By the end of winter, I think we can all agree that most of us are craving a little warmth and color. That’s why those first early spring flowers feel so special—they’re a hopeful reminder that brighter days are just around the corner. Let me share a few of my favorite early spring plants with you!
“The first blooms of spring always make my heart sing.” —S. Brown
Perennial Spring flowers
Perennial plants are really nice to have in your garden. They come back every year without the need to rebuy them. Most will naturally spread on their own with no help, meaning you get more plants every year. These new plants can then be planted in other areas of the garden or shared with friends. Here are some of my favourites.
Crocus
These early spring flower give a wonderful pop of early colour. Crocus are such a simple flower to grow and once established can be split and planted in more areas of the garden or shared with friends. A beautiful way to plant these bulbs is by adding them to a grass lawn.
Did you know that saffron comes from a crocus. You can buy this variety to grow yourself, although don’t expect to much if any saffron.
There are two types of crocus the spring crocus and the autumn/fall crocus. So make sure you get the spring flowering variety if you are wanting early colour in your garden.
Key points
- Crocus plants are a bulb.
- They will naturally multiply, this is called naturalization.
- Crocus plants can be split and added to different areas of the garden after a few years.
- Commonly found in the colours white, yellow and purple.
- The bulbs can be left in the ground all year round.
- Crocus can be planted into the lawn to form a carpet of flowers.
- Helpful external links for growing Crocus bulbs:
Snowdrops
These beautiful flowers hold a special place in my heart, and I’m sure in many others as well. As some of the first bulbs to emerge—sometimes even pushing through the snow—they bring an early touch of spring. Their delicate, dainty white blooms create a magic all their own.
Snowdrops are lovely when they planted in pots by your front door to be enjoyed every day. Or how about planting them in clumps in randomly around the garden, especially under trees giving them that woodland feel.
They will need good drainage so try to avoid planting them in wet boggy areas. Otherwise the bulbs will end up rotting.
Key points
- They are a small bulb
- They will naturally spread through naturalization after a few years
- The clumps of bulbs can be split after a few years creating more plants in other areas.
- They are one of the first flowers to come up, even coming up through snow.
- They need to have good drainage so they wont rot in wet soil.
- Snowdrop bulbs will not need to be dug up at the end of the season.
- They can be planted in the ground or in pots
- Helpful external links for growing snowdrops:
Helebore
These spring flowers also know as the Lenten rose are a very easy perennial plant to grow. They will grow in shady areas also those with dappled light, preferring this to direct full sun. Plating in dry and well draining areas they will thrive. The leaves do tend to get ugly as the season goes on but they can be removed just leaving just the flower stems.
Helebore plants can be easily propagated through clippings and place in some water. They are also known to naturally spread through self seeding. The new plants though will take a few years to flower so buying established plants will give you flowers sooner.
Replanting and moving a helebore can be done easily but they may need a year to settle before blooming again.
Key points
- They are a hardy perennial, flowering as early as February.
- They can be easily propagated through cuttings.
- Flowers tend to be purple, white and green.
- Cut of all of the leaves as they start to droop and discolor, leaving just the flowers.
- Will grow well in shady areas of the garden.
- Helpful external links for growing helebores:
Daffodils
Technically not as early as the other spring flowers they do come up in March making them still and early bloom. Daffodils are such a fun sunny flower and with so many varieties there is something for everyone.
The small mini daffodils make a lovely addition to any pot. The classic yellow daffodil looks great when dotted around the garden. Or you can plant them in clumps under trees or on hillsides where the water drains freely away.
Do research before buying your bulbs, some varieties are a lot easier to grow than others. Do you want to naturalize the bulbs meaning you wont be digging them up at the end of the season or are you happy to remove them and replant every year.
Key points
- Not quite as early as the other flowers
- Daffodils are a bulb
- They need good drainage so the bulbs don’t rot
- They come in many different varieties, from mini, doubles, singles, white and yellow. It is pretty endless.
- Not all varieties will naturalize. Meaning you may need to dig them up at the end of the season
- Can be planting in the ground and in pots.
- Make a great cut flower, pick the flowers before they open to make them last longer.
- Helpful external links about daffodils:
Annual Spring flowers
Typically sold pre-grown and already in bloom, annual spring flowers instantly add vibrant color to your space. They’re perfect for filling gaps between other plants and come in a wide variety of colors, ensuring there’s something for everyone.
There are only a handful of very early annual spring flowers I will share my two favourites. These are probably the easiest and most reliable early annuals you can buy. Although the season progresses very quickly from March onwards meaning many more plants will be available as the weeks go on.
Primulas
These plants are gaining popularity once again. If your like me all I thought when seeing primulas was oh that is an old lady flower an outdated plant, not trendy at all. But, now, I think it is a beautiful plant that deserves its place as an early spring bloom.
Found in so many different colours they can be stuffed together creating a blanket of colour. The blooms last such a long time as well making them so easy to care for.
Plant them in pots mixing them with the early bulbs like the snowdrops and daffodils and create some beautiful displays. And don’t forget bees love them making them a fantastic early source of food for them.
Key points
- Very easy to grow.
- Long lasting blooms
- Can take a good amount of cold, with some growing right through winter
- So many different varieties that can take you right through the spring summer and into autumn/fall time.
- With so many colours there is something for everyone.
- They like full sun to partial shade.
- Use these plants as fillers for any gaps in your flower beds.
- Add them to pots with other spring flowers to make beautiful displays.
- Although can be a perennial they are usually planted as an annual.
- Deadhead the flower to keep them in bloom.
- Plant in well draining soil.
- Helpful external links for primulas:
Violets
Nothing beats the little faces of the small violet blooms bobbing in the wind. The colour combinations of the violet make these flowers so much fun. They are a lovely happy flower and one that should be in your early spring flower beds and pots.
They are very similar to pansy’s and are in the same plant family, but the blooms are much smaller. I also find them a lot hardier
They are easy to grow, just keep them deadheaded and enjoy the blooms for a long time.
They thrive in cooler weather, so be sure to plant them in a spot with plenty of shade from harsh sun. As temperatures rise, keeping them protected will help ensure they continue blooming beautifully.
Key points
- Easy to grow
- May spread seed and come up the following year.
- Deadhead the flowers to keep them in bloom.
- Similar to pansy’s but tend to be hardier to the cold.
- Come in an array of different colours.
- They like to have some sun but shelter from late hot sun as the season changes.
- They need good draining soil, they dislike wet soggy soil.
- The blooms are edible and make a colourful addition to a salad.
- They can also be crystalized in sugar and used as a cake decoration.
- Helpful external links for growing and using violas.
Planting Ideas for spring flowers
With so many varieties of early spring plants out there today, there is pretty much something for everyone.
Whether you have a garden with beds to plant in or just a small patio with a few pots. Or maybe you have no outdoor space at all and can only grow these plants inside. No problem, spring flowers can bring colour and joy to us all no matter where we live.
Having a mix of annual and perennial plants is ideal because it offers both consistency and variety. Knowing that some plants will return year after year provides a sense of reliability, while only needing to purchase a few annuals each season helps save money in the long run.
A great idea is to intermix bulb annual with some hardy perennial herbs, making the display not only beautiful but useful and aromatic too. Some great herb plants to consider would include: Rosemary, Thyme and Sage.
Layering bulbs is a fantastic way to extend the flowering season going right into the summer months.
A few simple takeaway tips
- Plan for the future, the weather will start to warm up quickly so make sure the plants will have protection from the hot sun.
- Most of these early spring flowers require good drainage. They do not like to be sat in the cold wet earth.
- Mix it up. Have a mix of annual and perennial plants to give you variety.
- Deadhead any annual flowers to keep them in bloom.
- Make growing annuals simple. Buy annual plants already grown than starting from seed, this is a lot easier. Although it is a personal choice depending on your time and space for growing.
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