12 of the best spring flowers
With spring just around the corner, now is the time to start deciding your favourite flower combinations for your garden, so that it can thrive with wonderful scents and colours all the way through the warmer months. This blog looks at 12 of the best spring flowers to populate your garden and homes this year, with a range of colours, smells and conditions of which they will thrive in, there’s sure to be at least a few you love or would be excited to see blossom in your own garden this year.
1. Crocus
This is among the first of the bulbs to flower in the gardening year, crocuses are often used towards the front of a border, in lawn drifts or in shallow containers. They are goblet-shaped flowers which come in white, purple, yellow or lilac and they appear among grassy leaves in late winter to mid-spring. This flowers petals are sometimes boldly striped outside and may open to reveal central blotches, most crocuses are lightly scented.
2. Daffodil
This flower is a classic and is one of the most popular and cheery early bloomers. Planted in September, they spend several months developing roots before the flowers burst forth, usually between February and May. They will suit almost any garden style/situation. They have an instantly recognisable flower, usually yellow or white, with the flowers standing on sturdy stems. They often do best when planted at a depth of three times the height of the bulb. In addition to this, rodents aren’t a fan of this flower so they are far less likely to be dug up!
3. Iris
Irises come in many different forms and colours, with striking sword-like foliage and dramatic looking flowers, they will make a beautiful statement in the garden border. A huge benefit of the Iris is that they multiply and come back year after year, they will also thrive in full sun exposure. You need to be careful to not plant these flowers too deep as their rhizomes need to be close to the surface.
4. Primrose
These are also an early spring bloomer and are rather charming. They may appear delicate but these perennials are extremely hardy against the cold. There are hundreds of species of the primrose available, so they can be chosen to match various garden types depending on personal preference.
5. Grape Hyacinth
Here we have a tiny but mighty little bulb, this flower naturalises readily, therefore you’ll have more and more of these lovely, charming purple or white flowers every year. As the name suggests, their smell is similar to that of grapes. If you’re planting these make sure that they’re in a spot which will be prone to plenty of sun.
6. Lily of the valley
These are known for its fragrant white or pink bell-shaped blossoms; they look absolutely beautiful in stand-alone drifts and they grow well underneath shrubbery or trees where it has room to naturalise in dense clumps. This flower has a lovely, sweet scent in mid-spring and if you want this darling bloomer to thrive, then please try to give Lily of the valley an area consisting of mainly shade.
7. Columbine
Unusual flowers and delicate foliage make this perennial a must-have for a garden during late spring. They’re available in many different exotic-looking forms and are saturated in colours which include pink, purple, red, orange and even bicolour. An inner ring of petals is backed by star-like spurred sepals, giving the appearance of a strange insect, with the foliage being delicate and fern-like. This flower does best in part shade with a well-draining soil.
8. Pansy
These charming annuals really do come in every shade of the rainbow, they don’t mind some cold (even a little snow). This means that they provide gorgeous pops of colour early in the season. Although, due to them not being a fan of high temperatures, they often tend to fade once the summer rally arrives. Having said this, some hardy varieties may revive in the autumn, they need to be placed in a garden where they can achieve at least 6 hours of sun a day.
9. Snowdrop
These heralds of spring are among the very first plants to flower in the new year. Planted in generous drifts, they are sturdier than they may look. Sheathed in strappy, often arching, bright green or greyish leaves, thin stems which dangle bell-like white flowers, some even have double flowers. This lovely white flower will grow in most soil types, apart from soil which is permanently wet. The most ideal location would be in partial shade around deciduous trees and shrubs.
10. Irish Moss
The super soft moss-like foliage of this low-growing plant forms a dense mat that’s beautiful most of the year. In the spring, tiny little daisy-like flowers pop up, which only add to this plants charm. Irish Moss is perfect for the country garden feel, for example, planted in between steppingstones. This lovely moss requires part to full sun for it to reach its potential.
11. Snapdragon
This hardy annual comes in every shade from pastels through to deeper hues. Unlike other annuals, this flower doesn’t mind the cold as much, meaning that it’s a great choice for some early spring colour. Its fabulous upright spikes will bloom until a heavy frost comes along; you should do your best to plant Snapdragons in a space where they can have sun for at least 6 hours a day.
12. Sweet Pea
The Sweet Pea flower has a delicate form and delightful fragrance of sweet peas and is reminiscent of quaint English gardens. The majority of Sweet Pea are climbers; therefore they will usually require a trellis or fence to support them. It’s a good idea to plant them early indoors, to give them a head start, otherwise the hot weather (which they’re not a fan of) will arrive before they have the chance to bloom.
If you would like to get your hands on any of these fabulous flowers from this magnificent list, then please do get in touch with us here at Cheltenham & Gloucester Flowers, as we are experts within the field and can not only supply you with your lovely favourites but we can also provide you with professional advice if you’re unsure about getting the best results for your garden.