26 Popular Spring Flowers for Your Garden

HELLEBORE

Helleborus x hybridus

Zones: 4-9
Exposure: Partial shade

Also known as Lenten rose, this spring flower comes in many colors and can really brighten up shady locations. Hellebores bloom early in the season with flowers lasting two months or longer. Hellebores grow best in an area protected from extreme conditions, such as extreme cold or full sunlight.

Learn more about growing hellebores.

SNOWDROP

Galanthus

Zones: 3-9, depending on the variety
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Snowdrops prefer cooler climates and light shade and defy the cold by pushing their white flowers up through a blanket of snow. Their short stature makes them the perfect choice for woodland or rock gardens and borders. For the best massing effect, plant snowdrops in clusters of at least 25 bulbs, spacing them about 3 inches apart.

Read more about growing and caring for snowdrops.

DAFFODIL

Narcissus

Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

A dependable and easy flower to grow, daffodils require very little care and are a great choice for beginning gardeners. Their trumpet-shaped flowers are typically yellow or white and they grow best in full sun or light shade. For best results, plant in masses in a perennial garden, or let them naturalize in a woodland garden.

Learn more about growing daffodils.

GRAPE HYACINTH

Muscari

Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

The deep violet flowers of grape hyacinth bloom in early spring and last as long as three weeks. Their bell-shaped flowers resemble upright clusters of miniature grapes. They grow best in full sun or partial shade and are easy to care for. They will naturalize and spread through an area, though not aggressively.

Read more about how to grow grape hyacinth.

BEARDED IRIS

Iris germanica

Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Full sun

Bearded iris come in a range colors, heights, and bloom times. The shortest varieties bloom as early as mid-March, with taller irises blooming from mid-May to June; some even re-bloom in summer or fall. For best results, plant bearded iris between July and September, while they are dormant.

Learn more about growing iris.

DUTCH CROCUS

Crocus vernus

Zones: 3-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Dutch crocus flowers bloom in early spring and flowers last for about three weeks. Flowers close at night and open up in the morning. Plants perform best in gritty, well-drained soils. Mass in lawns, under trees or in sunny woodland areas.

Learn more about growing crocus flowers.

PRIMROSE

Primula

Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Partial shade

Blooming in early spring, primrose comes in many vibrant colors. They prefer rich, well-drained soil, regular water, partial sun to deep shade, and perform best in cooler climates. Primrose combine well and can be naturalized in a woodland setting or use as an accent in a mixed border or container.

Learn more about growing primrose flowers.

WINTER ACONITE

Eranthis hyemalis

Zones: 3-7
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Winter aconite is a late winter to early spring bloomer with cup-shaped, upward facing, bright yellow, flowers. These plants will often push their flowers up through the snow. They enjoy full sun at the time of blooming and then the increasing shade as trees leaf out overhead.

BLOODROOT

Sanguinaria canadensis

Zones: 3-8
Exposure: Partial to full shade

Bloodroot is a stemless wildflower that blooms in early spring. The flowers are short lived (1-2 days), and open in the sun and close at night. Bloodroot is best when planted in mass in shaded areas of woodland, wildflower, native plant or rock gardens where plants can be allowed to naturalize.

BLEEDING HEART

Dicentra

Zones: 3-9
Exposure: Partial sun

Bleeding heart bears white, pink, or red heart-shaped flowers on arching stems above fern-like leaves. Plant these alongside bold-leafed plants that will grow up and cover the dying foliage. They grow best in rich, well-draining soil with regular moisture.

Learn more about how to grow bleeding heart plants.

FORGET-ME-NOT

Myosotis sylvatica

Zones: 3-9, depending on the species
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Forget-me-not, is a hairy, tufted, spring-flowering plant. They are easily grown in organically rich, consistently moist, well-drained soils. Plant where they can naturalize, as they spread aggressively.

TRILLIUM

Trillium

Zones: 3-9, depending on the species
Exposure: Partial sun

Trilliums feature three leaves in a spiral pattern with a single flower. Blossom colors sometimes appear yellowish bronze or reddish-green. Flowers often have a sweet but faint fragrance. The blooms give way to berry-like capsules and seeds are disbursed by ants.

Read more about growing trillium flowers.

LILY-OF-THE-VALLEY

Convallaria majalis

Zones: 2-7
Exposure: Partial sun to shade

Lily-of-the-valley blooms dainty bell-shaped flowers in the spring and have a heavenly fragrance. The lance-shaped leaves last all summer, serving as an attractive groundcover. This shade-loving plant isn’t fussy about soil, but will spread aggressively, so avoid placing it near perennial gardens or borders.

See more about growing lily-of-the-valley plants.

PANSY

Viola x wittrockiana

Zones: 6-10
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Popular bedding plants for cool weather, pansies come in a wide variety of colors often with contrasting markings in the center. Pansies are usually grown as annuals or biennials. The plants will inevitably succumb to the summer heat, at which point they should be removed from the garden.

Learn more about growing pansies.

FLOWERING ONION

Allium

Zones: 3-8, depending on variety
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Blooming in late spring, the spherical blooms of alliums are striking in any garden, and their scent helps keep unwanted pests away. They don’t need much space to grow and are great among any annual or perennial garden. Alliums grow best in full sun and well-drained soil. Allow the foliage to die back naturally before removing it. Divide them if they become overcrowded, and replant the bulbs in the fall.

Learn more about growing flowering onion plants.

PEONY

Paeonia

Zones: 2-8, depending on species
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

This classic spring favorite is grown for its large showy blooms that come in a range of colors. Plants come in bush or tree form, with single or double fragrant flowers that are good for fresh bouquets.

Learn more about how to grow peonies.

LILAC

Syringa

Zones: Most are hardy in Zones 3-8, with a few hardy to Zone 2 or Zone 9.
Exposure: Full sun

An old-time standard of homesteads and cottage-style gardens, the small fragrant flower panicles of lilac occur in clusters, with shades of white, purple, pink, blue, or yellow. This reliable shrub is exceptionally hardy, low maintenance, and long-lived.

Learn more about how to grow lilacs.

SALVIA

Salvia

Zones: 4-9, depending on the species
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Salvia is a large genus of annuals and perennials that includes varieties that bloom in mid to late spring. This mint relative produces aromatic foliage and long-lasting flowers that come in a range of colors and shapes. Plants are easy-care, drought tolerant, and low maintenance.

Learn more about how to grow salvia plants.

PIN CUSHION FLOWER

Scabiosa

Zones: 3-11, depending on the species
Exposure: Full sun

Frilly pincushion-like flowers bloom on compact plants from late spring through summer in shades of pink, white, blue, lavender or chocolate. Grow this reliable perennial in borders, rock gardens or massed in the landscape.

Learn more about how to grow pin cushion flowers.

ASTILBE

Astilbe

Zones: 3-9, depending on the species
Exposure: Partial to full shade

Stately flower plumes add elegance to woodland borders and shade gardens. This water lover thrives along streams or ponds. Combine with ferns, bleeding heart, and columbine for elegant springtime color.

Learn more about how to grow astilbe.

AZALEA

Rhododendron

Zones: 3-9, depending on the species
Exposure: Partial to full shade

Closely related to rhododendrons, these versatile deciduous or evergreen shrubs are useful in foundation plantings, as hedging, in mixed borders, or massed in the landscape. Trumpet-shaped flowers come in a wide range of colors.

Learn more about how to grow azaleas.

CLEMATIS

Rhododendron

Zones: 4-9, depending on the species, with a few suitable for Zone 3 or 10
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

One of the most popular flowering vines, clematis produces flowers in a wide range of colors, shapes and sizes. Use these vigorous deciduous or evergreen climbers to cover arbors, trellises, fences, or walls.

Learn more about how to grow clematis vines.

CRANESBILL

Geranium

Zones: 3-9, depending on the species
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Not to be confused with annual geranium (Pelargonium spp.), this tough long-blooming perennial is a favorite companion for rose bushes. Use in mixed borders, as a groundcover, or massed in the landscape. Open flowers occur in shades of pink, purple, white, or blue.

TULIP

Tulipa

Zones: 3-8, depending on the species
Exposure: Full sun

One of the most beloved spring flowering bulbs, tulips occur in nearly every color except blue. Plant this versatile spring bloomer in beds, borders, containers, rock gardens, or massed in the landscape.

Learn more about how to grow tulips.

COLUMBINE

Aquilegea

Zones: 3-9, depending on the species
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Native to mountainous regions throughout the Northern Hemisphere, this charming perennial produces bonnet-shaped nodding flowers in colors of pink, blue, purple, white, yellow, chocolate, red, or peach. Add color to woodland gardens, mixed borders, or rock gardens.

ANEMONE

Anemone

Zones: 3-9, depending on the species
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Charming daisy or poppy-like flowers occur in colors of pink, white, blue, red, pink, or purple. Use these groundcover or upright plants in woodland borders, mixed plantings, containers, rockeries, or massed as an underplanting.

Learn more about how to grow tulips.