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Early Spring Color for the Garden

When thinking of creating an early spring garden with brilliant color, consider the wide range of spring planting options available—fall-planted bulbs that welcome spring, hardy ground covers with their blankets of blooms, classic perennials and flowering trees and shrubs that infuse the landscape with color and beauty. Here are some favorites to consider for your garden:

 

Bulbs:

Grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum) – Early spring bloomers (late March/early April) of rich purple clusters that resemble tiny bunches of grapes

Daffodils (Narcissus) – Harbingers of spring, these beloved blooms are available in a huge range of varieties; single and double blooms, solid and multiple colors (bonus: deer don’t like them!)

Tulips (Tulipa) – Whatever your favorite color, there’s sure to be a tulip to match! Tulip varieties include single, double, lily-shaped, fringed or ruffled.

 

Ground covers:

Speedwell (Veronica oltensis) – Bright blue flowers pop against their deep green leaves

Phlox (Phlox subulata) – A dense carpet of blooms in shades of pink, lavender and white

Flowering Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) – Fragrant foliage with pink or white blooms

Periwinkle (Vinca minor) – Purple flowers nestled in dark green glossy leaves

 

Perennials:

Peonies (Paeoniaceae) – Varieties can be herbaceous or woody shrubs, and produce large, lavish, fragrant blooms with ruffled petals. Colors range from creamy white, an endless range of pinks, to beautiful reds

Blue false indigo (Baptisia australis) – Also known as blue wild indigo, displays spikes of brilliant blue or purple blooms. There are also white and yellow varieties.

Oriental Poppies (Papaveraceae) – Large, spectacular papery blooms, there are early blooming varieties that come in a range of bright reds, pinks and oranges.

 

Trees/shrubs:

Redbud (Cercis canadensis) – Purple/pink flowers in March and April

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) – Spring-blooming varieties boast yellow blooms between January and March

Mock Orange (Philadelphus spp.) – Fragrant, white flowers in April

Magnolia (Magnolia spp.) – Large, pink/white flowers in April

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) – Varieties include pink and white flowers in early spring

Lilac (Syringa oblata) – An early blooming variety (May) with lush, fragrant pale lilac blooms

Azalea (Rhododendron prinophyllum) – Wide range of varieties and color options from snowy white, vibrant pinks and oranges, to ruby reds (April)

 

And don’t forget annuals for instant color infusion – pansies (viola), primrose (Primula) marigold (Calendula) impatiens (Balsaminacea) and geraniums (Geraniaceae) to name just a few. For more ideas and help, call us at Farmside—we’ll get you growing in no time!

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