Spring flowering plants
Each year we look forward to Spring to see the end to the dark gloomy days of winter. Spring is when the garden starts to wake up and the first signs of the colour come into the garden. Many of the spring flowering plants are long flowering, such as Primulas and Alliums, and it's a time when spring bulbs make a great show.
If you are thinking of planting flowers for spring colour whether shrubs or plants, or a mixture, it's helpful to know what conditions the plants needs to thrive, its colour range and when in spring (which can be anytime from March until the end of May) it will flower.
Illustrated below are some of the best spring flowering plants with links to growing information. These plants will be at their best from late February through to May. Plenty of colour can be added to the garden with spring flowering bulbs and from spring flowering shrubs. Some of the easiest plants to grow are shrubs and there are some very showy spring flowering shrubs such as Forsythia, Rhododendrons and the sweetly scented Viburnums
There are also many climbing plants which are spring flowering and add height and colour to a garden border.
Ideas for spring flowering plants
Allium are a great, showy late spring flowering bulb coming in all sizes from modest to very tall A.'Globemaster' illustrated. Easy to grow and perennial Allium combine well with many plants.
Pulmonaria is a very early (February onward) spring flower which provides much needed nectar for the emerging bees. Pulmonaria is a shade and damp tolerant, low growing plant, ideal in woodland planting scheme.
Hellebore flower from late winter into spring. Hellebore form large clumps as the plants mature and there are some fabulous colours and double flowered varieties. A reliable perennial tolerant of a wide range of conditions.
There are some lovely early flowering Clematis, such as illustrated C. alpina and the slightly tender but scented C. armandii which is often semi evergreen. There is a clematis for every season.
Another friend of the bees, flowering later in April and May is the humble Aubretia. Popular and often planted so it can trail over walls, it is easy to grow and comes in lovely shades of mauve, pink and blue.
Aquilegia common name Columbine, are delicate spring flowers in all colours. Illustrated is a spring combination, Aquilegia 'Swan-Lavender' with Euonymus fortunei ' Emerald Gold' and Rhododendron luteum.
Crocus brings early cheer and colour to the garden. Spring bulbs add lots of colour, are easy to grow and with the exception of Tulips come back reliably each year.
Forsythia just one of the many lovely spring flowering shrubs which are easy to grow and provide so much colour. Check out also, Rhododendron, Viburnum, and Ceanothus.
Wisteria a beautiful spring flowering climbing plant which is very vigorous. It has highly scented blooms and is high maintenance; check out how to make my Wisteria flower information and video.
Many poppies will flower in spring including the icelandic poppy and the large and showy Papaver orientale group. Most poppies are easy to grow and many are self seeders.