Nothing beats that first burst of color in the garden to let you know winter is finally packing its bags! To help you get your yard ready for the new season, I’ve rounded up seven of the most popular spring bloomers, plus a little “insider tip” plant that I absolutely love.
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++Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris)
This charming little perennial grows from a compact rhizome and is one of the first to wake up. Depending on your local weather, the flowers and fuzzy, fern-like leaves usually pop up together starting in late March. The bell-shaped blooms sit on long stems and come in shades of violet, soft pink, or white, reaching up to three inches across. But don’t cut them back once the petals fall! The stems keep growing, topped with silky, feathery seed heads that look like something out of a fairy tale.
++English Bluebells (Hyacinthoides)
If you want a sea of flowers from April through June, bluebells are your best friend. These hardy bulbs send up bright green, lance-shaped leaves followed by tall stems dripping with nodding, fragrant bells. While they’re famous for that deep “bluebell” violet, you can also find them in white and pink. Pro tip: Plant them under trees or shrubs. They love to naturalize, meaning they’ll spread on their own and create a gorgeous woodland carpet over time.
++Ranunculus, Persian Buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus)
Whether you prefer single or double blooms, ranunculus are absolute showstoppers. Starting in April, these lush, rose-like orbs open up on 12-inch stems in every color of the rainbow—white, yellow, orange, pink, and red. Some newer varieties even feature stunning bicolor petals. Their deeply lobed foliage is where they get their common name “buttercup,” though I think the flowers are the real stars here!
++Dwarf Bearded Iris (Iris barbata-nana)
These little beauties start showing off as early as April. They have sturdy, sword-shaped green leaves and short stems that usually hold one perfect bloom. You can find them in white, yellow, orange, blue, or deep royal purple. The “beard” (the fuzzy part on the lower petals) is often a contrasting color, which gives the Iris its unique, sophisticated look. They’re perfect for the front of a flower bed or even in patio containers.
++Tulips (Tulipa)
Tulips are the undisputed kings of the spring garden. With over 4,200 varieties out there, there is truly a tulip for everyone. From classic egg shapes to fringed “parrot” petals, and colors ranging from snowy white to nearly black (and even green!), the options are endless. Miniature varieties stay around 6 inches tall—perfect for window boxes—while the giants can tower over 20 inches high.
++Daffodils (Narcissus)
Daffodils are the ultimate symbol of spring. While the classic bright yellow trumpet variety is a neighborhood favorite, daffodils actually come in a huge range of styles. You can find them with white petals, pink cups, or even orange and red centers. The best part? If you leave the bulbs in the ground, they’ll multiply year after year, giving you a bigger and better flower show every spring.
++Hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis)
If you garden for fragrance, you need hyacinths. These colorful bloomers produce dense spikes of bell-shaped flowers that smell absolutely heavenly—sweet and powerful. They come in a stunning palette of white, yellow, pink, apricot, red, blue, and purple. Reaching about 12 inches tall, hyacinths are great for borders or for forcing indoors to brighten up a room.
%%Checkered Lily, Guinea Hen Flower (Fritillaria meleagris)
Here is my secret tip: the delicate Checkered Lily. These nodding bells come in shades of purple, pink, or white, and they feature a perfect, natural checkerboard pattern on the petals—it’s honestly mind-blowing to see in person. Each bulb sends up a single, slender stem about a foot high. Since these are becoming rare in the wild, growing this delicate beauty in your own garden is a wonderful way to help preserve the species while adding a real conversation piece to your yard.