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As winter fades, early spring flowers bring the first signs of color back to the garden. These blooms brighten outdoor spaces and signal the start of a new season. With a little planning, you can create a garden that comes to life just as the weather begins to warm.
Here are some of the best flowers to plant for an early spring display.
Daffodil (Narcissus spp.)
Who doesn’t adore the cheerful, trumpet-shaped flowers of the iconic daffodil? This low-maintenance bulb also comes in different shades and sizes and, once planted, will gradually multiply to create an ever-increasing display.
- Color: Yellow, white, orange, pink
- Height: 6-24 inches
- Spacing: 6 inches apart
- Location: Full sun to partial shade
- Flowering Period: Early to mid-spring
Virginia Bluebells
Native to the Eastern U.S., these plants feature pale green leaves and stalks of tubular blue flowers that transition from pink to clear blue before going dormant. They naturalize well, creating breathtaking drifts of color in spring.
Tulip (Tulipa spp.)
The cup-shaped blooms of tulips come in a range of vibrant colors and make excellent cut flowers to decorate your home. Different varieties of tulips bloom at different times, enabling you to create a colorful display that lasts for several weeks.
- Color: Various (red, yellow, pink, purple, white)
- Height: 8-28 inches
- Spacing: 4-6 inches apart
- Location: Full sun to partial shade
- Flowering Period: Early to late spring
Lenten Rose
Lenten Rose, or Hellebores, blooms early, offering flowers from white to deep burgundy. It’s a hardy, low-maintenance perennial for the spring shaded garden. Zones 4-10
Ranunculus
The brightly colored petals of ranunculus flowers are so delicate that they can be mistaken for paper flowers! Smaller in size than hydrangeas, ranunculus is a good option for regions with mild winters and cool spring temperatures.
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Hyacinth (Hyacinthus spp.)
Hyacinths are a great choice for planting in containers and can also be grown as a houseplant. They produce large, showy flowers that are highly fragrant and great for attracting pollinating insects.
- Color: Blue, purple, pink, white, yellow
- Height: 6-12 inches
- Spacing: 4-6 inches apart
- Location: Full sun to partial shade
- Flowering Period: Mid-spring
Crocus (Crocus spp.)
With over 80 varieties of crocus to choose from, you’ll be spoilt for choice! These dainty flowers are one of the first to emerge in early spring, bringing a welcome pop of color as winter fades.
- Color: Purple, white, yellow, striped
- Height: 3-6 inches
- Spacing: 3 inches apart
- Location: Full sun to partial shade
- Flowering Period: Late winter to early spring
Bleeding Heart
Known for its heart-shaped flowers on arching stems,
Pansies
These fast-growing, vibrant flowers work well in containers or garden beds. With bright and bi-colored edible flowers, pansies are popular in both fresh salads and desserts. They flourish in full morning sunlight and well-drained, fertile soil.
Fritillary (Fritillaria spp.)
Fritillaries have delicate bell-shaped flowers with an unusual checkered pattern. They are deer-resistant and grow well in damp, shady soil, making them perfect for woodland areas.
- Color: Purple, yellow, white, checkered
- Height: 6-36 inches
- Spacing: 6-8 inches apart
- Location: Partial shade
- Flowering Period: Mid to late spring
Grecian Windflower (Anemone blanda)
Grecian windflowers are low-growing and ideal for planting under larger bulbs. Their daisy-like flowers add color to shady spots and attract beneficial pollinators to your garden.
- Color: Blue, white, pink
- Height: 4-6 inches
- Spacing: 3-4 inches apart
- Location: Partial shade
- Flowering Period: Early to mid-spring
Viola
Violas are cool-weather flowering plants with edible flowers and surprisingly good frost tolerance. They self-seed readily.
Although they can continue to bloom in hot climates if given enough shade, they prefer cooler temperatures. Plant your violas in containers or the ground in rich, loamy, moist, slightly acidic soil.
Netted Iris (Iris reticulata)
This variety of iris blooms exceptionally early in the spring, adding a splash of bold color as winter fades. Netted irises do particularly well in rock gardens and containers.
- Color: Purple, blue, yellow
- Height: 4-6 inches
- Spacing: 3-4 inches apart
- Location: Full sun
- Flowering Period: Early spring
Glory-of-the-Snow (Chionodoxa luciliae)
Glory-of-the-Snow forms a dense mat of low-growing foliage topped with delicate star-shaped flowers that provide a welcome splash of early-season color.
- Color: Blue, pink, white
- Height: 4-6 inches
- Spacing: 2-3 inches apart
- Location: Full sun to partial shade
- Flowering Period: Early spring
Striped Squill (Puschkinia libanotica)
Striped squill is a low-maintenance bulb that grows well in rock gardens and borders, producing a delightful display of delicate, striped blooms in early spring.
- Color: Pale blue with blue stripes
- Height: 4-6 inches
- Spacing: 3 inches apart
- Location: Full sun to partial shade
- Flowering Period: Early spring
Poppy Anemone (Anemone coronaria)
Poppy anemones are a common sight in cut flower arrangements, but they also grow well as part of an ornamental border.
- Color: Red, white, blue, purple
- Height: 6-12 inches
- Spacing: 3-4 inches apart
- Location: Full sun to partial shade
- Flowering Period: Mid-spring
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