20 Best Spring Flowers To Make Your Garden Pop

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spring bedding display in a public park in england

Photos by R A Kearton//Getty Images

There's nothing quite like seeing the first bright bloom pop up after a long, lifeless winter. Spring flowers like tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and peonies are cheery, fragrant plants that'll turn your garden into a colorful oasis come springtime. Just plant them in the fall (or the spring if you're dealing with tender annuals and tropicals), let them slumber for the winter, and watch them bring vitality, color, and beauty to your spring landscape. Whether you opt for perennials that return season after season or annuals that require replanting every year, choosing a mix of seasonal blossoms will give your garden a gorgeous glow-up.

But before you start planting your flower beds, you'll want to make sure you're giving your plants exactly what they'll need to thrive. It goes without saying that you'll need to read the plant's label as clearly as possible. Then, you'll want to identify the best location to grow your spring flowers. For varieties that require full sun (six or more hours of direct sunlight), a shady area will inhibit their growth, whereas shade lovers will sizzle if you plant them in a brightly lit spot. Of course, before planting your perennials, you'll also benefit from checking your USDA hardiness zone to see if they'll survive the winter in your region. And before you do any gardening work, load up on all the best gardening tools!

Elevate your spring garden with these ideas:

Here's When to Plant Tulip Bulbs for a Colorful Garden This Spring
The Best Tips for Growing Your Very Own Onions This Spring
Everything to Plant in March for a Vibrant Spring Garden

Daffodil

Jacky Parker//Getty Images

With trumpet-shaped heads and brightly colored petals, daffodils are a stunning signal of spring's arrival. While this seasonal flower often grows in cheery yellow or crisp white, it's also found in rich shades of pink, orange, red, and even green. This bloom isn't just beautiful, though; it's also low-maintenance and rodent-resistant. Simply scope out a sunny spot to plant them in the fall, and watch your spring garden transform!

Tulip

Photos by R A Kearton//Getty Images

Tulips are another spring flower that'll bring a burst of color to your garden, from a punchy pop of pink to a deeper sliver of maroon. Although tulips typically have a weaker second bloom, you can grow them as perennials with the right care. Many gardeners replant tulip bulbs in a bright spot every fall, but because these blossoms attract rodents, you'll want to protect them in a pot or plant them beneath rodent-repelling flowers.

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Grape Hyacinth

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As the name suggests, this spring flower resembles a tiny bunch of grapes. These buds even give off a mildly sweet aroma, just like the fruit. Unlike grapes, though, these pretty petals can naturalize, meaning they multiply rapidly and form dense, colorful patches across your yard. Plant them in the fall in an area that gets a lot of sunlight and that's inaccessible to your pets, since they're toxic to animals.

Lily of the Valley

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This classic perennial is known for its tiny, bell-shaped blossoms that hang gracefully from slender stems and fill the air with a sweet-smelling fragrance. While this spring flower blooms for about three weeks, as it matures, the petals will turn into red berries. Since this bud grows in dense populations and spreads quickly, plant them in a spacious (and shaded) area, so they won't overshadow any other plants.

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Crocus

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Crocuses, with their colorful, cup-shaped blooms and honey-like scent, are some of the first spring flowers that you'll spot in your garden. Just beware: Because rodents often dig them up and spread their seeds, you might find them popping up in unexpected places like underneath your bushes. Regardless, they tend to thrive in full sunshine to partial shade, so choose their blooming location accordingly.

Iris

work by Lisa Kling//Giphy

Irises, which come in many different forms and colors, have striking sword-like foliage and dramatic-looking flowers. They'll make a beautiful statement on the garden border. Plus, they multiply and come back year after year. The shortest varieties bloom as early as mid-March, but taller irises bloom from mid-May to June. As for planting, don’t bury them too deep as their rhizomes need to be close to the surface (about three inches deep). Irises will thrive in full sun exposure. Also, they attract bees and hummingbirds but are toxic to humans and pets.

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Forsythia

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The brilliant yellow of forsythia is enough to bring a cheerful blast of color to any garden as the springtime starts. They low-maintenance and fast-growing shrubs will start blooming in early spring, but are best planted in the fall in full sun. While some varieties will grow to be just a few feet tall, most can grow up to ten feet long with arching stems—perfect for the butterflies and bees that love them. You can even cut the flower stems to make beautiful arrangements!

Azalea

Julie Eggers//Getty Images

They're one of the most popular flowering shrubs for a reason! Just look at the blazing, bright pink petals. You can also find the trumpet-shaped flowers in lavender, white, salmon, and red. But no matter the color, they'll be an attractive addition to your porch or yard when used as hedging, a potted plant or even spread throughout your landscape. Plant them in the spring or fall, but be sure they get partial shade. You should also note that they're toxic to you and your pets.

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Lilac

ArturKo//Getty Images

The cone-shaped clusters of four-petalled flowers that make up lilacs instantly remind us of magical cottage-style gardens. What's even more magical? They're exceptionally hardy, low maintenance, and long-lived. Choose from shades of white, purple, pink, blue, or yellow, then plant them in early spring or in the fall before it freezes—in a place that gets full sun. Because they're excellent pollinator flowers, the fragrant blooms will likely bring buzzing bees to your yard come springtime.

Diascia

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These delicate flowers are perfect for using in hanging baskets because of their trailing growth habit. They come in a variety of pretty pink shades, including mauve, rose, and coral, and flower nonstop from late spring into the autumn.

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Magnolia

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Depending on the variety, magnolias can bloom from late winter to mid-spring. So, if you want a head start to the season, look to these trees for their big and beautiful blossoms. You'll find a variety of types, including both evergreen and deciduous, so be sure to choose one that will thrive in your hardiness zone. Because they're wide-spreading, you'll also want to choose a spot in your yard that has plenty of space for their branches and flowers to take shape.

Wallflower

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These fragrant blooms are easy to grow and would make great additions to any garden. Plant them 10 to 12 weeks before the last frost in your area, in a sunny position with well-draining soil.

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Snowdrop

This cheerful flower is one of the first to bloom in the spring. It's extremely easy to care for and can be planted in a variety of places in your yard. Plant snowdrops in early to late fall, depending on where you live.

Bluebell

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You know spring is in full swing when you see these pretty blue-violet flowers in full bloom. In addition to beautifying your garden, they also make great cut flowers.

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Forget-Me-Not

Agnieszka Klimaszewska//Getty Images

These sweet blue blooms spread on their own and will grow fast in your garden. They're also known for attracting butterflies, only adding to their beauty!

Foxglove

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This striking plant grows tubular pink, white, or purple blooms with colorful speckles, making it a standout in any garden. They usually don't flower until their second year but they'll be well worth the wait!

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Peony

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These spring bloomers are known as the “queen of flowers” in their native China, and it's easy to see why. With their beautiful scent and showy blooms, they're sure to be the stars of your garden.

Columbine

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Unusual flowers and delicate foliage make this perennial a must-have for a garden in late spring. Columbines are available in many different exotic-looking forms and saturated colors including pink, purple, coral, and red. They thrive when given part sun.

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Snowflake

Juliette Wade//Getty Images

These plants, also called leucojum, bloom profusely. They have a wispy, baby’s breath-type effect and will naturalize well. They’re also pest-resistant and tolerate a wide range of soils and exposures. They like part shade to full sun.

Flowering Quince

Maria Usanina//Getty Images

This flowering shrub boasts beautiful red, orange, white, or pink flowers that bloom for about 10 to 14 days and are followed by tiny fruits that can be used in jellies. Any plant that can go from beauty to fruity is okay by us!

Arricca Elin SanSoneContributing Writer

Arricca Elin SanSone is a writer, editor, and content creator who specializes in lifestyle and gardening. With a background in health reporting, she applies these same research skills when writing about the science of growing things. She trials new plants in her expansive garden, and her houseplant collection consists of 60+ varieties. Arricca has written thousands of articles for publications such as Country Living, House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, VERANDA, Southern Living, and more. She’s happiest when digging in the dirt, baking, or spending time with the people and dogs she loves.