Flowers to Plant in Spring
Flowers herald the new growing season in glorious, colorful style. And when it comes to deciding which flowers to plant in the spring, you have a range of choices — not just in color and size, but of the types of plants themselves. Whether perennial ornamentals and bulbs are your thing — or if you vibe with vines and ache for annuals — there is no shortage of colorful spring flowers from which to choose.
Easy Annuals
When you’re just waiting for your summer flowers and shrubbery to make themselves known, annuals are great for filling in those gaps. The also look lovely among spring-flowering perennials and bulbs — think purple-flowering annual pansies nestled among those yellow daffodils!
Finally, annuals are ideal when you don’t want to commit to a permanent garden plan, or if you just want to brighten up your window boxes and patio planters.
Geraniums are so sunny-looking that many people mistake them for heat-lovers. In fact, these big, round spring flowers favor cooler weather. Plant geraniums in a sunny patch. They come in red, pink and white varieties, among others hues. Both railing and upright varieties are available.
Other annual spring flowers you may want to try include low-growing impatiens and cyclamen for shade to partial shade, and tall snapdragons to fill out your back border.
Perennial Beauty
If showy annuals aren’t where your heart lies, maybe you’re a “bleeding heart”! Bleeding heart perennials have a delicate silhouette, with the tiny blooms cascading like musical notes tumbling down graceful branches. Yet the petals blaze a “bloody” red-pink color. Bleeding hearts like moist soil and partial shade. The perennial spring flower known as Solomon’s seal boasts a similar shape and growing preference, but the flowers are creamy white.
If you’d rather trod the “primrose path,” consider low-growing yellow primroses, which range in shade from pale to bright, depending on the variety.
When you’re considering replacing part of your lawn with a ground cover, few things are more cheery in spring than creeping phlox. This flowering stunner grows in sun or partial shade, and doesn’t need rich soil. The prettiest phlox varieties are light pink, white or pale lavender.
Along with ornamentals and ground covers, don’t forget perennial spring-blooming vines. Purple flowered Virginia creeper and Chinese Wisteria, and pinkish sweet peas add color in the early cool months. or the The many spring varieties of clematis, each with a different color and petal shape, are also good perennial vine choices for spring.
Bountiful Bulbs
Not only do spring bulbs provide perennial color, but most multiply over the years. That means that not only will they expand on their own, but you can dig up extra ones and establish new bulb patches elsewhere. Plant in the fall.
Daffodils are classic spring bulbs, and come in a range of yellows, from buttery to lemon, as well as cream and peach. For even brighter pops of color, plant tulips — one of the earliest blooms of spring. There are literally hundreds of tulip varieties available, with a range of colors, patterns and petal shapes.
Even earlier in the season, creamy snowdrops and purple crocuses emerge. They’re often the first signs of new plant life you’ll see as winter is fading.