15 Annual Flowers That Bloom in Early Spring

If perennials are the foundation of a successful garden, annuals are the ornamentation. While they may not last a long time, they do a lot of heavy lifting in the landscape while they are with us. If you want to light up your beds, adding some flowering annuals will always do the trick. 

It’s not hard to find annuals that bloom in the summer. There are plenty of warm, sunny days ahead for these to reach their peak. When it comes to beautiful spring bloomers, however, it takes some special consideration. Annuals that bloom in early spring must meet some special criteria. 

If you want spring flowers, you need frost-tolerant plants or those that grow quickly from seed or start to flowering time. Fortunately, there are quite a few of these that come in a wide range of varieties. Here are some of my favorite annuals that start their season in early spring. 

Night and Day Snapdragon

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Got the Blues Pansy

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Lauren’s Grape Bread Seed Poppy

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Snapdragon ‘Potomac Appleblossom’

	botanical name Antirrhinum majus ‘Potomac Appleblossom’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3’-4’
	hardiness zones 7-10

Snapdragons do some seriously heavy lifting in terms of early spring bloomers. In warmer climates, you can plant these in the fall for blooms that start before the equinox. Snapdragons are cold-tolerant and will remain green even after exposure to temperatures in the low 20s (~-7°C). I’m always shocked by how resilient they are.

You’ll find snapdragons in nearly every color of the rainbow. Some are single, some have double flower forms, and many have a wonderful fragrance. ‘Potomac Appleblossom’ is a tall variety that blooms for an extra long time. It has great cold and heat tolerance, so it will stick around far into the summer and keep right on flowering. In cool climates, start seeds indoors in early winter and transplant as soon as the soil is workable.

Sweet Pea ‘April in Paris’

	botanical name Lathyrus odoratus ‘April in Paris’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4’-6’
	hardiness zones 2-10

Another fabulous cold-tolerant early spring annual is the sweet pea. Warm-climate growers may see them blooming before the winter ends. Sweet peas love cold weather and do their best growing when there is a chill in the air. Give the vines a structure to climb, and watch these pretty vines grow to five feet or more. In cool climates, drop these right in the soil as soon as the ground thaws.

Sweet peas have a reputation for their intoxicating fragrance. Some are stronger than others, and ‘April in Paris’ is one of the most wonderfully scented varieties. Their soft, ruffled blossoms are larger than average and cream-colored with a lavender tint around the edges. As the flowers age, the purple intensifies to a deeper lilac shade. 

Pansy ‘Silverbride’

	botanical name Viola x wittrockiana ‘Silverbride’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6”-9”
	hardiness zones 6-10

Pansies are hybrid versions of violas, bred to have larger, more colorful flowers. They are small, fast-growing plants and have excellent cold tolerance. Start them indoors and transplant them a few weeks before your last frost date for early spring blooms. 

Pansies come in an array of colors. Most are bicolored with darker splotches on their large petals. Some have ruffled petals, while others are broad and smooth-edged. ‘Silverbride’ has a striking contrast of pure white petals with deep purple markings.

French Marigold ‘Strawberry Blonde’

	botanical name Tagetes patula ‘Strawberry Blonde’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 8”-10”
	hardiness zones 2-11

French marigolds are not frost tolerant, but they are quick to bloom and transplant well, so you can start them early indoors. As soon as that last frost date passes, get these in the ground, and you’ll have flowers in no time. 

Marigolds are great in the vegetable garden for their pest-repellant effects. These early spring annual flowers are edible and have a spicy, citrusy flavor throughout the summer. They look beautiful used as a garnish or decoration for baked goods. I’m growing ‘Strawberry Lemonade’ this year and am in love with the unique pink tones in these blooms. Pink is an uncommon color for marigolds!

Calendula ‘Resina’

	botanical name Calendula officinalis ‘Resina’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 24”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Calendula, which also goes by the name pot marigold, is a cheerful plant that happens to love cool weather. It’s frost tolerant, and can grow through the winter in mild climates, and you can plant as soon as the ground is workable in cooler ones. The flowers are edible and have a unique scent that’s somewhat pungent and medicinal.

If you’re an herb lover, calendula is a great addition to the herb garden. It’s nice for use in teas and for cooking with. The flowers retain their color well when dried. ‘Resina’ has particularly resin-rich petals with a gorgeous, deep golden tone. 

Poppy ‘Lauren’s Grape’

	botanical name Papaver somniferum ‘Lauren’s Grape’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 24”-36”
	hardiness zones 3-9

Poppies don’t transplant well, but they do love cold weather. You can put the seeds of these early spring annual flowers in the ground up to six weeks before your last frost date. In mild climates, go ahead and sow them in the fall for late-winter flowering. They are ideal for the cutting garden and look gorgeous in floral arrangements. 

If you want a striking color in your beds, ‘Lauren’s Grape’ is perfection. These deep, plum-colored poppies are the result of careful breeding by Lauren Springer, the lauded garden writer from Colorado. A light-colored eye stands out against the deep purple tones at the center of the papery blooms. 

Gerbera Daisy ‘Salmon Essence’

	botanical name Gerbera jamesonii ‘Salmon Essence’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12”-18”
	hardiness zones 2-11

If you’ve visited the annual section of your local nursery in early spring, you’ve most likely observed the brilliant blooming power of Gerbera daisies. I’m always surprised by their hardiness and incredible blooming ability. They are great for cutting and make wonderful container plants, as well. 

Gerbera daisies come in every color of the rainbow. ‘Salmon Essence’ is a wonderful coral pink with a deep salmon inner circle of petaloids around a green eye. They are larger than average, with flowers between three and five inches across. 

Bachelor’s Buttons ‘Mauve Lady’

	botanical name Centaurea cyanus ‘Mauve Lady’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 36”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Bachelor’s buttons are fast growers that bloom in just about two months after planting. You can start them in early winter and transplant them, but it’s best to directly sow them a week or two before your last frost date. They don’t transplant well, and in certain parts of North America, they’re better for containers. This keeps them in check.  

The most common color for bachelor’s buttons is cornflower blue. They also come in an array of colors, from white to nearly black. ‘Mauve Lady’ is more violet than mauve to my eye, but they can vary. Either way, this purple variety will be popular with pollinators and look incredible in a meadow setting. 

Stock ‘Vintage Brown’

	botanical name Matthiola incana ‘Vintage Brown’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2’
	hardiness zones 6-10

If you’re a cut flower grower like myself, stock is an absolute must-have early spring annual. Long, strong stems, bountiful clusters, and fragrant blossoms make these an incredible addition to any bed. A range of colors and heights makes them suitable for many locations in the landscape. 

‘Vintage Brown’ sounds a little lackluster, but I think it’s one of the prettiest varieties of stock that I’ve ever seen. The flowers aren’t really brown but a soft, dusky rose with a faint, cool undertone beneath the warm pink base. They are a magnificent cultivar on the shorter side, so they are great for creating fragrant borders.

Alyssum ‘Tiny Tim’

	botanical name Lobularia maritima ‘Tiny Tim’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2″-4″
	hardiness zones 5-10

Alyssum is a low-growing, heavily floriferous plant with a creeping habit. It makes an incredibly beautiful ground cover and a lovely filler and spiller in container arrangements. It’s fast-growing and produces a mass of blooms for a long period. 

‘Tiny Tim’ is a compact cultivar that blooms profusely. The tiny clusters of snowy white flowers almost entirely obscure the foliage through much of the season. It’s also heat and drought-tolerant, so you’ll have a pretty carpet of blossoms for the better part of the year. 

African Daisy ‘Bright Lights™ Horizon Sunset™’

	botanical name Osteospermum ‘Bright Lights™ Horizon Sunset™’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1’-3’
	hardiness zones 9-11

You’re likely to see African daisies at the nursery early in the season. They are great, long-season bloomers. Sturdy and tolerant of a wide range of conditions, they are a wonderful addition to the garden. 

The flowers come in standard daisy form, but there is nothing usual about the colors. They are vivid and eye-catching and great for beds or containers. ‘Bright Lights™ Horizon Sunset™’ has a deep purple eye with a violet center that fades to coral at the outer ends of the petals. 

Nemesia ‘Danish Flag’

	botanical name Nemesia strumosa ‘Danish Flag’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 8”
	hardiness zones 2-10

Nemesia blooms from spring through to fall making it an excellent option for beds, containers, and borders. In my opinion, these don’t get nearly enough attention. They are tolerant of a wide range of conditions and have lovely blooms that look like a cross between a snapdragon and a viola.

‘Danish Flag’ is a petite plant with ruffled flowers in crisp red and white. This annual is not heat tolerant. It is happiest in climates with cool summers, and in warmer climates, the season will be shorter. Plant in partial shade if you experience hot summers. 

Geranium ‘Mrs. Cox’

	botanical name Pelargonium x hortorum  ‘Mrs. Cox’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 8″-12″
	hardiness zones 9-11

Geraniums start popping up at nurseries early in the year. They like the cool, crisp spring weather and start decorating front porches early in the year. Their highly decorative foliage is delightfully aromatic and perfectly accents the big, bright flower clusters in multiple warm shades. 

‘Mrs. Cox” is one of the more decorative cultivars I’ve seen. It’s certainly colorful. The foliage is green, red, and yellow, a deviation from the standard light and dark green. The light coral flowers stand high up on tall, slender stems. 

Ranunculus ‘Tomer Pink’

	botanical name Ranunculus ‘Tomer Pink’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 10”-12″
	hardiness zones 8-11

Ranunculus flowers are romantic and ethereal, with their many layers of thin, delicate petals. They make a gorgeous addition to the cutting garden and have an extra-long vase life if you like to bring your blooms indoors. 

‘Tomer Pink’ is a perfect variety with bubblegum pink blossoms. You can plant these in the fall in mild climates and in late winter in cooler ones. They’re a bit high maintenance, but they’re entirely worth it.

Nasturtium ‘Cherry Rose Jewel’

	botanical name Tropaeolum majus ‘Cherry Rose Jewel’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 10”-16”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Nasturtiums are excellent trap crops, so they’re great near your vegetable beds. They’re also edible, from root to tip, and their foliage is decorative and beautiful. They like cool weather and have a short seed-to-bloom period.