March Flower Favorites
Discover the top 5 flowers perfect for planting in March, set to add color, fragrance, and beauty to your early spring garden.
As March ushers in the milder days of early spring, it presents a prime opportunity for garden enthusiasts to start sowing the seeds of the season’s beauty. This is the time to select flowers that not only thrive in the transitioning weather but also bring life and color to awakening gardens.
Planting flowers in March sets the stage for a vibrant display of blooms, offering an early reward for the gardener’s foresight and effort. Among the myriad of choices, certain flowers stand out for their resilience to the cool nights and their eagerness to bloom.
Pansies (Viola x wittrockiana)
Pansies stand out as early spring’s colorful ambassadors, resilient against the last of winter’s chill and eager to brighten gardens with their cheerful faces. These versatile flowers offer a spectrum of hues, from deep velvety purples to sunny yellows, making them a captivating choice for an early start in March. Not only do they enhance the garden’s aesthetic with their vivid colors, but pansies are also edible, adding a splash of color and a mild, sweet flavor to salads, desserts, and garnishes.
For planting, pansies thrive in well-drained soil and enjoy a mix of sun and shade. Adding compost at planting time enriches the soil, promoting vibrant blooms. They require regular watering, yet it’s important to avoid waterlogged conditions to prevent root issues. Pansies’ durability through cooler temperatures and their delightful blooms make them an essential selection for March planting. Beyond their ornamental value, their culinary versatility introduces an element of creativity to springtime dishes, blending the beauty of gardening with the joy of cooking.
Primroses (Primula)
Primroses are a beacon of spring, lighting up gardens with their vivid, often jewel-toned blossoms as early as March. These hardy perennials are among the first to bloom, offering a diverse palette of colors that can invigorate any garden space after the long winter months. Beyond their visual appeal, primroses are known for their adaptability to a range of climates and their ability to flourish in partial shade, making them an ideal choice for those shaded garden spots that long for a touch of color.
When planting primroses, it’s important to choose a location that has well-drained soil but remains consistently moist. They thrive under the dappled light of trees or on the north side of buildings where the fierce midday sun won’t scorch their delicate petals. Incorporating organic matter into the planting hole will help nourish the plants and improve soil structure, ensuring a robust start.
Primroses not only brighten the garden with their cheerful blooms but also attract pollinators, adding life and activity to your early spring garden. With minimal care, these charming flowers can return year after year, expanding their clusters and reminding us of the renewal that each spring brings.
Daffodils (Narcissus)
Daffodils, with their iconic trumpet-shaped blooms, are a symbol of spring’s arrival, casting a warm glow across gardens with their bright yellow, white, and orange flowers. As one of the earliest blooming perennials, planting daffodils in March can transform your garden into a lively display of springtime joy. These resilient flowers are incredibly easy to grow and maintain, thriving in a variety of soil types and conditions, although they favor well-drained soil and full to partial sunlight.
To plant daffodils, select a sunny spot and plant the bulbs at a depth three times the height of the bulb, usually about 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) deep, with the pointed end facing upwards. Space them a few inches apart to allow room for growth. Daffodils are perfect for naturalizing, meaning they’ll return year after year in greater numbers, with little need for maintenance. Additionally, they are deer-resistant and can deter rodents, making them a practical and beautiful choice for many gardens.
Their early bloom time not only provides a much-needed splash of color after the winter months but also offers an early source of nectar for pollinators. Whether planted in drifts under trees, in borders, or containers, daffodils promise a delightful heralding of spring.
Tulips (Tulipa)
Tulips bring a symphony of color to the spring garden, and by choosing varieties from early, mid-season, and late bloomers, you can enjoy their beauty from the first thaw to the brink of summer. Here are specific varieties to help you plan a continuous bloom:

Early-Blooming Varieties

  • ‘Kaufmanniana’: Also known as waterlily tulips, these open flat in sunlight to resemble waterlilies, showcasing vibrant colors early in the season.
  • ‘Fosteriana’: Known for their large flowers and strong, vibrant colors, including the famous red ‘Emperor’ tulips, they’re perfect for an early spring show.

Mid-Season Varieties

  • ‘Darwin Hybrid’: These tulips feature large, traditional tulip shapes and a wide range of colors. They’re known for their sturdy stems and large blooms.
  • ‘Triumph’: Triumph tulips are the result of crossing early and late single tulips, offering a vast array of colors and strong stems that withstand April’s unpredictable weather.

Late-Blooming Varieties

  • ‘Single Late’: Often referred to as Mayflowering tulips, these include the classic ‘Queen of Night’ with its deep purple, almost black flowers.
  • ‘Parrot’: Named for their fringed and feathered edges that resemble a parrot’s plumage, these tulips bloom late and come in exotic colors and shapes.
By incorporating these specific tulip varieties into your garden, you can ensure a long-lasting display of color and form. Early bloomers start the season with a burst, mid-season keeps the momentum, and late bloomers provide a dramatic finale. Planting a mix of these varieties will not only extend the blooming period but also add depth and interest to your spring garden.
Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus)
Snapdragons bring a burst of color and elegance to the spring garden, making them an excellent choice for March planting. Thriving in the cooler temperatures of early spring, they prefer full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. These flowers are not only a feast for the eyes but also attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, enhancing your garden’s biodiversity.
For gardeners looking to introduce variety in height and color, snapdragons are available in both dwarf and taller varieties:

Dwarf Varieties

  • ‘Montego’: These compact snapdragons, perfect for edges or container gardening, reach heights of 6-10 inches (15-25 cm) and bloom in a vibrant array of colors including orange, yellow, and pink.
  • ‘Luminaire’: With their bright, glowing colors, Luminaire varieties stand up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall, ideal for adding splashes of color to small garden spaces or pots.

Taller Types

  • ‘Rocket’: For a dramatic vertical accent, Rocket snapdragons tower at 30-36 inches (76-91 cm), featuring large, lush flower spikes that are perfect for the back of a flower bed or as statement pieces.
  • ‘Madame Butterfly’: These snapdragons boast double, azalea-like blooms on stems that reach 24-30 inches (61-76 cm) tall. Madame Butterfly is favored for cutting gardens and creating eye-catching bouquets.
Incorporating both dwarf and taller varieties of snapdragons into your garden allows for a dynamic, multi-layered display.
Planting these in March transforms your garden into a vibrant canvas of colors and fragrances, setting a lively scene for the coming months. These flowers not only beautify your outdoor space but also invite a buzz of activity from essential pollinators such as bees and butterflies, vital for a thriving garden ecosystem.
To ensure your garden reaches its full potential, consider using the PictureThis app. It can help you identify the best spots for planting, provide care tips, and even assist in monitoring the health of your blooms. Embrace these top flower choices with the support of Picture This, and watch as your garden becomes a flourishing sanctuary of life and beauty, welcoming the joys of spring with open arms.