My Top 5 Spring Garden Blooms

Lilac

Lilacs look as if they came right out of a fairytale.  They are popular spring blooming shrubs known for their intoxicating fragrance and gorgeous showy flowers.  Once you discover the beauty of these bushes, you will want to display them all over the yard for neighbors and guests to see.  They are very hardy plants, and will come back year after year if cared for properly.  These deciduous shrubs and multi stemmed small trees are most commonly purple.  Lilacs also come in different colors like pink, white and yellow.  My favorite has to be Marie Francis lilac bushes.  These plants produce a more unusually seen pastel pink blossom.  Here is a little bit more about Marie Frances French lilacs.

Zone: 3 to 7
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Planting Time: Spring
Bloom Time: Late Spring
Average Height: 5 feet tall
Fun Facts: Attracts pollinators, cold hardy, makes great cut flowers

Phlox

Phlox are a perfect addition to any rock garden.  They come in a variety of colors and bloom times.  Blue Moon woodland phlox, otherwise known as Sweet Willam, boasts rich blue violet blossoms.  This flower get's it's nickname because of  it's sweet scent. Definitely a favorite perennial of mine in my shade garden.  Known to be a carefree plant, it can tolerate most growing conditions.  This variety will put on a beautiful show by late April.  If you are looking to provide pollinators with an early source of nectar, this is an excellent choice!  It is especially attractive to the Tiger swallowtail butterfly. Another favorite of mine is Emerald Pink creeping phlox. This makes a wonderful ground cover. 

Emerald Pink creeping phlox

Zone: 3 to 8
Light Requirement: Shade
Planting Time: Spring
Bloom Time: Early Spring
Average Height: 12 inches tall
Fun Facts: Attracts pollinators, low maintenance , shade tolerant  

Peony

The peony brings any garden a rustic, old world look.  They are known to live long lives and bloom for many years.  Festiva Maxima Peonies have very large, white, fragrant blooms with a hint of glowy pink. These pretty flowers have specks of raspberry which make it particularly unique.  I always look forward to them beginning to blossom in late May.  Another favorite of mine would be the soft pink Sarah Bernhardt peony.  This classic flower has very large, double blossoms with a naturally feminine charm.  Both of these varieties make a perfect addition to any cottage style garden.  The one important lesson I've learned when it comes to peonies, is to always make sure to stake them early.  Their heavy blooms can droop low to the ground bending and damaging the stems during a rainstorm.  Make sure to take care of this early in the season so you don't miss out on these prized perennials. 

Sarah Bernhardt peony

Zone: 3 to 8
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Planting Time: Spring
Bloom Time: Late Spring
Average Height: 36 inches tall
Fun Facts: Deer & rabbit resistant, fragrant , great cut flowers

Tulip

Tulips are an obvious and standard spring flower.  They are a perennial bulb that comes in almost any color.  This lovely flower also varies in many different shapes and sizes.  Impressively, some varieties can last well into the middle of spring in my garden.  The Red Emperor tulip is definitely worth mentioning.  Some start to bloom in early April, then more show up, ready to bloom right before May begins.  It's amazing how these tulips just keep popping up here and there.  They are so easy to grow, and look especially divine in containers.  They boast extravagantly elegant red petals with their signature yellow striped interior.  Even as the flowers start to fade, the black centers help them continue to stun.  Have a bag of tulips you forgot to plant in your garden?  No problem!  Force them indoors and enjoy tulips all year round! 

Zone: 3 to 8
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Planting Time: Fall
Bloom Time: Early Spring
Average Height: 16 inches tall
Fun Facts: Winter hardy, can be grown in containers,
great cut flower
Tip: Plant in part shade to enjoy a longer blooming time

Spirea

Spirea is a deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub known for it's gorgeous clusters of flowers.  Though these flowers may be tiny, they are profuse and sensational when they bloom in groups.  They range from bright pinks and purples, all the way to softer yellows and whites.  They look great as a border plant or in a wildlife garden, and also make a lovely addition to an all white moon garden.  My favorite variety is the Renaissance Spirea known for it's showy white blooms.  I am also growing the Double Play Artisan Spirea from Proven Winners in my yard.  It has fuchsia flowers, is very compact and very low maintenance.  In early spring, this variety has rich purple-red new growth that is equally as appealing as it's flowers.  I am such a fan of this shrub that I'm thinking of adding Double Play Painted Lady to my landscape this upcoming season!

Zone: 3 to 7
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Planting Time: Spring
Bloom Time: Mid-Spring
Average Height: 5 feet tall
Fun Facts: Attracts pollinators, fast growth rate, beautiful orange-red fall color
Tip: Make sure to water regularly and more often in extreme heat

Tuesdays In The Garden

Now it's time to take a tour of some other fabulous gardens.  Stop by a splendid Pacific NW garden to see what's blooming, then learn about some easy care plants.  Take note of some favorite early spring perennials, and after that discover some flowering bushes you will just adore.  We all come together on Tuesdays to make you your very own gardening cheat sheets with a theme in mind!  Don't forget to pin anything that catches your attention for later, and give it a try yourself! 

Shell | Frugal Family Home

Jami | An Oregon Cottage

Michelle | Simplify, Live, Love