libra’s classy personality are dahlias, roses, lilies and peonies. Making a favorable impression counts for Libra and it’s likely edible pansies or nasturtiums adorn their salads.
Scorpio – October 23-November 22
Scorpio – the strongest member of the zodiac – always has a plan. Attracted to vigorous plants such as Swiss chard (which regrows when cut), successive plantings of veggies can be found in Virgo gardens. Tomatoes appeal for the red color and eggplants for purple. For sexy and passionate Scorpios, exotic lilies, gardenias and geraniums are favorite flowers. Geraniums symbolize protection, which aligns with your need to guard your privacy, and gardenias signify trust, which Scorpios seek in their friends.
Sagittarius – November 23-December 31
Sagittarius is attracted to large and expansive flowers, representative of their optimistic, adventurous and adaptable personality. Consider azaleas and rhododendrons, giant sunflowers, beans and peas that climb. Spreading mints will find a place in your garden and rosemary is a favorite. Carnations grow in many conditions, matching Sagittarius’ adaptable nature. For adventurous travelers, a bird of paradise might be the perfect house plant.
Capricorn – December 22-January 19
Spring brings formal arrangements of tulips and daffodils to Capricorn gardens. Summer gardens include stone pathways between neat rows of pole beans, radicchio and cucumbers. Spinach, arugula and chicory appear in the fall garden. Capricorns love classics. Dinner is served with the best china and silver. Pansies are Capricorn’s official flower. Red roses symbolize your endurance and ambition, always striving to overcome challenges.
Aquarius – January 20-February 19
Bold and unique, Aquarians like to stand out. They are non-conformists who prefer to set trends, not follow them. Orchids and tiger lilies – with their “standout” blooms — are made for you. Easy-to-care-for plants find favor with Aquarians. Pumpkins and squashes along walkways and patios, peas and snow peas climbing porch railings attract attention. Tomatoes also appeal. Scattering wildflowers annually is a joyful activity.
Pisces – February 20-March 20
Count on a Pisces for empathy, compassion and intuition. Even though you are emotional, you are also adaptable and can go with the flow when needed. Graceful plants such as lupines and poppies are scattered in Pisces gardens. Cucumbers, melons and summer squashes appeal to their watery nature. The water lily is your signature flower, as it thrives in water. Resilient lotus might also be considered because, like Pisces, its beauty emerges under challenging conditions.
Look around your garden. How many plants already exist that match your zodiac profile? Which plants that correspond with your traits will you plan to add to your garden this spring?
Article Resources:
“How Your Zodiac Sign Profile Can Help Your Garden” by Celeste Longacre, Gardener & Astrologer, April 3, 2025
Farmers’ Almanac Newsletter – https://www.almanac.com/best-flowers-your-zodiac-sign, Theresa Reed, author
Photos from Pexels
