15 Perennial Plants That Bloom in Early Springtime
After the long winter months, we all want a pop of color to liven up our outdoor spaces! As soon as spring shows its face, you can count on these spectacular and rather hardy plants to bloom and brighten up your garden.
Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) is native to eastern North America. However, it’s being increasingly threatened in its original environment by both destruction of habitat and the obstruction of natural river flooding. It has nearly hollow stems, so they’re fragile and break easily. Flowers start off pink, and then gradually turn light blue.
Smooth solomons-seal (Polygonatum biflorum) has scars on its rhizome (an underground stem) that look like ancient Hebrew writing – thus the name that references the Hebrew King Solomon. It produces small white bell-shaped flowers in spring and blue-purple berries afterwards. Care must be taken since the berries are poisonous to human.
Common lungwort is an evergreen perennial, and “Pulmoa” from its genus name means “lung” in Latin. If you look closely, you’ll see that the Common lungwort’s leaves have the appearance of a somewhat unhealthy lung. The unique flowers of Common lungwort are red at first and change to blue as the pH of the plant changes.
Moss phlox (Phlox subulata) is a flowering plant native to the United States. The Latin name Phlox subulata means needle-shaped, which describes its leaves. Moss phlox is sometimes confused with marijuana due to its similar smell.
The Lenten rose has been cultivated since the Germans began to do so in the mid-1800s, with varieties being created in the United Kingdom shortly after. Between the 1920s and 1960s, there was little interest in its cultivation until Helen Ballard bred new varieties. They blooming early in the year hence they get their name of Lenten rose.
Primrose is a welcome sight in an early spring landscape. The vibrant colors of the flowers and a light, delicate scent make the Primrose a favorite. This plant provides vibrant color to any container or flowerbed, with hues available in yellow, pink, purple, blue, orange, red, white and bi-color.
Bleeding heart is a highly valued flowering plant belonging to the poppy family. The flowers are a conventional heart shape, which explains its name, with a small droplet that falls just beneath the flower. The seeds contain elaiosome, a popular food source for ants. They take the seeds to their anthills, aiding in seed dispersal.
Heartleaf bergenia (Bergenia crassifolia) is a plant species that is tolerant to cold and warm climates. This species has leaves that change color and range from rust brown to brown-red. Heartleaf bergenia leaves are used to make tea in Siberia. Its latin name Bergenia crassifolia means thick-leaved.
Siberian bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla) is a flowering plant native to the Caucasus. Siberian bugloss is also known as the forget-me-not. The latin name Brunnera macrophylla means large leaves.
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is a plant species native to eastern North America. In the wild its early spring blooms can be seen spreading across the forest floor or along riverbanks. Its common name comes from its reddish orange-sap, which can be made into a dye. Bloodroot seeds are often spread by ants who take them back to their nests.
Common periwinkle (Vinca minor) is a trailing evergreen subshrub that forms large, dense colonies. Because of this quality, Common periwinkle is commonly used in landscaping as a groundcover. It is a mildly toxic plant, but due to its pungent taste, it rarely gets ingested in amounts significant enough to cause toxic effects.
A herald of spring, the Snowdrop grows up to around 7-15 cm tall. Sprouting from bulbs, the drooping bell-shaped white flowers are accompanied by two slender, erect leaves. These flowers have been noted throughout history, with references going as far back as the fourth century.
Wild daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) is a perennial flower that grows from bulbs. It is a common ornamental plant, famous for its pale-yellow flowers with a bright-yellow central trumpet. In the wild, Narcissus pseudonarcissus can be found in forests, grasslands, and rocky terrains. Its bulbs and leaves are poisonous when ingested.
Siberian squill (Scilla siberica) belongs to the lily family. Its common name is a misnomer, since it’s not native to Siberia. Siberian squill originated in other parts of Russia. It’s a plant that’s been cultivated since 1796 and grows best in partial sunlight.
Dutch crocus (Crocus vernus) is an early spring blooming bulb with large flowers that range in color from yellow, white, and purple to striped or bronze. The plant grows 4 to 6 inches tall in full sun or partial shade. Makes a colorful display when planted under trees, in rock gardens, or in flower beds.