Spring is the perfect time to freshen up your garden with flowers that bloom early and bring instant color. If you want to see your outdoor space brighten quickly after winter, choosing the right flowers is key.
These 24 spring flowers bloom early and brighten your garden fast, giving you a lively, colorful start to the season. Whether you’re looking for easy-care options or vibrant varieties, you’ll find something that fits your garden style and timing.
Daffodils
Daffodils are one of the easiest early bloomers to grow in your garden. You can plant their bulbs in the fall, and they pop up with bright yellow or white flowers in early spring. They come in many varieties, so you can choose colors and shapes that suit your style.
Tulips
Tulips are a great choice if you want quick, colorful blooms in your garden. Tulips bloom early in spring because they spend the winter dormant underground, protected by their bulbs.
As temperatures rise and daylight increases, the bulbs sense the change and begin sending up shoots. Their early blooming is nature’s way of taking advantage of the cool, moist spring soil before the heat of summer arrives.
Hellebores
Hellebores bloom in late winter to early spring, adding color when most plants are still asleep. You’ll find them thriving in partial to full shade with well-drained, slightly acidic soil.
They’re low maintenance and tough, making them a great pick for your garden’s early color boost. Some types even have interesting veining and a range of flower colors to choose from.
Candytuft (Iberis)
Candytuft is a great choice if you want early spring blooms. You’ll get clusters of small, white flowers that really brighten up your garden.
The leaves are narrow and evergreen, so your garden stays green even after the flowers fade. Candytuft prefers full to partial sun and well-draining soil. It grows well in drier, less humid spots, making it easy to care for.
Lenten Rose
If you want a flower that adds color early in spring, Lenten Rose is a great choice. It thrives in partial shade, making it perfect for spots that don’t get too much sun.
You’ll find lots of color options, from soft pinks to deep purples. It’s low maintenance and works well in shade gardens or woodland areas.
Snowdrops
If you want an easy flower that pops up early in spring, snowdrops are a great choice. You can plant them after the last frost, and they’ll return each year with their delicate white blooms. They don’t need much care and can quickly multiply, making your garden bright without much effort. Learn more about growing snowdrops here.
Crocuses
Crocuses are one of the first flowers you’ll see blooming in spring. Their bright purple, yellow, or white petals add a quick pop of color to your garden.
They’re tough little bulbs that push through cold soil, signaling winter is ending. You might even find them popping up in unexpected spots, as animals sometimes move the bulbs around.
Plant them in beds, borders, or containers for an early cheerful glow. For more details, check out this guide on Crocus bulbs.
Muscari (Grape Hyacinth)
You’ll love Muscari if you want bright spring color without much fuss. These grape hyacinths grow quickly and spread easily, giving your garden a cheerful blue pop.
Plant them in fall for blooms in early spring. They do well in full sun or partial shade and are pretty low-maintenance. Check out more about growing grape hyacinths here.
Scilla
Scilla is a great choice if you want early color in your garden. These bulbs bloom in early spring with small, bell-shaped blue flowers. They’re easy to grow and naturalize well in lawns or under trees.
Plant them in fall, and they’ll come back year after year. Just make sure the soil drains well, as they don’t like sitting in wet ground.
Primrose
If you want an easy flower to add early color, primroses are a solid choice. They bloom in bright shades like pink, purple, and white, often showing up early in spring.
Primroses work well in spots with partial shade to full sun. They’re hardy in many garden zones, so they can come back year after year. You can find different types, but some may be less hardy if grown only in greenhouses.
Hyacinths
If you want a splash of color and a nice fragrance, hyacinths are a solid pick for early spring. They come in lots of colors like purple, white, pink, and yellow, so you can mix and match easily.
Hyacinths bloom for about a month, giving your garden a longer-lasting boost. You can grow them indoors or outside depending on your space.
Pasque Flower
The pasque flower is one of the earliest perennials to bloom in spring. You’ll notice its purple or white flowers appear before the leaves do.
It grows on short stems and adds a subtle but charming touch to your garden. If you want early color that’s easy to care for, this plant is a great choice.
Lungwort (Pulmonaria)
If you want a plant that adds early spring color, lungwort is a great choice. Its flowers start pink and often turn blue as they bloom.
It likes partial shade and moist soil, perfect for shady garden spots. You can expect it to grow about a foot tall and spread wider.
Winter Aconite
If you want an early pop of color, winter aconite is a great choice. These bright yellow flowers peek out through late winter snow, signaling spring is near.
They look like little buttercups and grow from tubers, making them easy to plant and naturalize in your garden. Winter aconite loves sunny spots that later become shaded by trees.
Glory of the Snow
You’ll spot Glory of the Snow among the first blooms of spring, sometimes even pushing through leftover snow. Its star-shaped flowers come mostly in blue, with some white and pink variations.
These little blooms bring a fresh pop of color that brightens your garden quickly. Plus, they’re great for attracting early pollinators like bees. Learn more about planting tips from this Chionodoxa planting guide.
Early Tulip Varieties
If you want tulips that bloom quickly in spring, early tulip varieties are a great choice. They often flower from late March to early April, giving your garden a fast splash of color.
Look for types like Single Early or Kaufmanniana tulips; they’re reliable and brighten your space without waiting long.
Early Blooming Peonies
If you want peonies that show up early, you’re in luck. Peonies are among the first flowers to burst into bloom in late spring, following the warming soil and longer daylight hours.
Their sturdy roots store energy throughout winter, allowing them to grow rapidly once conditions are right. As temperatures rise, peony buds swell and open into large, fragrant flowers, signaling the season’s full arrival.
Forsythia
Forsythia is one of the first shrubs to bloom in spring, often showing bright yellow flowers as early as late February or March.
You’ll like how fast it grows—some varieties add up to 2 feet a year. It’s a low-maintenance plant that brings early color to your garden, perfect if you want a quick spring pick-me-up.
Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is a great choice if you want early blooms that brighten your garden fast. Its spidery yellow flowers appear in late winter or early spring, often before most plants bud.
You’ll like that witch hazel can grow quite tall, giving some height to your garden. It’s low maintenance and adds color when many other flowers are still asleep.
Pieris Japonica
If you want an early spring bloom that adds charm, Pieris Japonica is a great choice. You’ll notice its bell-shaped white flowers hanging in delicate clusters.
Its coppery red new leaves add color before the flowers appear, giving your garden interest through the seasons. It works well as an accent or in groupings, growing about 4 to 5 feet tall.
Anemone Blanda
You’ll love Anemone Blanda for its bright, daisy-like flowers that pop up early in spring. These cheerful blooms come in pink, white, and blue shades, perfect for adding color to your garden edges or under trees.
They’re low-growing and easy to care for, making them great for naturalizing in borders or mixed beds. Plant the bulbs in fall, and enjoy a splash of early spring color.
Hepatica
Hepatica is one of the first flowers you’ll see in early spring. It has charming, small blooms that pop up even when there’s still a chill in the air.
You’ll notice its liver-shaped leaves, which is why it’s sometimes called liverleaf or liverwort. It’s a low-growing perennial that works well in shady spots. If you want to add early color to your garden, hepatica is a solid choice that brightens things up quietly and naturally.
Camassia
If you want something low-maintenance, Camassia is a great pick. It sends up grassy leaves in spring, followed by tall spikes of star-shaped flowers.
You can plant it in full sun or a partially shaded spot with rich, moist soil. It blooms late spring, bringing color without much effort.
Early Blooming Viburnum
If you want a shrub that shows off early in spring, viburnum is a solid pick. It blooms with clusters of small flowers, sometimes with a lacecap look, adding texture to your garden.
You’ll enjoy its flowers from early spring through April, and later, the shrub gives you attractive fruit and nice fall color. Viburnums grow fast and work great near walkways or as a focal point in your garden.