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Nothing marks the end of winter like a cheery spring flower. From the first snowdrops and daffodils to classic spring flowers like primroses and hellebores, these blooms are used by gardeners as a ‘spring marker’ to count down the days until temperatures increase again, and we can spend more time in our gardens.

Spring flowers are important for pollinators, too. Many pollinators, including bumblebees and some butterflies, hibernate over winter and they rely on spring flowers to provide them with nectar and pollen when they emerge from hibernation. Nectar from spring flowers provides pollinators with the energy to fly and find a mate or nest site, while pollen from spring flowers helps bumblebees to start laying eggs for the next generation of bumblebees.

Choosing spring flowers

When choosing spring flowers it’s important to think about the site you intend to grow them in. Most do best in sun or dappled shade – indeed they will flower sooner if grown in a sunny spot, as the soil they’re growing in will be warmed by the sun. Consider also whether you’re growing spring flowers in a pot or the ground, whether you want a temporary or permanent display, and if you’re planting bulbs, which are usually planted in autumn.

Consider colour combinations, too. If planting spring bulbs, think about the flower colours – will they complement each other or clash? Will they flower at the same time or one after the other? In this video, Frances Tophill shares her favourite spring flowers, including beautiful blooms to grow in pots or in the ground, plants that will provide food for pollinating insects and trees with spectacular spring flowers.

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[image id=”23623″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” title=”Primrose flowers. Jason Ingram” alt=”Primrose flowers. Jason Ingram” classes=””] Primrose flowers. Jason Ingram

This beautiful British native primrose is one our most well-loved spring flowers, with its pale yellow blooms and fresh green, crinkled leaves. Over the years, primroses will grow into clumps that can be divided and replanted around the garden, for a larger display. Primroses will also self-seed in the right conditions, lending a natural look to your garden borders. Cultivated forms, known as ‘polyanthus’ are also available, and flower in a variety of colours including bright purple, red and pink.

Best grown in moist soil in partial shade, plant primroses among forget me nots, snowdrops and other spring flowers.

Flowers: March to May

Height x Spread: 20cm x 35cm

• Buy Primroses from Suttons, Crocus, and Thompson and Morgan

[image id=”167518″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” title=”Snowdrops and cyclamen. Jason Ingram” alt=”Snowdrops and cyclamen. Jason Ingram” classes=””] Snowdrops and cyclamen. Jason Ingram

Snowdrops are some of the earliest spring flowers to bloom, sometimes flowering as soon as January. Choose from the species Galanthus nivalis to larger cultivars with different flower shapes, such as Galanthus ‘S. Arnott’ and Galanthus elwesii ‘Abington Green’.  Snowdrops gradually clump up over the years, making them easy to dig up, divide and replant for a bigger display.

Plant snowdrops ‘in the green’, after they have flowered in March and April, for the best results.

Flowers: January to March

Height x Spread: 12cm x 5cm

• Buy snowdrops from Suttons, Crocus, and Thompson and Morgan

[image id=”45263″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” title=”Crocus tommasinianus ‘Barr’s Purple’. Sarah Cuttle” alt=”Crocus tommasinianus ‘Barr’s Purple’. Sarah Cuttle” classes=””] Crocus tommasinianus ‘Barr’s Purple’. Sarah Cuttle

Crocuses are some of the cheeriest spring flowers, providing masses of pollen for early queen bumblebees. Most crocus flowers are purple but you can buy yellow and white varieties, too. They grow from bulb-like corms, best planted in autumn, and they grow best in full sun in moist but well-drained soil. Plant crocuses in pots on their own, in gaps at the front of the border or naturalised in your lawn.

Flowers: February to April

Height x Spread: 15cm x 5cm

• Buy crocuses from Crocus

[image id=”67543″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” title=”Daffodil flowers. Jason Ingram” alt=”Daffodil flowers. Jason Ingram” classes=””] Daffodil flowers. Jason Ingram

Would spring even be spring without daffodils? These cheery yellow flowers bloom in even the harshest conditions, offering a splash of colour when there’s little else in flower in the garden. There’s a huge range of daffodils, or Narcissi, to grow, including white and salmon-pink flowered varieties, tall types and dwarf ‘Tete-a-Tete’ daffodils, and early- and late-flowering species. If you really love daffodils you can plant a range of early- and late-flowering types so you can have daffodils flowering in your garden from February to May.

Plant in moist but well-drained soil in full sun, in the ground or in pots.

Flowers: February to May

Height x Spread: 30cm x 5cm

• Buy daffodils from Crocus and Gardening Express

[image id=”12570″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” title=”Hyacinth and heuchera pot display. Jason Ingram” alt=”Hyacinth and heuchera pot display. Jason Ingram” classes=””] Hyacinth and heuchera pot display. Jason Ingram

Hyacinths are lovely spring flowers that have fallen out of favour in recent years, due to their slightly old fashioned look. However they work well in pot displays and are extremely fragrant, offering a blast of spring colour and scent early in the year. Choose from purple, pink and white varieties. Plant hyacinths in moist but well-drained soil in full sun.

Flowers: March to April

Height x Spread: 25cm x 10cm

• Buy hyacinths from Crocus, Gardening Express, and Waitrose Florist

[image id=”135157″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” title=”Three types of tulip growing in a pot. Jason Ingram” alt=”Three types of tulip growing in a pot. Jason Ingram” classes=””] Three types of tulip growing in a pot. Jason Ingram

Tulips are some of the most popular spring flowers, coming in a range of colours, shapes and sizes. Choose brightly coloured tulips for a cheerful display or pair maroon and white tulips for a more dramatic look. You can also buy frilled and peony-flowered tulips for a different look. Although tulips aren’t popular with pollinators, they still make a worth while addition to spring pot and border displays in spring. Plant tulips in moist but well-drained soil in full sun.

Flowers: April to May

Height x Spread: 45cm x 20cm

• Buy tulips from Crocus and Hayloft

[image id=”35372″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” title=”Tulips and forget-me-nots in flower. Marsha Arnold” alt=”Tulips and forget-me-nots in flower. Marsha Arnold” classes=””] Tulips and forget-me-nots in flower. Marsha Arnold

Forget-me-nots are cheery, low-growing blue spring flowers. They’re perfect for growing at the front of a border or combined with tulips and daffodils for a bright spring display. Forget-me-nots self-seed readily but they do start to look tatty after flowering and it’s best to pull them out and plant something in their place, instead.

Grow forget-me-nots in moist but well-drained soil in partial shade.

Flowers: April to June

Height x Spread: 20cm x 15cm

• Buy forget-me-nots from Suttons, Crocus, and Thompson & Morgan

[image id=”27822″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” title=”Orange wallflower, Erysimum cheiri. Tim Sandall” alt=”Orange wallflower, Erysimum cheiri. Tim Sandall” classes=””] Orange wallflower, Erysimum cheiri. Tim Sandall

Wallflowers are popular in spring bedding displays. Most wallflowers are biennial, so you need to sow them in late spring, ready for flowering the following spring. Or buy bare-root wallflowers for autumn planting. Wallflowers come in dark red and yellow. Grow them in moist but well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade.

Flowers: March to April

Height x Spread: 50cm x 50cm

• Buy wallflowers from Suttons, Crocus, and Thompson and Morgan

[image id=”44181″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” title=”Lungwort flowers. Jason Ingram” alt=”Lungwort flowers. Jason Ingram” classes=””] Lungwort flowers. Jason Ingram

Lungwort is a gorgeous perennial herbaceous plant that tolerates more shade than other spring flowers. It’s named after the markings on its leaves, which were thought to resemble diseased lungs. Flowers can be purple or pink. Lungwort is a firm favourite with the hairy footed flower bee, one of the first bees to emerge from hibernation in spring. Plant lungwort with primroses and forget-me-not for a natural spring look.

Flowers: March to April

Height x Spread: 35cm x 45cm

• Buy lungwort from Crocus and Thompson and Morgan

[image id=”221332″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” title=”Snake’s head fritillary flowers. Sarah Cuttle” alt=”Snake’s head fritillary flowers. Sarah Cuttle” classes=””] Snake’s head fritillary flowers. Sarah Cuttle

Snake’s head fritillary is a gorgeous spring-flowering bulb, in the lily family. It bears chequerboard-patterned flowers in shades of mauve and pink, but you can also get white varieties. Grow snakes’s head fritillaries in moist soil in partial shade.

Flowers: March to April

Height x Spread: 35cm x 45cm

• Buy snake’s head fritillary from Secret Gardening Club and Hayloft

[image id=”93606″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” title=”Helleborus niger. Jason Ingram” alt=”Helleborus niger. Jason Ingram” classes=””] Helleborus niger. Jason Ingram

Hellebores flower from late-winter to spring, in a range of flower colours including white to pink and dark purples. There’s a range of hellebores to try, including earliest flowering Christmas rose, hellebore niger, to the later-flowering hellebore hybrids. Stinking hellebore, Helleborus foetidus, is taller and more suitable for growing in larger beds and planting schemes.

Grow hellebores in moist soils in partial shade.

Flowers: January to April

Height x Spread: 45cm x 45cm

• Buy hellebores from Suttons, Crocus, and Thompson and Morgan

[image id=”80831″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” title=”Reticulate iris ‘Gordon’. Sarah Cuttle” alt=”Reticulate iris ‘Gordon’. Sarah Cuttle” classes=””] Reticulate iris ‘Gordon’. Sarah Cuttle

Early spring flowers, reticulate irises have delicate, fragrant purple flowers with yellow markings. Growing to just 15cm in height, they’re perfect for growing in pots and alpine displays on a table or windowsill. Plant them in pots for the best results.

Flowers: January to April

Height x Spread: 15cm x 15cm

• Buy reticulate irises from from Hayloft

[image id=”34207″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” title=”Erica x darleyensis ‘Winter Treasure’. Jason Ingram” alt=”Erica x darleyensis ‘Winter Treasure’. Jason Ingram” classes=””] Erica x darleyensis ‘Winter Treasure’. Jason Ingram

Winter- and spring-flowering heathers, Erica carnea and Erica x darlyensis provide flowers when there’s little else in bloom. A magnet for bumblebees, they provide an essential source of pollen and nectar on early spring days. Unlike summer-flowering heather, these hardy heathers tolerate neutral to alkaline soil. Plant them in pots with other spring flower displays, or at the front of a sunny border.

Flowers: December to April

Height x Spread: 50cm x 100cm

• Buy winter- and spring-flowering heathers from Crocus and Hayloft

[image id=”82233″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” title=”Drifts of white flowering snowdrops and yellow winter aconites. Sarah Cuttle” alt=”Drifts of white flowering snowdrops and yellow winter aconites. Sarah Cuttle” classes=””] Drifts of white flowering snowdrops and yellow winter aconites. Sarah Cuttle

Winter aconites are early spring flowers with bright yellow blooms. They’re perfect for naturalising in lawns and work well with snowdrops. Choose a sunny to partially shaded spot with moist but well-drained soil. As with snowdrops, plant them ‘in the green’ after flowering.

Flowers: January to February

Height x Spread: 13cm x 10cm

• Buy winter aconite from Suttons and Thompson and Morgan

The pasque flower, Pulsatilla vulgaris, is a beautiful late-spring flower, traditionally a symbol of Easter. It bears silky purple, star-shaped flowers, in contrast with ferny foliage. Grow pasque flower in well-drained soil in full sun.

Flowers: April to May

Height x Spread: 20cm x 20cm

• Buy pasque flowers from Crocus, Thompson and Morgan, and Hayloft

[image id=”82278″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” title=”Container display of grape hyacinths and Narcissus. Sarah Cuttle” alt=”Container display of grape hyacinths and Narcissus. Sarah Cuttle” classes=””] Container display of grape hyacinths and Narcissus. Sarah Cuttle

Grape hyacinths, Muscari, are small, spring-flowering bulbs with bright blue spring flowers. Despite sharing part of their common name with regular hyacinths, they’re not related. Plant them at the front of a border, in grass or in pots. Be careful – they spread easily.

Flowers: April to May

Height x Spread: 20cm x 10cm

• Buy graoe hyacinths from Hayloft

[image id=”203276″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” title=”Bearded iris ‘Care to Dance’. Paul Debois” alt=”Bearded iris ‘Care to Dance’. Paul Debois” classes=””] Bearded iris ‘Care to Dance’. Paul Debois

The bearded iris is a popular, tall-growing iris, bearing flamboyant blooms over sword-like foliage from May to June. Each flower is made up of large outer and inner petals, known as ruffs and falls. The hairs growing along the centre of the falls give the bearded iris its name.

Grow bearded iris in a hot, sunny bed, in moist but well-drained soil. Make sure the rhizome sits above soil level and gets sun for most o the day – this will ensure it flowers reliably.

Flowers: May to June

Height x Spread: 90cm x 10cm

• Buy bearded irises from Suttons, Crocus, and Thompson and Morgan

[image id=”6769″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” title=”Foxglove ‘Suttons Apricot’. Paul Debois” alt=”Foxglove ‘Suttons Apricot’. Paul Debois” classes=””] Foxglove ‘Suttons Apricot’. Paul Debois

Flowering from late spring into summer, foxgloves bridge the gap between spring- and summer-flowering perennials. Foxgloves traditionally bear pink-purple spring flowers with beautiful spotted insides, but you can also get white and orange-flowering varieties. Most foxgloves are biennial, meaning they flower and set seed in their second year, but perennial foxgloves are increasingly available.

Grow foxgloves in moist but well-drained soil in sun to shade. Biennial types self-seed readily.

Flowers: May to June

Height x Spread: 1.8m x 90cm

• Buy foxgloves from Suttons, Crocus, Thompson and Morgan, and  The Secret Gardening Club

[image id=”60927″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” title=”Allium Purple Sensation and Allium aflatunense, photographed at Hilliers Nursery. Jason Ingram” alt=”Allium Purple Sensation and Allium aflatunense, photographed at Hilliers Nursery. Jason Ingram” classes=””] Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ and Allium aflatunense, photographed at Hilliers Nursery. Jason Ingram

Alliums are bulbous perennials, typically with globe-shaped purple spring flowers. Flowering from late-spring into summer, they’re loved by bees. They make excellent cut flowers, both in fresh and dried flower arrangements.

Grow alliums in moist but well-drained soil in full sun, ideally among other foliage plants, which hide their unsightly strappy foliage.

Flowers: May to June

Height x Spread: 20cm x 15cm

• Buy alliums from Suttons, Crocus, and Thompson and Morgan

[image id=”7050″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” title=”Lily of the valley. Jason Ingram” alt=”Lily of the valley. Jason Ingram” classes=””] Lily of the valley. Jason Ingram

Lily of the valley is a low-growing, spreading perennial plant with arching stems of bell-shaped, white flowers. It’s perfect for growing in shady borders and woodland settings. It works well as a cut flower.

Grow lily of the valley in moist soil in partial shade.

Flowers: April to May

Height x Spread: 25cm x 30cm

• Buy lilies of the valley from  Suttons, Crocus, and Thompson and Morgan

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Red campion, Silene dioica

[image id=”212082″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” title=”Ox-eye daisies growing with red campion in a meadow. Jason Ingram” alt=”Ox-eye daisies growing with red campion in a meadow. Jason Ingram” classes=””] Ox-eye daisies growing with red campion in a meadow. Jason Ingram

Red campion is a beautiful meadow flower that thrives in sunshine and partial shade. It makes an excellent meadow plant and also works well in a shady woodland border.

Grow red campion in moist soil in sun to partial shade.

Flowers: April to September

Height x Spread: 1m x 50cm

• Buy red campion from Crocus and Naturescape

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Snowflake, Leucojum aestivum

[image id=”29299″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” title=”Snowflakes. Tim Sandall” alt=”Snowflakes. Tim Sandall” classes=””] Snowflakes. Tim Sandall

Unlike snowdrops, which are low-growing and flower from late-winter, snowflakes (often called summer snowflakes despite flowering from March) are tall and less delicate in habit. This bulbous perennial thrives in shade and has a tendency to spread if left unchecked, however it can be a useful addition to a shady border where little else blooms as early. Snowflakes work well when planted with other shade-tolerant plants, like red campion.

Grow snowflakes in moist but well-drained soil in partial shade.

Flowers: March to May

Height x Spread: 50cm x 10cm

• Buy snowflakes from Crocus and Suttons

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Cowslip, Primula veris

[image id=”61481″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” title=”Primula veris. Jason Ingram” alt=”Primula veris. Jason Ingram” classes=””] Primula veris. Jason Ingram

Cowslips are a beautiful native wildflower, closely related to primroses. It thrives in moist soil so does well at the pond edge, and is visited by many pollinators.

Grow cowslips in moist but well-drained soil in sun to partial shade.

Flowers: March to May

Height x Spread: 25cm x 25cm

• Buy snowflakes from Crocus and Suttons

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English bluebell, Hyacinthoides non-scripta

[image id=”83562″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” title=”English bluebells. Rory Glanville” alt=”English bluebells. Rory Glanville” classes=””] English bluebells. Rory Glanville

English bluebells are known for carpeting the woodland floor in mid-spring, but can be grown easily in gardens. Bear in mind that they could hybridise with Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica), and already hybridised bluebells (Hyacinthoides x massartiana). Make sure you buy your bluebells from a reputable supplier, or grow from seed so you can be sure the plants haven’t been dug from the wild. If you have other bluebells growing in your garden, remove them to prevent hybridisation.

Grow English bluebells in moist but well-drained soil in sun to partial shade.

Flowers: April to May

Height x Spread: 40cm x 8cm

• Buy English bluebells from Naturescape

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Elephant’s ears, Bergenia

[image id=”128907″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” title=”Bergenia flowers. Jason Ingram” alt=”Bergenia flowers. Jason Ingram” classes=””] Bergenia flowers. Jason Ingram

Known as elephant’s ears, Bergenia flowers from mid-spring and thrives in partial shade, so is a great choice for adding a burst of colour to a shady border early in the season.

Grow bergenia in moist but well-drained soil.

Flowers: April to May

Height x Spread: 60cm x 75cm

• Buy bergenia from Crocus and Suttons

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Alan Titchmarsh’s favourite spring flowers

In this short podcast, Alan Titchmarsh shares his favourite spring flowers, and below, we’ve listed 20 of our favourite spring flowers to grow.

* This article was originally published here

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