Banish the winter blues and welcome spring with 10 vibrant garden flowers that will fill your yard with color and joy! Wait until you see the blooms that will brighten your day.
Tired of winter’s drab landscape? Spring’s vibrant blooms are ready to revitalize your yard and lift your spirits.
This guide showcases 10 easy-to-grow flowers that deliver on both beauty and cheer. From classic daffodils to lesser-known gems, discover the perfect additions to brighten your porch, enliven your patio, and create a welcoming outdoor space.
No matter your gardening experience, these diverse choices offer stunning color and hassle-free enjoyment, bringing the joy of spring right to your doorstep.
If you want to grow spring garden flowers that bring joy, I got you. Here’s what you need to know!
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My Favorite Flowers That Bloom in Spring
There are so many flowers that bloom in spring. From tulips to lavender, there is no shortage of spring garden flowers to choose from. So if you are not sure what to plant in your flower garden, here is a quick hit list of some of my all-time favorites:
- tulips
- daffodils
- hyacinth
- alliums
- hellebores
- crocus
- iris
- roses
- peonies
- nepeta
- salvia
- lavender
- pansies
What Flowers Grow Best in Early Spring
The flowers that grow best in spring will depend on where you live and what hardiness zone you are. For my New Jersey, Zone 6b Garden, there are many, many types of flowers that grow best in early spring.
Here is a list of spring flowers names that are high on my list of favorites that are easy to grow and provide early spring color.
- hellebores (lenten rose)
- tulips
- daffodils
- crocus
- alliums
- hyacinths
- pansies
- forget-me-nots
- creeping phlox
10 Early Spring Flowers That Bring Joy
After a long cold, dark winter, there is nothing quite like the emergence of spring blooming flowers. Spring arrives with an exuberant burst of color and fragrance, painting the world anew with its vibrant and beautiful blooms.
After being stuck indoors all winter long, seeing the blooms is like a breathe of fresh air.
As a gardener passionate about the wonders of nature and all things that bloom, there’s nothing quite like the joy that those first flowers of spring bring to a garden. They signal the end of a long dark winter and offer a visual symphony of hues that lift spirits and inspire.
Let’s stroll through some of these exquisite blossoms that add a touch of joy to our early spring gardens so you get ideas on what to plant in your flower gardens.
Tulips
There’s nothing quite as graceful and as statuesque in the garden as the tulip flower. Tulips, with their stunning array of colors and shapes, reign as a timeless symbol of spring. From bold reds to pastel pinks and sunny yellows, these graceful blooms epitomize elegance and diversity. It’s one of the most beautiful plants in spring and I highly recommend growing them.
Whether in beds or containers, their presence infuses any garden with an air of sophistication, making them a perennial favorite among gardeners seeking an effortlessly chic display.
While tulips should be planted in fall, you can also purchase them full-grown from local nurseries. There are several varieties to choose from and they are beyond gorgeous as the flowers fade and the petals drop.
The only real drawback of growing them is that tulips are not deer resistant flowers, so it is important to shelter them from the nibblers. If deer are a problem in your area, you’ll want to follow deer-proofing strategies to protect tulips from total decimation. Because trust me, deer will devour them overnight.
To protect tulip blooms, I spray the entire plant with deer repellent as they emerge from the ground, while they grow, and as soon as they start blooming. And the deer completely leave them alone.
I’ve been using this deer repellent for many many years now, and have found great success with it. But lately, I started using this deer repellent because it is systemic and it works great too!
Daffodils
Bright and cheery daffodils herald the arrival of spring like no other flower. Their sunny yellow trumpets and delicate white petals dance in the breeze, instantly lifting moods and signaling the promise of warmer days ahead.
Planted en masse or nestled among other spring companions, daffodils never fail to spread joy with their infectious charm.
Much like tulips, daffodils are typically planted in fall. However, they can also be purchased as full-grown plants in early spring.
Where daffodils are concerned, most of us think of them as yellow spring flowers. But there are several varieties to choose from as well. Lately, I’ve been into these double-flowering narcissus.
Aren’t they beautiful?
If you live in an area where deer are a problem, plant lots of daffodils because the deer won’t touch them.
Oh and if your daffodils struggle to bloom, you can totally fix them with them. I shared a post that covers how to fix daffodils and other spring flowering bulbs that fail to bloom here.
Hyacinths
The intoxicating fragrance of hyacinths is an irresistible invitation to stop and inhale the sweet scent of spring. These bell-shaped beautiful spring flowers come in a palette ranging from deep purples to soft blues, pinks, and whites.
Planted in clusters, hyacinth flowers create a sensory delight, infusing the air with their heady perfume and adding a touch of elegance to any garden.
If you live where deer are an issue, hyacinths are another great option. Hyacinths are deer resistant flowers too that they tend to leave alone as well.
I just planted a bunch by the pond garden this fall and cannot wait to see (and smell) all the pretty blooms in spring.
A word of caution though about planting hyacinths. The bulbs can cause an allergic reaction when it comes in contact with your skin. I learned this one the hard way recently as I was merely organizing and moving them around. I moved them in their packaging, then must’ve touched my neck because both my hands and neck were on fire.
Always wear garden gloves when working with hyacinth bulbs. The itch is fast and furious!
Crocus
The delicate beauty of crocuses signals the start of spring with their slender stems and vibrant blooms. You’ll know spring is on the way as crocus flowers are often one of the first to appear.
As they bloom, they arrive in shades of purple, white, and gold, dotting the garden landscape with their dainty presence. Their resilience and ability to thrive in the transition from winter to spring make them a cherished sight.
We don’t have as many planted here in our new home, but I had several crocuses planted in my former gardens. I need to plant more next fall to get those early spring garden flowers. You can’t beat those pretty bell-shaped flowers.
Alliums: Architectural Wonders
Towering globes of allium flowers, resembling tiny starbursts, add a touch of architectural elegance to spring gardens. With their distinctive shapes and hues of purple, blue, and white, these blooms create captivating focal points.
Planted in clusters or amidst other flowers, alliums elevate the garden with their unique, whimsical allure.
They are deer resistant flowers and look incredible when planted en masse. I am a huge fan of Globemaster alliums, but just planted several different varieties around the front yard pond. I can’t wait to see the blooms next year!
Spanish Bluebells
The graceful arching stems adorned with dangling, bell-shaped flowers make Spanish bluebells an enchanting addition to spring gardens. Available in hues of blue, pink, and white, their pendulous blooms sway gently in the breeze, adding an ethereal touch to any landscape.
You can’t beat those dainty blooms!
I had never grown Spanish Bluebells before but discovered them here after we moved to our new home. They were a lovely surprise in spring, super easy to grow, and look gorgeous in the beds.
Grape Hyacinths
Clusters of grape hyacinths resemble miniature grape clusters, offering a charming visual treat. These tiny, bell-shaped flowers in shades of blue and purple create carpets of color when planted en masse. Their compact size and ability to naturalize make them a delightful addition to rock gardens, borders, or along pathways.
We don’t have any growing here in my new gardens, but I intend to plant them next fall. They smell incredible, are deer-resistant flowers, and look so pretty when they bloom in spring.
Not to mention, I LOVE the color of them!
Pansies Flowers
Pansies, with their “faces” that seem to smile back at you, are the darlings of early spring. Their charming, velvety petals in a myriad of colors—purple, yellow, white, and everything in between—bring an endearing warmth to borders, containers, or even window boxes.
They bravely weather the lingering chill, becoming beacons of hope and joy in the garden. Pansies are an annual that can be planted in either spring or fall. They are cute flowers that make great garden companions with spring-flowering bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths.
Pansies are not fans of extreme heat, so when planted in spring, they will die back once the temperatures rise. Pansies flowers are not deer resistant either, so they will need protection if deer are a problem in your locality.
Click here to read my tip that will save you money at the garden nursery with pansies!
Forget-Me-Nots
The delicate blooms of forget-me-nots, with their petite sky-blue petals and golden centers, hold sentimental value in many gardens. These charming flowers evoke nostalgia and tenderness, creating a whimsical and romantic ambiance wherever they grow.
Forget-me-nots are biennials that will grow back year to year and reseed like crazy in the beds! I love them, but they can get a little out of control so you have to keep them in check.
Myosotis is a great deer-resistant spring garden flower that blooms for quite a while. There are a few varieties, but I’m in love with the color blue of the blooms.
Isn’t it so pretty?
Creeping Phlox
Another deer-resistant early spring garden flower is creeping phlox. These low-growing perennials are evergreen year-round and produce these tiny flowers that are welcome in early spring.
The cascading blankets of creeping phlox, adorned with star-shaped flowers in shades of pink, purple, and white, provide a breathtaking spectacle in spring. Their trailing growth habit makes them perfect for rock gardens, slopes, or ground cover, adding a splash of color and vitality.
They look amazing draping down a stone wall but also look gorgeous in any garden bed. Last year, one of my plants happened to shape itself into a heart.
Isn’t that so cool?
While creeping phlox is a deer resistant plant, I noticed rabbit damage last year on a few. The best solution to keep rabbits from nibbling is this repellent.
Garden Therapy is a Thing
Through the years, I’ve expressed the importance of gardening for mental health and how to get one started. There are lots of physical and mental health benefits that you’ll receive from growing and maintaining a garden.
So if you’ve been on the fence about whether to dabble in it and get started, I highly recommend you give it a whirl, no matter how small that garden is. Gardening is very therapeutic, boosts the mood, and will make you feel happier.
Now that the weather is warming up, I am spending much more time in my gardens. Digging, planting, and tending to the gardens have greatly lifted my spirits after the dark days of winter.
There is something about getting fresh air, hearing the birds sing, and soaking in nature’s beauty that is very calming.
It’s been a while since I spent time at a nursery, so I made my rounds this week to see what’s in stock. And I felt so much happier just being there smelling the dirt among all those pretty annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees.
Seeing the plants, the beauty, and the possibilities in my gardens always gives me hope and excitement for the new growing season. Playing around with different plant combinations, putting them on the garden cart, and bringing them home gives me great joy.
Don’t Have a Garden Yet? Start Small
You don’t have to dig a huge bed to have a garden. Change an existing bed or find a small patch where grass doesn’t grow well and start fresh. Rehab the foundation of your home.
Or better yet grab a few containers and start with that. Plant some flowers and tend your gardens. You will feel happier and much less stressed, I promise.
More About Growing Spring Garden Flowers That Bring Joy
Are you growing any spring garden flowers that you love? Do you have a favorite flower that blooms in spring? I would love to know more in the comments below.
More Easy-Care Flowering Plants You Might Enjoy
If you’re seeking flowers that offer beauty without the hassle, there are several easy-care options that can effortlessly brighten up your garden or living space.
Wait until you see how easy and fun these blooms are to grow!
- How to Grow Lavender
- Growing Sedum Autumn Joy
- Growing the Prettiest Heuchera Plants
- Hassle-Free Hosta Care
- How to Grow Zinnias and Enjoy the Flowers
- Growing Snapdragons
- How to Grow Bearded Iris
- 5 Reasons You Should Grow Lenten Rose
- How to Grow Peonies
- Purple Coneflower Care
- Black Eyed Susans and Their Care
Pin It To Remember It Later!
If you like this post, I would love for you to save it to your Pinterest boards. I’ve created the below-custom pin for this post. And thank you for sharing it!
Thank you so much for following along.
Enjoy a beautiful day! xo
Want to See My Spring Flower Garden? Come Take a Tour
Welcome to my spring flower garden tour! This garden is my happy place and is one of the first areas of my property to bloom.
Isn’t that flowering crabapple tree fantastic?
It may not bloom for long, but it puts on quite a show in my quiet suburban New Jersey neighborhood.
The front walkway garden changes daily and greets you with a smile.
This perennial garden blooms from spring through fall and has year-long interest with a backdrop of evergreens.
My walkway garden was the first bed planted on the property and was designed to attract pollinators and add year-round color.
Here is a closer look at what’s blooming right now along the walkway.
The daffodils are at the end of their journey for the season, as the tulips, forget-me-nots and creeping phlox take over.
I love spring bulbs!
They add early spring color and brighten the gardens before I’ve had a chance to pick up annuals at the nursery.
These bluish-purple forget-me-nots billow through the gardens and self sow like crazy through the beds!
I dig them up and transplant them early in the season so they get a front spot in the border.
In the back of the border, I planted some arbor vitaes as a focal point and tucked in some boxwoods for year round interest.
On the front porch, the urns are simple with dwarf Alberata spruces.
New to the front porch this year is a beautiful yellow floral wreath.
I love how it compliments the bright yellow daffodils! It was the perfect addition to my spring porch decor.
Thanks for following along with my spring garden flowers tour.
