Gardening Plants & Flowers Flowers

34 Spring Flowers to Add to Your Garden

Creeping phlox plants with bright pink and light purple flowers

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

Although spring bulbs such as crocuses and daffodils are the most commonly associated with spring flowers, there are lots of other spring-blooming plants you can add to your landscape. By selecting plants that offer diversity—a variety of bloom times, bloom colors, types of foliage, flower forms, and heights—you’ll get a continuous display of flowers from the first days to the last days of spring.

Here are 34 great recommended plants for spring blooms, ranging from ground-hugging groundcovers to towering trees.

Tip

Spring-flowering plants, especially early spring flowers, are especially susceptible to damage from unseasonably late frosts, which may kill flower buds and cause plants to miss their bloom season entirely. Make sure to plant cultivars that are rated to be dependably hardy in your USDA cold hardiness zone.

  • 01 of 34

    Amur Adonis

    Winter aconite in bloom pushing through snow.

    Wilfried Martin / Getty Images

    A member of the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family, Amur adonis is a perennial species that grows no more than one foot tall and is among the first flowers to bloom in spring. Several named cultivars are available, offering different shades of pale yellow, bright yellow, or deep yellow-orange. It flowers very early, from February to March, depending on location.

    • Name: Amur adonis (Adonis amurensis)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Pale yellow to red-orange
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Average, moist soil
  • 02 of 34

    Azalea

    Korean azalea

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Azaleas bring delightful white, purple, yellow, and red flowers—and all hues in between—to the spring garden when the clusters of funnel-shaped blooms appear. The shrubs need at least four hours of sunlight daily and afternoon shade in places with scorching summers. Keep their soil moist, acidic, and fertile for them to grow well. They are best planted in the spring or early fall. Growth rates vary by species, but most azaleas are relatively slow-growing. A nursery-grown azalea will flower in its first year but may take as much as 10 years to reach its full size.

    • Name: Azalea (Rhododendron spp.)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 8
    • Color Varieties: White, pink, purple, red, orange, yellow
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, acidic
    • Toxic to: Humans and pets
  • 03 of 34

    Bearded Iris

    bearded iris with dew growing
    Liudmyla Liudmyla / Getty Images

    One of the most popular categories of iris is the bearded iris because is it so easy to grow. Bare roots are planted in the fall or spring; bare-root plants may not flower robustly until their second year. Within the broad category of the popular bearded iris group, there are also subcategories: tall bearded, intermediate bearded, short bearded, miniature bearded, and border bearded. The main distinguishing feature of these subcategories is their stature, although they also vary somewhat in bloom time. Read plant labels carefully so you understand what type of iris you are buying.

    • Name: Bearded iris (Iris germanica)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Red, orange, yellow, blue, purple, brown, white, pink, many bicolors
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained
    • Toxic to: Pets
  • 04 of 34

    Columbine

    Image of yellow columbine flower.

    The Spruce / David Beaulieu

    Although most columbine varieties have little to no scent, they are must-haves in the spring garden. The many different types of columbines make it hard to choose just one. Dwarf varieties are just 6 inches tall while larger varieties, such as McKana's Giants, reach more than 3 feet in height with large flowers. Keep in mind that columbine readily cross-pollinates. If you plant more than one variety, be prepared to see new colors and combinations. If columbine is sown in the spring, it will not bloom the first year. If you plant columbine in the fall, however, it will bloom the following spring.

    • Name: Columbine (Aquilegia spp.)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Red, orange, yellow, blue, purple, violet, pink, white
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Sandy, loamy, moist but well-drained
    • Toxic to: Humans
    Continue to 5 of 34 below
  • 05 of 34

    Common Periwinkle

    Vinca minor ground cover in bloom.

    The Spruce / David Beaulieu


    Like creeping phlox, common periwinkle is a creeping groundcover, but this vining plant blooms somewhat later, from May to June. Plants grow no more than six inches tall with an 18-inch spread, with blooms that are vibrant lavender-blue or white. Periwinkle makes a good cover plant for spring bulbs, which typically have faded by the time periwinkle blooms. Periwinkle is invasive is some areas, but it is not particularly difficult to remove.

    • Name: Common periwinkle (Vinca minor)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Lavender, blue, white
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Dry to medium, well-drained soil
    • Toxic to: Pets
  • 06 of 34

    Creeping Phlox

    Creeping phlox with light purple flowers and orange centers in ground

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova


    This early bloomer (March to May), is a good ground-hugging, massing groundcover for slopes and rock gardens. Plants rarely grow more than six inches tall, spreading up to two feet in width. Phlox will sometimes rebloom if sheared back after the first flowers fade.

    • Name: Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
    • Color Varieties: Red-purple, purple, pink, white
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Prefers humusy, medium moisture soil, but tolerates rocky, sandy soil
  • 07 of 34

    Daffodil

    Jonquilla daffodil with yellow and white flat flowers

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    With daffodils, you are pressed for choice. There are varieties with large, small, split, or lampshade-like flower cups and yellow, white, orange, pink, and bicolor cultivars. No wonder daffodils are among the most popular, easy-growing spring-flowering perennial bulbs. They are great entry-level plant for novice gardeners developing their green thumbs. Daffodils thrive in climates with chilly winters and naturalize over time. In warm climates, daffodils are often sold as prechilled bulbs and planted as annuals.

    • Name: Daffodil (Narcissus spp.)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Yellow, white, orange, pink
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist but well-drained
    • Toxic to: Humans and pets
  • 08 of 34

    Daphne Shrub

    Daphne shrub with pink flowers

    The Spruce / Nadia Hassani

    These small shrubs produce white to light pink tubular flowers in spring or early winter in warm climates, followed by small red berries. The small, oblong, light green leaves are evergreen in warm climates. In cold climates, the shrubs lose their leaves though they may remain hardy to zone 4, depending on the cultivar. Daphne usually forms a very nice rounded mound. Varieties such as 'Carol Mackie' are especially prized for their variegated foliage. Because of their small size, daphnes are good choices for small yards, where they make good foundation plants or specimens for shrub borders.

    • Name: Daphne (Daphne spp.)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
    • Color Varieties: White, pink
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained
    • Toxic to: Humans and pets
    Continue to 9 of 34 below
  • 09 of 34

    Diascia

    Diascia flowers

    The Spruce / Kara Riley 

    Also known as twinspur, this delicate, frothy genus of plants from South Africa comprises about 70 species. Some varieties will spill over pots, and others tend to grow more upright. Diascia is usually grown as an annual flower, growing 6 to 12 inches tall and 18 inches wide. You'll get the most blooms by keeping your diascia in full sun, but in really hot weather, the plant will do best when grown in partial shade, particularly afternoon shade.

    • Name: Diascia (Diascia spp.)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11
    • Color Varieties: Pink, white, orange, red
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, acidic
  • 10 of 34

    Dutchman's Breeches

    Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)

    Scott T. Smith / Getty Images

    Ideal for shady gardens, Dutchman's breeches has white to pinkish blooms and grows six to 12 inches tall and wide. The pantaloon-shaped blooms generally appear in March. This plant has feathery foliage that is similar to that of bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis), to which it is related. Like Virginia bluebell, this plant is best suited for woodland gardens where other plants offer cover when the plant dies back in summer.

    • Name: Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucallaria)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7
    • Color Varieties: White to pink
    • Sun Exposure: Part shade to full shade
    • Soil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drained soil
    • Toxic to: Humans
  • 11 of 34

    Dwarf Flowering Almond

    Dwarf flowering almond with pink flowers clustered on branches

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Prunus glandulosa is a dwarf version of flowering almond, a shrub that matures at about three to five feet tall with a similar spread. As is true of many spring flowering shrubs, the flowers precede the foliage. The pink flowers generally appear in April. Don't confuse flowering almond with the plant that bears almond nuts (Prunus dulcis). Flowering almond is a good choice for shrub borders and woodland gardens.

    • Name: Dwarf flowering almond (Prunus glanulosa)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Pink
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained soil
    • Toxic to: Humans and pets
  • 12 of 34

    Flowering Quince

    Fragrant flowering quince with pink flowers on branches

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    This hardy, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub produces beautiful red, orange, white, or pink flowers and shiny, dark green foliage. The shrubs typically bloom prolifically for a relatively short period in the early to midspring, in warmer climates even in late winter. The bloom period of the species is often not longer than one week; look for hybrid varieties that are touted as "long-blooming". While flowering quince is stunning during its bloom, it is decidedly ordinary in appearance during the rest of the year and lacks multi-season appeal.

    • Name: Flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
    • Color Varieties: White, orange, red, pink
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Most, well-drained
    Continue to 13 of 34 below
  • 13 of 34

    Forsythia

    Forsythia branch in bloom.

    The Spruce / David Beaulieu


    When its cheerful yellow flowers grace the arching branches of Forsythia intermedia, we know winter has fully retired for another year. The 'Sunrise' cultivar of this shrub stays more compact than many other types, reaching four to six feet in height, with a spread of three to five feet. Forsythia is best used when grouped in shrub borders, but it also makes a good hedge shrub. These plants grow somewhat rampantly and might require occasional rejuvenation pruning. The general rule of thumb is that forsythia starts to bloom when the soil temperature reaches 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

    • Name: Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8
    •  Color Varieties: Yellow
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drained soil
  • 14 of 34

    Fothergilla

    Fothergilla major bush
    fotolinchen / Getty Images

    The white, fragrant bottlebrush spring flowers are not the only reason why fothergilla, a shrub that is native to North America, is beloved by many gardeners. Some varieties, including the popular dwarf fothergilla 'Mount Airy' have spectacular autumn foliage. The frothy flowers do not have petals, but instead have white stamens and yellow anthers. The flowers smell a bit like honey though some say there's a hint of licorice in the scent, Fothergilla shrubs are often grown near azaleas and rhododendrons since they have similar soil and cultural needs.

    • Name: Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8
    • Color Varieties: White
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained, acidic
  • 15 of 34

    Foxglove

    Foxglove

    Aimintang / Getty Images

    Because foxglove is a biennial flower, to get flowers, choose potted plants from a nursery that are already in their second year of growth. If you choose to plant from seeds, be prepared for the plants to take a full year to get established before flowering. Foxgloves come in different sizes, from 2 to 5 feet in height. Stake the taller types to prevent them from flopping over. After flowering, the plant becomes somewhat scraggly and is best removed at this point.

    • Name: Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 10
    • Color Varieties: Pink, purple, red, white, yellow
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Loamy, well-drained, slightly acidic
    • Toxic to: Humans and pets
  • 16 of 34

    Hyacinth

    closeup of magenta-colored multiflora hyacinth flowers and buds with green leaves and purple and yellow flowers in background

    Katrin Ray Shumakov / Getty Images

    Hyacinths are some of the easiest-to-grow perennial spring bulbs. They will come back every year, though their flowers will diminish in vigor after a few seasons. Even at a distance, you'll notice these flowers' intense fragrance and the spikes of bright tubular flowers emerging from strap-shaped leaves. For the strongest and farthest-reaching scent, grow hyacinth in large groups. Hyacinth flowers also mix well with other spring-blooming bulbs. Hyacinths grow 6 to 12 inches tall. Taller varieties tend to flop. Either stake individual plants or few, or plant them closer together so that they support one another.

    • Name: Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
    • Color Varieties: White, blue, purple, pink, red
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained
    • Toxic to: Humans and pets
    Continue to 17 of 34 below
  • 17 of 34

    Lenten Rose

    Lenten rose with light pink and yellow flowers on stems

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Helleborus orientalis, commonly known as lenten rose or hellebore, flowers in February to April with sepals of red, pink, lavender, purple, blue, yellow, or even green. Because this color occurs on sepals (not the petals), it's quite long-lasting. Add to this the shiny, leathery, evergreen leaves, and you have a perennial that offers interest beyond the initial early blooming period. Lenten rose, so named because it flowers near the season of Lent in some regions, grows to about 18 to 24 inches tall and wide. It is a good plant for woodland locations or planted beneath shade trees or large shrubs.

    • Name: Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
    • Color Varieties: White, cream, yellow, pink, rose, purple, maroon with yellow stamens
    • Sun Exposure: Part shade to full shade in summer; part sun in winter
    • Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained soil
    • Toxic to: Humans and pets
  • 18 of 34

    Lily of the Valley

    Close up of a group of tiny white-bloomed Lily of the Valley

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    The old-fashioned lily of the valley is an iconic spring flower. Its petite, fragrant, bell-shaped white flowers rise on long stems from the leaf clumps in spring. Don't let the delicate appearance of lily flowers fool you—this is a hardy groundcover that spreads gradually but persistently to form dense colonies to the point of being considered invasive in many parts of the Midwest and Northeast. Lily of the valley is planted by root divisions, potted nursery plants, or seeds in the fall, though spring planting is also possible.

    • Name: Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
    • Color Varieties: White
    • Sun Exposure: Partial shade to full shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained
    • Toxic to: Humans and pets
  • 19 of 34

    Magnolia Trees

    Magnolia tree branch with small pink blooms and closed flowers

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    The Magnolia genus is a large group of plants including dozens of species that offer good choices for home landscapes, ranging from compact shrubs to towering trees. Magnolias are among the earliest trees and shrubs to produce spring flowers; many types produce their blooms before the large, leathery leaves appear. A good choice for a landscape tree is star magnolia, which stays shorter (15 to 20 feet) than saucer magnolia (20 to 25 feet) and blooms the earliest. Star magnolia has white flowers, unlike the saucer magnolia and Jane magnolia, both of which bloom in pink. Jane magnolia (10 to 15 feet tall and 8 to 12 feet wide) can be grown as a shrub or tree. 

    • Name: Magnolia (Magnolia spp.)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 10, depending on species
    • Color Varieties: White, pink, yellow, cream
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained loamy soil
  • 20 of 34

    Mock Orange

    Mock orange shrub

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    The fragrance of the mock orange flowers resembles orange blossoms, which is how the shrub got its common name. The flowers are rich with nectar that attracts butterflies and other pollinators. The showy, cup-shaped, four-petal flowers are the main attraction of this shrub; during the rest of the year, it is inconspicuous. Not all varieties are equally fragrant; it is therefore recommended that you purchase your mock orange when the shrub is in bloom at the nursery, so you get the chance to smell it before you buy. Mock orange shrubs grow up to 10 to 12 feet tall and wide and have a fairly quick growth rate, gaining around 2 feet per year.

    • Name: Mock orange (Philadelphus coronarius)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
    • Color Varieties: White
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Loamy, moist, well-drained
    Continue to 21 of 34 below
  • 21 of 34

    Pansy

    Close up of the delicate pink-purple flowers of pansies

    The Spruce / Kara Riley

    These vigorous, fast-growing, colorful flowers are a great choice for early-season containers or garden beds. The flowers have almost heart-shaped, overlapping petals in bright colors or bi-colors, often with face-like center markings. Pansies are short-season perennials but they are usually grown as annuals. In zones with mild winters, they can be grown as biennials. In the garden, they complement spring-flowering bulbs, blooming as the bulb foliage begins to fade. When buying nursery plants, choose pansies that are stocky, bushy, and have plenty of buds.

    • Name: Pansy (Viola wittrockiana)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 11
    • Color Varieties: White, yellow, purple, blue, red, pink
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained, acidic
  • 22 of 34

    Pasque Flower

    Pasque flower with purple cup-shaped petals in silvery-green stems

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Pulsatilla vulgaris is a compact perennial (8 to 12 inches) that will eventually spread. Like Lenten rose, its common name alludes to a religious holiday of early spring—Easter, which is Pasque in Old French. The lavender flowers that appear in April to May are so fitting for an Easter color scheme. But happily, the Easter bunny will leave them alone because the pasque flower is rabbit-proof

    • Name: Pasque flower (Pulstatilla vulgaris)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Pale to dark violet; occasionally white
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Gritty, well-drain soil
    • Toxic to: Humans and pets
  • 23 of 34

    Pussy Willow

    closeup of pussy willow

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    The furry catkins of the pussy willow are one of spring's earliest harbingers. Most often, what is referred to as pussy willow is the North American species but there are also European species. Pussy willow is mostly found in wild wetland areas but you can grow this shrub in your yard as long as you contain its growth by pruning it regularly. Pussy willows grow quite fast and will spread quickly, achieving heights as much as 25 feet for some species. Simply sticking a pussy willow branch into the soil will produce a fully developed adult plant in a matter of a few months. 

    • Name: Pussy willow (Salix discolor)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
    • Color Varieties: White
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Loamy, moist to wet but well-drained
  • 24 of 34

    Snowdrops

    Snowdrop plant with tiny white drooping flowers on thin stems

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Galanthus nivalis is almost synonymous with the earliest flowers to bloom in spring, appearing in February, often through snow cover. A short perennial bulb plant (three to six inches), it will naturalize over time and spread to fill in an area. But its white flowers are small, so for the best impact, plant them in masses or drifts in areas where they are allowed to naturalize.

    • Name: Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7
    • Color Varieties: White with green markings
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Average moisture, well-drained soil
    • Toxic to: Humans and pets
    Continue to 25 of 34 below
  • 25 of 34

    Spring Crocus

    Crocus blooms in early spring, even if there's still snow.

    The Spruce / David Beaulieu

    Crocus vernus and related plants are bulbs (more accurately, corms) that flower early in spring. Spring crocuses are generally slightly smaller, just three to six inches tall, than Dutch crocus (Crocus flavus) and they flower earlier, usually in April. Species varieties are generally purple or white, but cultivars are available in shades of yellow or gold. Birds and ​rabbits eat crocus bulbs, so the bulbs need to be protected with wire mesh if you want to guard against loss. For the best impact, plant them in large groups or naturalized drifts. Rabbits are also quite fond of eating crocus foliage.

    • Name: Spring crocus (Crocus vernus)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Purple, white, yellow, gold
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drained soil
    • Toxic to: Pets
  • 26 of 34

    Sweet Alyssum

    white sweet alyssums in field

    Chemi Kumitani / Getty Images

    For a fast-growing, colorful carpet of flowers, consider sweet alyssum. This low-growing plant quickly covers the ground with tiny cross-shaped, four-petal flowers within two months of being sown from seed. Although sweet alyssum is nearly unmatched for ease of care, it should be planted with caution. Because it is such an aggressive grower, it is on California's invasive species list and is considered an aggressive grower in Hawaii and other warm climates.

    • Name: Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
    • Color Varieties: White, pink, purple
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained
  • 27 of 34

    Tulip

    Pink and yellow tulips growing at base of tree trunk closeup

    The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

    Tulips fill spring gardens with every color except true blue. Most are cup-shaped blooms with one flower on each stem, although a few are multi-flowering, ruffled, fringed, or double blossoms. Depending on the tulip variety and your climate, tulips are perennials or annuals. Early tulips bloom as early as March but most bloom in April or May, Because tulips sprout and bloom early in the spring, tulips work well beneath trees and shrubs that will leaf out to create shady conditions later in the season.

    • Name: Tulip (Tulipa spp.)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Red, pink, orange, yellow, green, purple, black, white
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained
    • Toxic to: Humans and pets
  • 28 of 34

    Viburnum

    Viburnum opulus, water elder, cramp bark, snowball tree and European cranberrybush
    Michele Ursi / Getty Images

    It is for good reason that viburnums have long been one of the most popular spring-flowering shrubs—there are numerous viburnum cultivars to choose from. The flowers come in three major types: flat clusters of florets, flat umbels outlined with larger flowers resembling lace-cap hydrangeas, and dome-shaped, snowball-like clusters. Most viburnum shrubs bloom between early spring and June, followed by attractive fruit and outstanding fall foliage. The fast-growing viburnums can be grown as either shrubs or small trees.

    • Name: Viburnum (Viburnum spp.)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 9
    • Color Varieties: White, pink
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained
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  • 29 of 34

    Virginia Bluebell

    Virginia bluebell plant with tiny blue flowers and purple buds

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Growing up to 2 feet tall and blooming in March and April, this is an ideal woodland plant for shady locations, but the foliage will die back and vanish by midsummer. Virginia bluebell (Mertensia virginica) is best planted in conjunction with summer shade plants, such as hostas or ferns, which will cover space as the bluebells die back.

    • Name: Virginia bluebell (Mertensia virginica)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Blue with pink
    • Sun Exposure: Part shade to full shade
    • Soil Needs: Medium, well-drained soil
  • 30 of 34

    Wallflower

    Altgold wallflower plant with orange flowers in sunlight

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    With a height of 1 to 3 feet and a spread of 2 to 4 feet, wallflower is considered both a shrub and a groundcover. And you'll find both biennial and perennial species and cultivars. Wallflower got its name from its ability to grow out of silty cracks in brick or cement walls. The sweetly scented four-petalled flowers bloom well alongside spring bulbs in rock gardens, borders, or containers. The plant tolerates very alkaline soil.

    • Name: Wallflower (Erysimum spp.)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 10
    • Color Varieties: Yellow, orange, purple, pink, blue, red
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
    • Soil Needs: Sandy, well-drained
  • 31 of 34

    Weigela

    Weigela florida 'variegata'

    Neil Holmes / Getty Images

    Spring-flowering shrubs that bloom again later in the year are rare but weigela is one of them. The main bloom time is in mid- to late spring after the leaves emerge. The shrub is covered with petite yet showy, rosy-colored tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. In ideal conditions, there will be a repeat although sparser bloom in mid- to late summer. Weigela are dense shrubs growing 6 to 10 feet tall and 9 to 12 feet wide but cultivars. some with variegated, deep, burgundy-purple, or lime-golden foliage, are usually smaller.

    • Name: Weigela (Weigela florida)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Pink, red, white
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Soil Needs: Moist but well-drained
  • 32 of 34

    Witch Hazel 'Arnold Promise'

    Witch hazel tree branches with yellow fringe-like flowers

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    This deciduous shrub is a named cultivar of a hybrid cross between Japanese witch hazel (H. japonica) and Chinese witch hazel (H. mollis). Growing 12 to 15 feet tall, 'Arnold Promise' flowers in February to March, before any other flowering bushes except some early-blooming magnolias. The vase-shaped growth habit with spreading branches makes this a good plant for borders, screens, and woodland gardens.

    • Name: Witch hazel 'Arnold Promise' (Hamamelis x intermedia 'Arnold Promise')
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8
    • Color Varieties: Yellow
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drained soil
    Continue to 33 of 34 below
  • 33 of 34

    Winter Aconite

    Yellow winter aconite flowers

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Another member of the Ranunculaceae family, winter aconite is a bulb that blooms in early spring (March or April), sometimes emerging through snow cover. It grows only 3 to 6 inches tall with a similar spread. It is ideal for massing in front of shrubs, or for naturalizing in woodland gardens.

    • Name: Winter aconite (Eranthus hyemalis)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7
    • Color Varieties: Bright yellow
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drained soil
    • Toxic to: Humans and pets
  • 34 of 34

    Winter Jasmine

    Winter jasmine blooms.

    The Spruce / David Beaulieu

    Most spring-blooming gardens benefit from a versatile climber, and winter jasmine fits the bill nicely. The flower buds of Jasminum nudiflorum are yellow and red but reveal pure yellow flowers when they open in March and April. Provided with a sturdy structure, winter jasmine climbs up to 15 feet; otherwise, it will sprawl along the ground. Wherever the branches make contact with the soil, they'll root, which is handy if you want the plant to serve as a groundcover. If spreading doesn't fit into your landscape plan, keep the plant pruned back.

    • Name: Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum)
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 10
    • Color Varieties: Yellow
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Prefers a well-drained, sandy loam
FAQ
  • What are the most popular spring bloomers?

    Daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, crocuses, forsythias, and azaleas are among the most popular spring-flowering plants. In addition to these classics, there are many other delightful spring blooms so you should have no trouble finding plants that fit your climate, space, and growing conditions.

  • Which spring-blooming plants require the least care?

    Generally speaking, spring bulbs such as daffodils and crocuses are the easiest to take care of. They bloom in the spring, then the foliage dies back and you don't need do do anything for the rest of the gardening season. Many spring-flowering shrubs are also easy-care, especially native shrubs that are well-adapted to the growing conditions in your local climate.

  • What plant has the longest bloom period?

    Spring flowers are often referred to as spring ephemerals for a reason—they are not very long-lasting. They bloom from a few days to a week or two at the most. Two notable exceptions are hellebores and daphne shrubs, which both have an extended bloom period of several weeks.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Azaleas. ASPCA.

  2. Azaleas and rhododendrons. Poison Control: National Capital Poison Center.

  3. IrisASPCA.

  4. Safe and Poisonous Garden Plants. University of California.

  5. Periwinkle. ASPCA.

  6. Daffodil. ASPCA.

  7. Narcissus. North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.

  8. Daphne. Pet Poison Helpline.

  9. Daphne odora. North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.

  10. Dicentra cucullaria. North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.

  11. Cherry. ASPCA.

  12. Prunus granulosa. North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.

  13. Foxglove. ASPCA.

  14. Foxglove - Toxic to the Heart. National Capital Poison Center.

  15. HyacinthASPCA.

  16. Hyacinthus orientalis. North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.

  17. Lenten Rose. ASPCA.

  18. Helleborus x hybridus. North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.

  19. Lily of the Valley. ASPCA.

  20. Convallaria majalis. North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.

  21. Pasque Flower. University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

  22. Pulsatilla vulgaris. North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.

  23. Snowdrops. Penn State Extension.

  24. April showers may bring spring bulbs. What does that mean for your pet? ASPCA.

  25. Tulip. ASPCA.

  26. Tulip Bulb Toxicity. National Capital Poison Center.

  27. Winter Aconite. University of Wisconsin-Madison.