13 Early-Blooming Plants to Wake Up Your Spring Garden

If you’re itching for color in your early spring garden, you’re in luck! Farmer Briana Yablonski introduces early-blooming shrubs, bulbs, and herbaceous perennials that will enliven your garden during the transition from winter to spring.

A cluster of eautiful pasque flowers in a vibrant purple color with bright green foliage.

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Let’s face it: winter can be long and dreary. When the first warm day arrives, I’m ready to put on a t-shirt and spend the day with my hands in the soil. While I love to lean into this first taste of spring, I have to remind myself to wait to start tender annuals and transplant young perennials.

Fortunately, early-blooming plants help tide me over until a larger flush of spring flowers arrives. These plants bring color to a mostly drab world and convince me I don’t need to put my tender annuals in the ground just yet.

Whether you’re looking for shrubs that bloom in February or flowering perennials that provide beauty in March, you can find spring blooms that help you achieve your garden dreams.

Johnny-Jump-Up

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King Henry

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Crocus

Wild purple crocuses bloom in the forest, with their vivid purple petals contrasting against the earthy ground and surrounding foliage.
The tiny crocus blooms appear in late winter, with snow still on the ground, adding vibrant colors to gardens.
common-name common name Crocus
botanical-name botanical name Crocus spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 3-6”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-8

Many crocus species exist, but not all bloom in spring. However, many of these tiny flowers appear while late-winter snow is still on the ground, adding pops of purple, yellow, and white at a time when the garden lacks color.

Crocuses are perennials that grow from underground storage structures called corms. Tucking the tiny corms into the ground in the fall allows them to establish and bloom the following year. As long as they remain safe from rot and hungry critters, they’ll continue to bloom every spring over multiple years.

Since the corms produce offshoots over time, I recommend digging them up every three to five years. You can separate the cormlets from the mother corm and plant them in new locations. Not only will this help you add crocuses to new locations, but it will also help prevent the plants from becoming overcrowded.

Crocus leaves naturally wilt after the plants have finished blooming, so don’t worry if you see them fade in late spring. Let the leaves die naturally to prepare the plants for next year’s growth.

Hellebore

The cut back Hellebore plant features slender, pale green-pink stems topped with nodding, delicate flowers with purple-pink petals and pale yellow stamens, blooming gracefully in the garden.
Hellebores come in shades of bright pink, deep purple, soft yellow, and white, blooming in late winter.
common-name common name Hellebore
botanical-name botanical name Helleborus spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Partial to full shade
height height 12-24”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

Hellebores, also known as Lenten roses, are among my favorite early-blooming plants. They bloom from late winter through the mid-spring and thrive in shady locations unsuitable for many other flowering plants. Although they can form dense patches, they rarely become out of control in the garden.

The hellebore plant’s large, divided leaves remain throughout the year, making the plants easy to spot even when not flowering. A month or two after the winter solstice, the plants produce tall flower stalks topped with singular, nodding blooms.

The blossoms come in many colors including bright pink, deep purple, soft yellow, and white. You can even find hellebore varieties with double petals and multi-colored blooms.

Regardless of the type of Lenten rose you choose, plant it in a spot with at least partial shade. These plants thrive in well-draining soil that stays moderately moist during the growing season, so avoid compacted soil and dry areas. With proper care, these perennials will spread gradually and return year after year.

Viola

Low-growing plants with small, delicate, pansy-like flowers in shades of violet, yellow, white, and ovate green leaves on slender stems.
Violas unveil vibrant, edible flowers in late winter.
common-name common name Viola
botanical-name botanical name Viola spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 4-12”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 1-10

The Viola genus contains more than 500 species of herbaceous flowering plants and thousands of varieties! Pansies, violets, and Johnny-jump-ups all belong to this genus. While there is much variation within this group of plants, they all thrive in cool weather. Many violas can bloom in late winter and early spring, making them excellent additions to early season gardens.

Native violets like the downy yellow violet (Viola pubescens), common blue violet (Viola sororia), and long-spurred violet (Viola rostrata) are perennials that bloom each spring. Cultivated varieties like ‘Got the Blues’ pansies are also perennials, but since they often perish in the summer heat, growers regularly treat them like annuals.

All viola flowers are edible, so you can toss them into salads or put them on the tops of cakes. Regularly removing old flowers will encourage new blooms, especially with pansies.

Daffodil

Petite golden-yellow flowers of a mini daffodil variety, with prominent trumpets and slightly flared edges, bloom atop thin, upright stems, accompanied by slender, grass-like green leaves that add a delicate, airy appearance.
Daffodils, with their trumpet-shaped blooms, emerge from the ground before many other species.
common-name common name Daffodil
botanical-name botanical name Narcissus spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 8-24”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

Daffodils are some of the most iconic spring flowers. To enjoy their beauty, you can plant their bulbs in the fall and wait until you see their slender leaves poke up from the ground the following season. A few weeks after the leaves appear, trumpet-shaped flowers emerge and brighten a chilly world.

Daffodils are distinctive thanks to their unique flower shape. Their flat petals, known as tepals, and large tube-shaped structures, known as coronas, vary by species and variety.

If you think all daffodils have yellow tepals and a distinct trumpet-like corona, I’m here to tell you to start exploring the wide world of daffodil varieties. Browse through the various cultivars to find flowers with double layers of ruffled tepals, white blooms with frilled coronas, and others with vibrant yellow tepals and fluorescent orange coronas.

Flowering Quince

Vivid red flowering quince blooms illuminated by sunlight, creating a striking contrast against the deep green foliage in the blurred background.
The flowering quince’s trailing stems become covered with tons of small, round, colorful flowers in early spring.
common-name common name Flowering Quince
botanical-name botanical name Chaenomeles speciosa
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 3-12’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4-8

Not to be confused with the edible quince, flowering quince is a messy shrub with beautiful flowers. This early bloomer is native to temperate China, where it thrives in well-drained and moderately moist soil. Therefore, it grows well in much of the United States.

The shrub’s trailing stems become covered with tons of small, round flowers in early spring. Most of the flowers are some shade of red, pink, or coral, but you can also find some varieties with white flowers. All of the flowers have yellow stamens.

Flowering quince is pretty easy to maintain, especially if you don’t mind its wild and messy look. You can prune the branches after flowering to keep the plant tidy, but be careful not to remove too much vegetation at once.

Witch Hazel

A close-up reveals the delicate yellow flowers on a witch hazel branch, their intricate petals catching the light. In the blurred background, more branches adorned with similar blossoms create a captivating tapestry of nature's beauty.
The common witch hazels produce yellow blooms with elongated petals that appear in late fall or early winter.
common-name common name Witch Hazel
botanical-name botanical name Hamamelis spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 10-20 feet
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

The witch hazel genus consists of numerous species of large shrubs and small trees, and many are native to the eastern United States. While plants like common witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) bloom in the late fall or early winter, others like vernal witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis) flower in the late winter. You can also find numerous hybrid cultivars that bloom in early spring. 

All types of witch hazel produce interesting flowers with four elongated petals. When the shrubs are in full bloom, it looks like hundreds of colorful spiders are attached to the woody branches. Many varieties produce yellow flowers, but you can also find plants with red and pink blooms.

If you want to grow witch hazel, starting with a potted plant is the easiest option. Transplant your plant in the spring or fall when temperatures are cool, and the ground has thawed.

Spring Beauty

Small, delicate white flowers with five rounded petals with pink veins and yellow stamens, rising from fleshy green leaves.
This is among the first wildflowers to appear each year.
common-name common name Spring Beauty
botanical-name botanical name Claytonia virginica
sun-requirements sun requirements Partial shade
height height 3-6”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

When I started learning about wildflowers that dotted the Pennsylvania forests I grew up exploring, spring beauty quickly became one of my favorites. Although the plants and flowers are small, they’re among the first wildflowers to appear each year.  I’ve since viewed them as a signal that spring’s warmth and beauty are on the way.

Spring beauty is native to much of the eastern half of the US, where it thrives in rich, shady woods. Slender grass-like leaves emerge as early as February and are easy to overlook. However, it’s easier to notice the plants when they begin to flower a few weeks later.

The small flowers have five defined white petals with thin white stripes. They remain throughout early spring before the foliage and blooms die back. The plants remain unseen throughout the rest of the year until they reemerge the following season.

Winter Jasmine

A close-up shot of yellow flowers and woody stems of a deciduous shrub named winter jasmine
The winter jasmine blooms as early as January, showing small, bright yellow blossoms on woody stems.
common-name common name Winter Jasmine
botanical-name botanical name Jasminum nudiflorum
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 4-15’
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 6-10

Most of the plants on this list start flowering in March or April, but winter jasmine’s blooms arrive on the scene as early as January. The woody plants become covered with small, bright yellow flowers while most of the plant world sleeps, and they continue blooming into late winter. After the flowers fall, small green leaves cover the stems. 

These woody perennials can grow as either shrubs or trailing vines. If you keep your winter jasmine plants well-pruned, they can form medium hedges or stand-alone shrubs. Since the plants flower on old wood, aim to prune your plants in the spring after they’re done flowering. You can also let the trailing stems grow wild and watch them cascade down a wall or up a trellis.

While this shrub doesn’t offer much color throughout the warmer months, it experiences little pest and disease pressure. The plants can also tolerate moderate drought once they’re well established.

Pasque Flower

This early bloomer displays silky, bell-shaped lavender flowers with feathery, divided leaves.
Early in the season, pasque flowers bloom first atop short stems, followed by their leaves.
common-name common name Pasque Flower
botanical-name botanical name Pulsatilla spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun
height height 6-12”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-8

While many plants produce leaves before they flower, pasque flowers bloom before their foliage appears. In early spring, the singular purple or white flowers appear atop a short stem. The bright yellow stamens contrast nicely with the large petal-like sepals.

There are close to 40 pasqueflower species. Some are native to Eurasia while others call North America home. Some species native to the United States include eastern pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens), American pasqueflower (Pulsatilla hirsutissima), and prairie pasqueflower (Pulsatilla nuttalliana).

Although cold-hardiness varies by species, many of these plants can tolerate temperatures well below freezing. That makes them an excellent choice for gardeners in cold areas like Montana, North Dakota, and Minnesota.

Snowdrop

Graceful, drooping white flowers with outer petals forming a teardrop shape emerge from narrow, green foliage.
This is one of the first wildflowers to appear each spring, even if snow is still on the ground.
common-name common name Snowdrop
botanical-name botanical name Galanthus nivalis
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 4-10”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

The drooping white snowdrop flowers are some of the first bulb blooms to emerge each spring. In fact, their name comes from their ability to blossom while snow is still on the ground. They fill the air with a light honey fragrance and draw in pollinators just emerging from the winter.

Although the plants thrive in full sun during their flowering season, they benefit from some shade during the heat of summer. Therefore, planting them under deciduous trees or shrubs is a great option. The snowdrops will receive lots of sun in the early spring and then enjoy shade after the larger plants leaf out.

If you want to grow snowdrops, planting the bulbs in the fall is your best option. You should bury them three to four inches underground as soon as nights are between 40-50°F (4-10°C). Therefore, planting the bulbs in September or October is ideal in many areas. Planting clusters of the bulbs creates a nice look as long as you space each bulb two to three inches apart.

Moss Phlox

In springtime, moss phlox produces a carpet of vibrant pink or purple flowers with long, thin leaves.
common-name common name Moss Phlox
botanical-name botanical name Phlox subulata
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 4-6”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

During the springtime, moss phlox is one of my favorite plants to spot. While shrubs like winter jasmine and bulbs like daffodils bloom in the early spring, the large patches of colorful phlox give me hope that warmer and brighter days are ahead.

Also known as creeping phlox, ground pink, or moss pink, moss phlox is a low-growing and spreading phlox species. The plants remain less than six inches tall, but they can spread multiple feet and create vibrant pink or purple carpets. Their long, thin leaves resemble pine needles.

This phlox species is native to much of the eastern and central United States, so you can find it growing in wild areas as well as gardens. The plants thrive in sunny and well-draining areas like rocky outcroppings and south-facing slopes. This species can tolerate dry and coarse soil better than other types of phlox, so it’s a good option for rock gardens and sandy soil.

Flowers come in various shades of pink, purple, and white. You can also find cultivars like ‘North Hills’ and ‘Eye Candy’ that have two-toned flowers with central eyes.

Lungwort

It displays a cluster of tiny blossoms with leaves that have white spots.
common-name common name Lungwort
botanical-name botanical name Pulmonaria spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Partial to full shade
height height 6-12”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-9

Lungwort is a low-growing perennial that thrives in shady areas. It remains less than a foot tall and slowly spreads by rhizomes, so it works well as a groundcover for woodland edges and shady areas. However, clumps of the plants also mix well with shade lovers like hostas and foamflower.

Lungwort blooms early in the season, sending up straight flower stalks topped with a cluster of tiny blossoms. Each small flower has five distinct lobes and a slightly funneled shape. The flowers may be pink, purple, or blue, and some varieties produce multiple colors of blooms.

Although lungwort only blooms in the spring, its interesting foliage adds interest to your garden during the summer and fall. Most lungwort plants produce upright stalks with alternately arranged lanceolate leaves. The green leaves have fine, dense hairs and white spots that look like neat paint splatters.

Primrose

Coastal mock vervain flowers bloom vibrantly, showcasing delicate purple petals in full bloom. Serrated leaves of coastal mock vervain provide a textured backdrop, their jagged edges framing the vivid blooms.
Primrose plants have low-growing rosettes, which mostly bloom from early spring to summer.
common-name common name Primrose
botanical-name botanical name Primula spp.
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 6-24”
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3-8

Primrose flowers hold a special place in my heart. Growing up, my mom planted multiple maroon and yellow primrose plants on a slightly wooded slope beside our home. The first flowers appeared sometime around the last frost and continued to bloom throughout the summer. They still remain one of my favorite early-blooming garden plants today.

While I was familiar with the maroon and yellow flowers, the primrose genus consists of close to 500 species, many of which bloom in early spring. Gardeners often refer to numerous cultivated Primula species as ‘primrose.’ These include the common primrose (Primula vulgaris) and the many hybrids created for their beautiful flowers.

Although primrose plants vary slightly in appearance, they all have a low-growing rosette of oblong leaves. They produce upright stalks topped with clusters of rounded, five-petaled flowers. Bloom time varies by location and variety, but many primroses bloom from early spring through summer.

Most of these plants are short-lived perennials that thrive in areas with dappled light or partial shade. So, they’re perfect for woodland edges or sparsely shaded forests.

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