Spring is an exciting time for gardeners. The weather warms, the rains come, and little green shoots appear, heralding the beginning of the gardening season. Most gardeners are anxious to see color again, so flowering plants are popular in spring gardens. Here are some of the most popular plants that flower in early spring:
Lilacs
The lilac shrub not only produces beautiful, abundant flowers, but also has a strong scent. This aromatic flower has become one of the most popular cut flowers for spring arrangements. Lilacs come in many varieties, from 3-foot dwarf shrubs to large varieties that grow to 20 feet. These larger varieties can be pruned to look like small trees; their lush greenery makes them a perfect candidate for hedges and privacy screens. The flowers come in colors such as lavender, white, pink, and purple. Lilacs love the cool weather of spring, but don't bloom for more than a couple of weeks. Planting varieties that bloom at different times during the spring season will ensure a longer flowering time.
Tulips
Tulips are practically icons of the spring garden and are another popular cut flower. Tulips are available in an enormous variety of bright colors and variants, making them ideal to mix in with other plants for a rainbow of blooms in spring. Tulips can be planted in flower beds, in borders, or in containers to brighten any area of the garden or landscape. As a bulb, it prefers to be planted in the fall and experience a winter cool-down, then bloom from early spring through early summer.
Daffodils
Daffodils or narcissus are among the earliest bloomers and provide lovely bursts of yellow, pink, peach, or white in the garden. Daffodils are hardy perennials, adapting to most areas easily, and often bloom from late winter through late spring. Their bright colors and delicate, ruffled petals are a welcome sight in the spring. They make the most dramatic visual impact when planted in clusters. The daffodil bulbs should be planted in the fall, and are ideal for borders, beds, woodland gardens, and even large groves. These colorful flowers make excellent cuttings for arrangements.
Primrose
The primrose flowers appear in early spring and can last through the summer in many areas. It's one of the most popular spring flower, not only for its early blooming, but also for its stunning color. The flowers always have a bright yellow center with petals in a variety of colors, such as yellow, pink, red, purple, blue, and white. The primrose is a hardy perennial adaptable to many areas. It prefers full sun in the cooler spring, but during summer it needs more shade to escape the heat. Suitable for most areas of the garden, primrose can also be grown indoors, though it needs cool conditions for best growth.
Clematis
Few flowering plants make as dramatic a statement as the clematis. Its enormous flowers, sometimes up to 6 inches across, come in a large variety of striking colors, patterns, and shapes. Often called the queen of the flowering vines, clematis enrich any garden and bloom from early spring to early summer, though some varieties bloom summer to fall. Clematis do best in temperate areas where their roots stay cool and their foliage receives lots of sun. In warmer regions, clematis needs partial shade to stay cool.
Lantana
Lantana is a wonderful flower choice for spring. It also thrives in places that get very hot and dry in the summer. 100-degree temperatures and drought are no enemy to this plant. Lantana does well with a mere 1 inch of water per week, but can survive with less. The blooms are very small flowers that generally come in multi-colored clusters. Common color combinations are pink and yellow, yellow and white, and orange and yellow. Lantana is deer resistant.
Lantana can be planted in the cooler months of late winter to early spring. Seeds germinate best if soaked in warm water for 24 hours and they may take up to 2 months to germinate. Plant the seeds approximately 1/8 of an inch deep in full sun. Lantana is a trailing plant with a typical spread of 4 feet, but it can be spaced at 2 feet to cause more upward growth and denser ground cover.
Fan Flower
As an Australia native, fan flowers are uniquely equipped to survive the heat. Fan flowers are also naturally insect resistant. They grow to a height of 6-12 inches tall and produce fan-shaped blooms in colors like white, blue, and pink. Fan flowers are summer and spring flowers and should only be planted outdoors after all threat of frost has passed and night temperatures stay above 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Loosen and moisten soil, then drop fan flower seeds 10-12 inches apart and press gently. Plant the seeds in full sun during warm months. If planting in a desert climate, fan flowers can benefit from a bit of late afternoon shade. Keep the soil they're planted in from drying out completely and fan flowers will produce blooms all summer and spring.
African Daisy
The African daisy originated in South Africa and is quite drought tolerant and suitable for hot climates. The plants typically reach 1 foot tall and the blooms are soft, warm colors. These flowers will produce blooms from late spring until the first fall frost. Once established, propagation by cuttings is extremely effective.
After the last spring frost, place African daisy seeds approximately 5-8 inches apart and cover them lightly with no more than 1/8 of an inch of loose soil. Planting in a location with full sun is ideal and will allow the plant to produce the most blooms, but African daisies will also do well in partial shade. African daisies require no more than 1 inch of water per week to survive, though a bit more encourages larger, healthier blooms.
Hyacinths
Hyacinths' long-lasting, aromatic blossoms guarantees their spot among the most popular spring flowers. Blooms often remain for two to three weeks and make delightful cuttings for indoor arrangements. Hyacinths bloom in a variety of colors such as white, purple, pink, apricot, lavender, cobalt blue, deep purple and wine red.
What kind of flowers do you plan on planting this season? Let us know in the comments below.