Chase away the winter blues with these 11 easy-to-grow early spring flowers! Bulbs, perennials, and annuals for a vibrant garden.
If you’re anything like me, the moment spring arrives, you’re itching for a colorful garden. And guess what? A vibrant early spring garden is totally within reach with a little planning.
Anyone can create a stunning spring display, no matter their gardening experience. It’s all about choosing the right mix of plants. This post will focus on bulbs, annuals, and perennials—perfect for adding pops of color to any size garden, from sprawling flower beds to cozy containers.
If you’ve ever wished for continuous blooms in your spring garden, you’re in the right place. This post will guide you through selecting and planting the best easy-care flowers for a truly spectacular spring.
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Early Spring Flowers: Easy Bulbs For Gorgeous Blooms
For a burst of color that’s guaranteed to chase away the winter blues, bulbs are your best bet. They’re some of the earliest bloomers, and since they’re planted in the fall, you get to enjoy a vibrant spring with minimal effort.
With so many beautiful early spring bulbs to choose from, it’s important to select varieties that thrive in your climate.
For the earliest blooms, consider Snowdrops and Glory-of-the-Snow. These tough little bulbs often emerge before the snow melts! Depending on the temperature, you might see them peeking through the ground as early as February or March.
Here are some other fantastic early spring bulbs:
When Should I Plant Bulbs for Early Spring Flowers?
The best time to plant bulbs for spring flowers is in the fall. However, when you plant early spring bulbs will largely depend on your climate zone. A good rule of thumb is to wait until soil temperatures are below 60F, but about 6 to 8 weeks before the ground freezes.
If you live in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 or 5, you can usually plant in September through early October. For Zones 6 or 7 (where I live), October to early November is typically the best planting time for spring bulbs. In the warmer Zones 8 and 9, bulbs are usually planted in November to early December.
Keep in mind how the weather behaves in any given year will make these guidelines more like estimates rather than set dates. Here in my zone 6b garden, I plant bulbs in October and have planted as late as early December (when we moved and I had no choice). The bulbs came up and bloomed beautifully. The key is they need a long enough winter chill to bloom.
Early Spring Flowers: Perennial Plants That Return Year After Year
While perennials tend to bloom more after some of the bulbs begin, there are some that start before and help keep the spring color going while the bulbs bloom and die back. You can plant perennials anytime the ground can be worked, but it’s best to do in spring or fall.
Some early spring blooming perennials include:
- Hellebores
- Dicentra
- Forget-Me-Nots
- Virginia Bluebells
- Brunnera
- Bearded Iris
- Creeping Phlox
- Dianthus
Early Spring Flowers: Annual Blooms
I tend to buy my early spring blooming annuals from the local garden nursery every year. Sometimes I receive comments from readers questioning why I have blooms so early and that’s because the annuals that I’m working with are considered cool season annuals. This means, they tolerate cooler temperatures fairly well and I don’t have to worry about them. Garden centers start stocking these early bloomers in late winter, so you can get a jump on the season fairly early.
That said, if we get a sudden deep freeze or something, it is worth grabbing a frost blanket or even a sheet to protect them from potential damage but in my zone 6b garden, that is rare and not the norm. But it can happen, so you’ve got to always be prepared.
Here are a few examples of early blooming annuals you can plant while the temperatures are still a bit chilly.
- Pansies
- Ranunculas
- Sweet Alyssum
- Sweet Peas
- Violas
11 Best Early Spring Flowers: Bulbs, Perennials and Annuals
Crocus
Crocuses are tiny treasures that bursts into bloom with the earliest signs of spring. These vibrant flowers are more than just beautiful – they’re incredibly easy to care for, making them perfect for gardeners of all skill levels.
Plant their corms in the fall, and come springtime, they’ll reward you with cheerful blooms in shades of purple, yellow, orange, and white, often pushing through even a light dusting of snow. And the best part?
Once nestled in, these low-maintenance charmers will return year after year without fail to brighten up your early spring garden.
- Hardiness Zone: 3-8
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Plant Type: Bulb (Corm)
- Height/Width: 3-6 inches tall, 2-4 inches wide
Daffodils (Narcissus)
There is nothing quite like the early blooms of daffodils. Am I right? Daffodils, also known as Narcissus, are a great deer-resistant flower that is easy to grow and comes in a variety of colors and shapes.
Plant daffodils in fall with other spring-blooming bulbs and you’ll be rewarded with blooms early on in the growing season. From whites, to yellows, peaches, and pinks, they are so pretty aren’t they?
When we moved here I had no idea there were thousands planted all over the property. It was glorious to see them all come up in the spring. So consider planting them en masse.
- Hardiness Zone: 3-9
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Height/Width: Varies greatly by variety, 6-24 inches tall, 4-12 inches wide
Tulips
Gosh, where do I even start with tulips? They are gorgeous bright flowers that bloom in early spring. Much like daffodils, plant bulbs in fall and you’ll be rewarded with lots of beautiful colors early in the growing season.
Tulips can be planted in the ground or grown in pots. And there are so many different varieties to choose from too. Tulips are one of the best easy-to-grow bulbs and can bring a burst of color to your early spring garden.
As much as I love them, tulips are not deer resistant and some varieties don’t return as well as other spring flowering bulbs. I still grow them but spray them religiously with deer repellent from the moment they peek through the ground.
In the last several years, I’ve planted several different varieties but I’m particularly fond of the peony shaped blooms as they remind of…well, peonies!
Because some tulip varieties don’t return as well as others, I find myself replanting every few years to restock them. And let me tell you, it has been quite a show! While they look beautiful while they bloom, they are even prettier as the petals drop.
- Hardiness Zone: 3-8
- Light: Full sun
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Height/Width: Varies by variety, 6-30 inches tall, 4-10 inches wide
Hyacinths
Hyacinths are a beautiful, bold flower that adds a ton of color to an early spring garden. They come in a variety of colors, from lighter colors like white, cream, yellow and pink flowers to deep colors like cobalt blue and purple.
A few years back I planted hyacinth bulbs for the first time. Previously, I had only planted them from nursery pots as full-grown flowers. I learned an important lesson on that first hyacinth bulb experience: wear gardening gloves!
Some people experience an allergic reaction to hyacinth bulbs if they make contact with the skin. While not everyone will be allergic to them, if you are (like I discovered I was!) then you’ll likely experience some uncomfortable itching if you handle them without gloves!
I’m not allergic to handling tulips, daffodils, crocus, or alliums but apparently, there is something in the bulbs that can irritate your skin. Hyacinth is supposedly the worst and I have to agree!
- Hardiness Zone: 4-8
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Height/Width: 6-12 inches tall, 4-6 inches wide
Alliums
If you have not grown alliums yet, you should! Plant these gorgeous bulbs in the fall and get beautiful early spring blooms. These plants love full sun and bloom for 2 to 4 weeks, so they provide a lot of beautiful color in an early spring garden.
When planted en masse these flowers make a real statement in the garden. And the best part? They are deer-resistant too! I am in love with globemaster allium and have it planted all over the gardens here. The look incredible when planted en masse and make a real statement in the spring garden.
- Hardiness Zone: Varies by species, generally 4-9
- Light: Full sun
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Height/Width: Varies greatly, 12-60 inches tall, 6-12 inches wide
Pansies
Pansies are cool season annuals that thrive in colder conditions. You will find them in garden nurseries in spring and fall. I lean towards planting them in the fall because they bounce back in spring in my zone 6b garden, so I get two seasons out of them instead of just one.
Suffice it to say, these flowers do not love summer temperatures. When planted in spring, they will not survive the summer. You can try to extend their bloom time in summer, but they won’t last long. I dig my pansies up and move them to a shadier spot so they don’t cook as quickly in the summer heat. If you want to learn more about growing and caring for pansies, check out this post.
- Hardiness Zone: (Treat as annuals, but can overwinter in mild climates)
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Plant Type: Cool-season annual
- Height/Width: 6-9 inches tall, 9-12 inches wide
Sweet Alyssum
Sweet alyssum is a charming little flower that’s perfect for adding a touch of sweetness (literally!) to your early spring garden. These delicate blooms form a carpet of color, and their honey-like fragrance is simply irresistible.
Sweet alyssum thrives in cool weather, making it a fantastic choice for early spring. It produces masses of tiny flowers in shades of white, pink, purple, and even apricot. Not only is it a visual treat, but its honey-like scent will fill your garden with a delightful aroma. Sweet alyssum is also a great choice for containers, hanging baskets, and edging along pathways
- Hardiness Zone: (Usually grown as an annual, but can overwinter in mild climates)
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Plant Type: Cool-season annual
- Height/Width: 4-10 inches tall, 6-12 inches wide
Forget-Me-Nots (Myosotis)
Forget-me-nots are one of my favorite easy-care spring flowers. They produce small purple flowers or sometimes blue flowers. And I love their compact and billowy effect in the garden.
If you’re planting forget-me-nots for the first time, there are a couple of approaches you can take. You can sow your seeds directly in the garden in spring or summer for blooms the following year. Or, you can start seeds indoors about 8-10 weeks before the last frost for same-year blooms in the spring. Once they are established in your garden, they are a very reliable perennial and they spread with ease.
Some gardeners think they spread with a little too much ease but they are easy to dig up and move around so I don’t mind their naturalization habit.
- Hardiness Zone: 3-8
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Plant Type: Perennial
- Height/Width: 6-12 inches tall, 12-18 inches wide
- Description: (Mention their self-seeding tendency)
Hellebores (Lenten Rose)
Hellebores are easy flowers to grow that are must-haves for early spring color. While the blooms are rose-like, but hellebores get their name from when they bloom, which is during the season of Lent. Lenten roses flower in late winter with an extended bloom time, and are a welcome sign of the gardening season to come.
Hardy to zones 4-9, the lenten rose flower colors range from whites, to pinks and purples. These low-maintenance perennials grow gorgeous leather-like evergreen leaves. The height of maturity is roughly 12-18″. It prefers partial shade to shadier locations with moist, well-drained loamy soil that is neutral to alkaline.
Creeping Phlox
Have you ever grown creeping phlox before? It’s a great perennial that stays green year-round and flowers in early spring. Deer seem to leave it alone but I’ve seen rabbits nibble on mine.
What I love most about creeping phlox is they look great trailing down a stone wall or along the front of the border. And look, one of my creeping phlox perennials took on the shape of a heart one year.
They come in a variety of colors such as blue, pink, and white. Plant this easy-care perennial in spring or fall to get early spring color in the garden.
Creeping phlox is also easy to propagate through division. I do divide mine in early spring or late fall. If you want to learn more about how to dig and divide perennials, read this post.
- Hardiness Zone: 3-9
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Plant Type: Perennial
- Height/Width: 4-6 inches tall, 12-24 inches wide
Iris
Whether you grow bearded iris or Siberian iris, they are a must-have in the spring garden. They are tall, beautiful, and deer resistant. I’ve been growing them for the longest time and I’ve never seen even a nibble on them.
Each flower has these gorgeous lines and incredible details. And they last forever as an early spring perennial! I am growing several varieties here and let me tell you, they are plants for the long haul.
My mother-in-law gifted me some well over 25 years ago and they continue to do well today! I dug a few of them up before moving here so I could take them with me.
- Hardiness Zone: Varies by species, generally 3-9
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Plant Type: Perennial (Rhizomatous)
- Height/Width: Varies greatly, 6-48 inches tall, 12-24 inches wide
BONUS: Flowering Crabapple
And some of my favorite trees and shrubs bloom in early spring too! One of which is this GORGEOUS flowering crabapple tree.
This was the tree that sold us on purchasing our first home several years ago. They don’t last long but they are stunning while they flower. I wish you could smell them through the screen because the scent is incredible here!
We’ve got several others here at the new house too. If you’ve got space to grow them, I highly recommend it.
Companion Planting Spring Bulbs and Spring Perennials
If you want a beautiful spring garden that is always in bloom, one of the best techniques is to plant a combination of early spring bulbs and spring perennials together. By partnering bulbs with perennials that bloom in late spring, you can brighten up your garden after your bulbs have finished blooming and hide some of the dieback foliage.
According to a guide from the University of California Cooperative Extension, when the bulb is blooming, the perennial should be in its dormant stage. When the bulb is nearing the end of its bloom time, the perennial should start to grow and should grow large enough to cover or help disguise the dying foliage of the bulb flower.
Another perk of planting perennials just in front of bulbs is that it can help you remember where the bulbs are planted, ensuring you don’t accidentally damage them while working in the garden.
If you do decide to companion plant early spring bulbs and spring perennials, make sure to consider when each plant will bloom so that your perennial will start to bloom as the bulb’s foliage is browning. You’ll also want to consider the size of the plants. A taller perennial would be needed to cover the foliage of taller bulbs, such as daffodils, for example.
Here are some perennials that look amazing when planted with early spring flower bulbs and perennials:
Troubleshooting Early Spring Flowers: Why Aren’t My Spring Bulbs Blooming?
What if you planted spring bulbs like daffodils in fall and they fail to bloom? There are several reasons why this may happen, including improper planting, insufficient sunlight or water, disease, or pest damage. The key to getting bulbs to flower in the future is to first identify why they didn’t bloom. Read my full guide to what to do when daffodils and other spring bulbs won’t bloom.
Final Thoughts About Early Spring Flowers That Will Brighten Your Garden
So there you have it! These are some of my absolute favorite early spring flowers, and trust me, they’re crazy easy to grow. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, these blooms will bring a burst of color and joy to your garden after a long winter.
I encourage you to give some of these a try in your own garden this spring. And remember, the best part about gardening is experimenting and discovering what brings you joy. So have fun with it, and don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty!
Happy gardening!
What early spring flowers are on your list? Did I miss any? Let’s chat about it more in the comments below!
Thank you so much for following along.
Enjoy a beautiful day! xo
