Early Bloomers: 7 Spring Flowers Bringing Color NOW to a Yard Near You!

Nothing heralds the coming of spring like perennial flowers. Their reliable return each season is one of the reasons gardeners love to plant bulbs; put in the ground in the fall, they will reward you with beautiful blooms during the earliest growing months. Every year, the dormant bulbs awake to send green shoots through the cold ground—even snow! Although a late frost can harm them, these early bloomers are generally of hardy stock and can grow in colder zones. If you don't already grow bulbs in your garden, a stroll through this gallery of lovely flowers might just be enough to make even the gardening-averse consider taking up a trowel.

By Caitlin Castelaz | Updated Aug 18, 2015 01:27 PM

Snowdrop

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Snowdrop Flowers

If you have snowdrops in your yard, chances are they’ve already made their appearance. True to their name, these white flowers don’t mind growing up through snow-covered ground in February or March. Don’t cut them back at the end of the season; you can weaken the bulb.

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Crocus

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Crocus Flowers

You know it’s spring when you see a crocus! This low-growing flower announces the coming of spring each year with its colorful hues. Early bloomers like the crocus can get burned by a late frost, so be prepared to cover the plants with plastic should harsh weather return.

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Scilla

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Blue Scilla

Looking for a low-maintenance bulb to plant? You might like this tiny, deer-resistant early bloomer. It naturalizes easily, and even grows well under trees or in rock gardens. You’ll know that it’s safe to trim old foliage when a gentle tug is all it takes to remove it.


Related: 10 Plants Sure to Stop Deer in Their Tracks

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Daffodil

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Yellow Daffodils

What’s cheerier than a spring daffodil? Despite their dainty appearance, daffodils are quite hardy—a single bulb can produce flowers for decades, and mice and voles generally don't disturb them. These spring blooms last longer in a vase if you pick them at the base of the stem instead of cutting them.


Related: 9 Daffodils to Cheer Up Your Garden

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Hyacinth

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Colorful Hyacinths

The hyacinth has been popular for hundreds of years for its fragrant blooms, which come in a wide range of colors. When the blooms fade at the end of their growing season, remove the small flowers, leaving the stem in place to keep the bulb healthy.

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Tulip

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Red Tulips

If you care properly for tulips, they’ll return year after year. Once their beautiful cup-like blooms have withered, remove the seed heads to keep the bulb strong. If squirrels got to your tulips over the winter, try planting bulbs in a chicken-wire cage next fall.


Related: Botanical Tulips—Jewels of the Garden

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Bluebell

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Bluebells

Contrary to their name, bluebells can be purple, blue, or even white. These shade-loving, slightly curled plants produce their bell-shaped bloom in late spring. Bluebells are hardy but can suffer from bulb flies. Protect them by lightly tamping down loose soil around new growth.

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