Plants To Brighten Your Early Spring Garden
Early spring in the Northwest can often be described with one word: gray. While that may sound a bit dreary, there are plenty of ways to bring vibrant color to gardens between mid-March and April, beyond the usual daffodils.
Here are some plant recommendations to brighten up your garden during early spring:
- Cyclamen coum: A unique species that offers color from August to April. Its leaves, which emerge with the first rain, feature an array of patterns in silvers, creams, and greens. Flowers bloom from December through mid-spring, making it a great addition to dry gardens, especially when paired with Pacific Coast irises or planted under manzanitas.
- Asian Mahonia species: These plants are favored not for their flowers, which bloom later in spring, but for their evergreen leaves. With colors ranging from silver and golden to tawny and orange, they add warmth to a dry garden, especially when grown in sunny spots.
- Manzanitas: A wonderful West Coast native that is gaining popularity. These plants come in a variety of forms, from low groundcovers to larger shrubs or even small trees. They thrive in full sun with well-drained soil, requiring little summer irrigation. Their evergreen leaves can range from deep green to blue or silver, while the bark is often mahogany or madrone orange. Manzanitas also produce fragrant flowers in late winter to spring, attracting hummingbirds.
- Iris reticulata: This charming dwarf iris often starts blooming in January and continues through February. Native to rocky soils from Turkey to Iran and Iraq, they do well in Northwest gardens when planted in well-drained soil and sunny spots. They are an excellent choice for water-saving gardens, especially in dry areas where they can go dormant in summer.
- Narcissus cantabricus: Known for its delicate white flowers, the hoop petticoat narcissus blooms in late winter or early spring. Native to the mountains of North Africa and Southern Spain, it is surprisingly hardy and prefers well-drained soil with summer drought, making it ideal for waterwise gardens.
- Pulsatilla vulgaris: The pasqueflower offers early season color and continues to delight into late spring with its showy seed heads. A hardy perennial native to mountain meadows, it thrives in full sun and is easy to grow in most soil types.
- Clematis varieties: Several clematis varieties, such as ‘Markham’s Pink’, ‘Pamela Jackman’, and ‘Dark Dancer’, offer lovely spring blooms. These plants thrive in cold winters and well-drained soil and rebloom if deadheaded and given care after the first flowers fade.
- Dicentra ‘Valentine’: A unique flower for part-shade gardens, this perennial’s new growth emerges with a purple tint and matures to green. It grows up to 30 inches tall and pairs well with hostas and ferns.
- Pulmonaria ‘Silver Scimitar’: This small perennial, reaching only about 8 inches tall, thrives in part to full shade. It features speckled green and silver foliage and bi-colored pink and purple flowers that attract hummingbirds.
- Primula vulgaris ‘Oakleaf Magenta’: A hardy primrose that grows up to 18 inches tall, this plant blooms in cool weather with magenta flowers featuring a yellow center. Its flowers are also fragrant.
- Podophyllum ‘Spotty Dotty’: While the flowers of this plant aren’t particularly showy, its foliage makes a striking statement in early spring. Known for its interesting color patterns, it’s a great choice for shade gardens.
- Iberis ‘Pink Ice’: This evergreen perennial forms small mounds with glossy green foliage, covered in rich pink flowers in the spring. It grows to about 1 foot wide.
- Winter Jewel Hellebores: These hellebores are known for their vibrant early-season blooms, with 23 different varieties available. Favorites like ‘Onyx Odyssey’ and ‘Fire and Ice’ add striking color to the garden.
- Daphne ‘Perfume Princess Pink’: This hybrid daphne blooms from mid-winter through spring, offering fragrant pink flowers. It’s also disease-resistant, though it does require careful attention to avoid harsh winds, cold, or sun.
- Thuja ‘Yellow Ribbon’: A bright golden-yellow conifer that holds its color year-round, this arborvitae thrives in full to part sun and requires regular watering. It’s an evergreen that needs space to grow and avoid constant pruning.
- Chamaecyparis l. ‘Van Pelt’s Blue’: This narrow, pyramidal shrub boasts stunning blue foliage and thrives in full sun with well-drained soil. Like the Thuja ‘Yellow Ribbon’, it needs room to grow without frequent shaping.
These plants will help create a more colorful and vibrant early spring garden, offering both beauty and interest during this transitional time of year!
As always, if you need vendor recommendations for creating your perfect garden or simply want to discuss market conditions for buying or selling, I’m here to help!
