Spring is *technically* here, even though it doesn’t feel like it yet!
Though there are countless beautiful flowers to choose from, we have narrowed down our six favorite flowers to plant in spring. These gorgeous flowers are certain to add beauty to your garden and range in amount of required maintenance to thrive:
Pansy
Though perfect to grow in most USDA Hardiness Zones, pansies prefer cool weather so beware those super hot summer days as they will be unkind to these gorgeous flowers. Pansies are often the earliest to bloom and are therefore one of the best flower selections for window boxes and early-season containers. They come in a wide variety of colors, making pansies an excellent option to bring lots of colors into your garden! One major concern with pansies is their potential susceptibility to leaf disease. To combat this, choose disease-resistant strains and rotate plantings if you begin to notice repeat damage.
Best Growing Conditions: Sun or partial shade (partial shade is best) with moist, well-drained soil
Size: Most varieties grow to 4-8 inches tall and 8-12 inches wide.
Bloodroot
Photo Credit: emily/flickr
Bloodroot plants are early spring perennials that shoot up white flowers until late spring. It is often found in shaded or woodland gardens and is one of the best flowers to be planted in spring. The bloodroot flower gets its name from the dark red sap found in the stems and roots (hence “blood”). Bloodroot flowers have 8-10 petals and grow on leafless stems higher above the plants foliage. The colored juice from the stems can be used to make orange, red, and pink dyes. These beautiful woodland flowers do best in moist soil so a consistent watering schedule is necessary to keep the leaves throughout most of the summer.
Best Growing Conditions: Shaded, often wooded, areas with moist, well-drained soil
Size: Around 6 inches tall and 12 inches wide
Snowdrop Anemone
Photo Credit: diggingdog.com
These fragrant and gorgeous flowers bloom in late spring and early summer. The flowers bloom in bright clusters and snowdrop anemones are perfect overplanting for tulips. The foliage of the snowdrop anemone helps hide the bulb foliage in summer. Planted together, this makes a well-planned, enviable combination! The snowdrop anemone can grow in full sun or partial shade. Be aware that this is a spreader and so plan to divide the plant or cut it back to a reasonable size. They can be easily divided in spring or fall. A bonus to the snowdrop anemone is that once cooler temperatures arrive in fall, the plant may bloom a second time!
Best Growing Conditions: Full sun or part shade and average-to-moist soil
Size: 12-18 inches tall and 18-23 inches wide
Tulip
Speaking of tulips, next on the list of spring flowers is the gorgeous, delicate tulip. Tulips can bring about natural-looking gardens or dress your garden up to be more formal. As previously, mentioned, these are excellently paired with the snowdrop anemone. They are bright and come in a variety of colors. Some tulips are smaller but you can choose strains that grow into tall blooms, too! When planting tulips, direct planting can be done in spring, but to plant from a bulb, the bulb needs to be planted in the fall as most require 12-14 weeks of cool weather to produce spring blooms.
Best Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil
Size: Varies per type of tulip
‘Acoma’ Iris
Photo Credit: dlpruk/flickr
Love irises? These perennials come in a large variety of colors and can provide your spring garden with lots of variation! Bi-colored blooms are also common. Most iris varieties bloom at the end of spring and need full sunlight and well-drained soil to thrive. Iris species are very fragrant, large, and have a tendency to attract bees. The good news is, irises are not difficult to grow so they can be a perfect choice for a gardner of any skill level!
Best Growing conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil
Size: Can be tall (up to 34 inches!) and 12 inches wide
Impatiens
Photo Credit: uconnladybug.wordpress.com
Impatiens are excellent for gardeners who want lots of color and little effort. Most commonly, these flowers come in a variety of pastels. Impatiens have generally quick growth and are perfect fillers for gardens. They are, however, a tropical plant, meaning that they will turn to mush the moment a frost arrives. Be that as it may be, impatiens can grow anywhere as an annual! Try to avoid watering these too late in the day. A morning watering to moisten the soil is perfect for them. If their leaves are too wet overnight, they are susceptible to bacterial and fungal diseases.
Best Growing Conditions: Partial sun or shade and with moist, well-drained soil
Size: 8-24 inches, depending on the cultivar
As you can see, there are a variety of gorgeous spring flowers to plant in the spring! When choosing, consider your available space, the amount of sun or shade you can provide, and the amount of maintenance you want to give to your flowers. Pick your favorite and create a beautiful garden! Are any of these flowers your favorite?
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