Favorite Spring Blooming & Foliage Plants

Spring is an exciting season in the garden. After a long winter we are all ready to see the swelling of flower buds and new leaves emerging on bare branches. Here are some of my favorite Spring bloomers, from evergreens and trees to perennials and bulbs, there is something eye catching for every design style.

Evergreens and deciduous trees give us multiple seasons of interest but some really stand out for me. The blooms of a classic Star or Jane Magnolia are quintessential Spring flowers and I am hard pressed to find a flowering tree I like better.

For foliage, I cannot resist the leaves that emerge from the Emerald Lace Japanese Maple. Bold chartreuse new growth unfurls on lacey, delicate leaves that deepens as we head into summer. It's weeping, dwarf habit makes it an easy tree to work into a small garden space for a gorgeous pop of color.

As for evergreens, I love the deep purple blooms of the Lee's Dark Purple Rhododendron. I'm not partial most rhododendrons but the blooms of this one and bright green new growth have won me over. For conifers, Sea of Gold Juniper and Perry's Gold Dwarf Spruce have yellow new growth that stand out against the darker green. If you want a waxy leaf evergreen with multiple uses, Manhattan Euonymus has quaint Spring flowers and can be trained up a trellis or trimmed for shape.

When it comes to Spring perennials it's difficult to choose, there are so many fantastic options but I managed to narrow it down to six. Beginning with the first to bloom, the double flower of the White Lion Daffodil is stunning, especially when planted in mass. They are a welcome sight in mid-April when little else is in flower.

For a larger perennial, baptisia is a great choice. I have a Pink Lemonade variety that has lovely sweet pea looking flowers and delicate sage green foliage. Once the flowers fade they develop fun little pods that rattle in the breeze, great for adding to mixed bouquets.

Nikko Deutzia is an often overlooked Spring shrub but I love the little white flowers and arching branches. This is a nice option to plant in front of other summer flowering shrubs. It's low enough to not obstruct but the soft foliage is a lovely groundcover.

My last three are popular classics but they deserve all the attention and accolades they receive. The beloved Lady's Mantle plant has pretty cupped leaves and provides soft yellow flowers all over the plant. Although well used in cottage gardens, I have planted them in woodland areas where they look just as great.

Peonies are another superstar, known as a favorite cut flower, nothing rivals it as a Spring blooming beauty. I am partial to the soft pink Sarah Berndhart variety in the landscape but prefer the classic white Duchess de Meurs for cutting.

Finally there is Columbine, another classic that is making a big comeback. Columbine are easy to grow, will gladly bloom in shady spots and come in a multitude of colors. It's another perennial that looks just as good in a mixed border with evergreens as it does in more formal spaces.

Whatever your style of gardening there are beautiful Spring interest plants for you. From foliage to flowers, Spring plants signal the beginning of the gardening season and they certainly do not disappoint.