As winter loosens its grip, the arrival of spring brings a burst of fresh color to gardens across the country. But depending on where you live, the best plants for a show-stopping display of spring blooms can vary dramatically. That’s why we turned to regional gardening experts to identify the top four plants that bring the most stunning spring color to their part of the country.
From early-blooming perennials that shake off the cold to native shrubs and trees that dazzle with bright blossoms, these expert-recommended selections will help you create a spectacular spring garden, no matter your region. Whether you’re in the cool and misty Pacific Northwest, the ever-changing Midwest, or the temperate Southeast, these plants are proven performers in your local climate.
Read on to discover the best spring bloomers for your area and get inspired to fill your garden with vibrant color this season!
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Pacific Northwest
‘Marble Chip’ Japanese Horse Chestnut
Name: Aesculus turbinata ‘Marble Chip’
Zones: 5–9
Size: 20 to 30 feet tall and wide
Conditions: Partial shade; moist, rich soil
Native range: Japan
Not all spring color is about flowers. As the days lengthen and the temperatures warm, the new growth on this variegated Japanese horse chestnut explodes into brilliant shades of salmon and neon pink. From the moment the buds break until the palmately compound leaves fully expand, the color is nonstop. The new leaves are shiny and almost succulent in appearance, and quickly grow to dinner-plate size, reaching over 12 inches across. The pink tones fade as the leaves mature to deep green with patches of creamy white. Site this bold spring beauty in a spot that gets morning sun and afternoon shade to prevent its variegated foliage from burning. It will also appreciate supplemental water during dry weather to keep it looking fresh.
‘Arneson Gem’ Deciduous Azalea
Name: Rhododendron ‘Arneson Gem’
Zones: 5–9
Size: 3 to 4 feet tall and wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; average to moist, well-drained soil
Native range: Hybrid
The flashy blooms of deciduous azaleas are a must for the spring garden, and ‘Arneson Gem’ is one of the best. Warm red flower buds open to unveil golden yellow flowers with vibrant orange highlights. As the floral trusses mature, the golden color dominates, becoming a beacon in the landscape. From the moment the first flower opens, you will be drawn in by the sweet fragrance, and pollinators find its blooms irresistible as well. This garden-origin hybrid was selected not only for its flowers but also for its tidy, compact upright habit and resistance to powdery mildew that attacks the foliage of so many other deciduous azaleas in late summer. Due to this resistance, the attractive red and orange fall foliage remains unmarred by disease.
Giant Purple Wake Robin
Name: Trillium kurabayashii
Zones: 6–9
Size: 12 to 18 inches tall and wide
Conditions: Partial shade; moist, fertile, well-drained soil
Native range: Northern California and southwestern Oregon
The West Coast is blessed with some of the most spectacular Trillium species in the world, and my favorite of these natives is giant purple wake robin. This robust grower emerges in early spring with beautiful maroon-purple mottled foliage and large flower buds in the middle of the leaves. The flower buds start to color when the plant is only 6 or 7 inches tall, but as the leaves and stems expand and mature, the flowers fully open with upright petals reaching up to 5 inches long. The blooms are usually a deep blood red, but can range from cinnamon brown, green, burgundy, or, very rarely, yellow. It is truly a sight to behold in full flower. This is a woodland native that will be happiest if it is planted in dappled to open shade.
Giant White Fawn Lily
Name: Erythronium oregonum
Zones: 7–9
Size: 6 to 10 inches tall and 5 inches wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil
Native range: Pacific Northwest, including British Columbia and Northern California
This native bulb is unmatched for beauty and grace. Delicate stems rise above the foliage with up to three glowing, lily-like flowers nodding at the tip of each stem. The blossoms’ narrow petals curl slightly, offering a glimpse of the bright yellow eye at the center of the bloom. The foliage acts as the perfect foil for the flowers, with low, arching leaves heavily mottled with chocolate brown and silver. It is the kind of plant you imagine would grow in a fairy’s garden. It will go dormant from summer to late winter and can reseed and spread in suitable areas. Young seedlings look like grass, so be careful not to weed them out if you’d like new plants to develop.
Regional expert: Richie Steffen is executive director of the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden in Seattle and a Fine Gardening contributing editor.
Southwest
Eve’s Necklace
Name: Styphnolobium affine
Zones: 7–9
Size: 15 to 30 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained, alkaline soil
Native range: South central United States
Beginning in late March or early April, romantic clusters of ivory and dusty-pink flowers dangle from this small deciduous tree, a cousin of the better-known Texas mountain laurel (Sophora secundiflora, Zones 7–11). Playing peekaboo among bright green leaves, the sweetly scented flowers draw eager bumblebees and honeybees, making it an ideal choice for a pollinator garden. I grow Eve’s necklace as an understory tree in bright shade, where its willowy limbs stretch for the light with a quirky, almost vine-like habit. When it is grown in full sun it will develop a naturally rounded canopy of slightly drooping branches. The tree’s namesake seedpods, resembling strings of ebony beads, appear as the flowers fade.
Agarita
Name: Mahonia trifoliolata
Zones: 7–9
Size: 3 to 8 feet tall and wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained alkaline soil
Native range: Southwestern United States and northern Mexico
When the garden is still winter-hushed but waking up in February, this holly-like native shrub truly shines. Tight bouquets of honey-scented, golden flowers cluster along its branches, a striking contrast to the prickly yet handsome blue-green leaves. Fun fact: under the bark, the inner wood is bright yellow. As one of the first plants to flower in spring, agarita attracts foraging honeybees and butterflies, who flock to this early nectar source. Bright red berries follow the flowers, adding sparkling color and providing food for birds and other wildlife. Historically, Native Americans and European settlers put all parts of agarita to use, collecting its berries, wood, and roots to make food, medicine, and yellow dye.
Gulf Coast Penstemon
Name: Penstemon tenuis
Zones: 7–10
Size: 12 to 18 inches tall and wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; average to moist, well-drained soil
Native range: South central United States
Lavender, bell-shaped flowers ring in spring each April on this delicate but sturdy perennial. It may be overlooked when planted singly, but massed along the front of a border or ribboned through a meadow, its flowers create a pinkish-purple haze that would do Jimi Hendrix proud. The tubular flowers, held aloft on upright, slender stems, attract hummingbirds and bees, and I smile when I see honeybee hineys sticking out as they forage for nectar. With a preference for moist, well-drained soil, this is a good companion for golden columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha, Zones 3–9) and purple shamrock (Oxalis triangularis, Zones 8–11), which appreciate similar conditions. Let the seed heads stand after flowering if you’d like some volunteer seedlings next spring.
Gopher Spurge
Name: Euphorbia rigida
Zones: 7–10
Size: 1 to 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; lean, well-drained soil
Native range: Southern Europe to southwest Asia
With chartreuse flowers appearing in early spring, this handsome spurge is both eye-catching and ice-breaking; my neighbors frequently ask about it. Starting in March, acid-yellow bracts frame small yellow flowers, creating an almost nuclear glow against its fleshy stems of blue-green foliage. Bees can’t resist it, homing in on the flowers, but happily, deer don’t like it thanks to the bitter milky sap in its stems. That sap can be irritating to human skin and eyes, so I always wear gloves and eye protection when cutting back the long, lanky flowering stems in early summer. I’m careful not to snip any of the nonflowering stems, which will look great all summer no matter how hot or dry it gets.
Regional expert: Pam Penick publishes Digging (penick.net) and is the author of several books, including the forthcoming Gardens of Texas. She lives in Austin.
Mountain West
‘Toba’ Hawthorn
Name: Crataegus × mordenensis ‘Toba’
Zones: 3–7
Size: 12 to 20 feet tall and wide
Conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil
Native range: Hybrid
Clusters of fragrant, double pink flowers adorn this small tree as the foliage emerges in early spring. With time, the flowers fade to a lighter shade of pink before the petals fall to carpet the ground beneath. ’Toba’ is a hybrid between two hawthorn species, C. laevigata from Great Britain, and C. succulenta from North America. This petite beauty has a tidy growth habit and better cold hardiness than most other hawthorns. The dark red clusters of fruit that follow the spring blooms persist into early winter, while the trunk has a picturesque, gnarly texture that gives this woody good winter interest. It’s a great choice where space is limited, since it is a small tree even when fully mature.
Vvedensky’s Tulip
Name: Tulipa vvedenskyi
Zones: 4–8
Size: 3 to 6 inches tall and 5 to 9 inches wide
Conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil
Native range: Central Asia
Species tulips are some of my favorite early spring flowers, and this one probably sports the brightest color. After a long winter, there is nothing better than the saturated, deep orange red of Vvedensky’s tulip. Even before the flowers appear, the wavy, gray-green leaves are decorative, sprawled out close to the ground to protect themselves from cold and wind. Even the seedpods are ornamental, and where the climate is montane (like in this tulip’s native range in Uzbekistan), they will seed themselves around and multiply with time. If you can’t find the species, look for a standout cultivar like ‘Tangerine Beauty’, which often appears in catalogs.
‘Perfect Pink’ Santa Fe Phlox
Name: Phlox nana ‘Perfect Pink’
Zones: 4–8
Size: 5 to 8 inches tall and 12 to 15 inches wide
Conditions: Full sun; well-drained, dry soil
Native range: Southwestern United States
This phlox is aptly named. The abundant flowers are a stunning pure pink with no trace of mauve or purple, and they are significantly larger than those of the species. Each flower also bears an intricate white center that draws the eye in. ‘Perfect Pink’ blooms as early as late April but will repeat throughout the growing season whenever moisture is adequate. While it appears delicate, it’s a very tough plant. This is a phlox that can quickly bounce back from drought, hail, or heavy rain. Even when not in bloom, the finely textured foliage provides interest. In the right conditions of very good drainage with a modicum of moisture, ‘Perfect Pink’ Santa Fe phlox may generate seedlings.
Elegant Clarkia
Name: Clarkia unguiculata
Zones: Self-sowing annual
Size: 24 to 36 inches tall and 6 inches wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; lean soil
Native range: California
Although technically an annual, this gorgeous plant reliably self-sows in the Mountain West, leading some to think it must be a perennial. Above all else, this frilly plant needs low-fertility soil. When first introducing elegant clarkia to your garden, the seeds should be sown as soon as the ground thaws in spring. In Zones 7 and above, it may be sown in fall for spring bloom. The flowers may be pink, salmon, red, lavender, mauve (pictured), or white. Blooms are often double and are spaced nicely on the wiry stalks, opening from the bottom up. Elegant clarkia makes a good cut flower, lasting for a week or longer in a vase. The season ends abruptly when hot weather arrives. This plant even does well in pots, as long as you get them planted early.
Regional expert: Scott Aker is the director of the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens in Wyoming.
Midwest
‘Romance’ Foxtail Lily
Name: Eremurus isabellinus ‘Romance’
Zones: 5–8
Size: Up to 7 feet tall and 3 feet wide
Conditions: Full sun; rich, well-drained soil
Native range: Western and central Asia
I don’t often see this plant in yards in the Chicago area, but I wish I did. Let’s do something about it! What makes ‘Romance’ foxtail lily work for me is planting it on an extremely steep slope in my front yard. This seems to circumvent the “death trap” that is the meaty clay soil of this area. Eremurus arrives as a bizarre-looking rootstock that is planted in autumn. Make sure you get it in the ground immediately after delivery, as they tend to quickly dry out and die. The plants look a little alien-like as they emerge in spring but grow into towers of strappy foliage right away. By the end of May, giant rockets of pale peach are a sight to see. I then let them die all the way back, relying on neighboring perennials to fill the void. Be warned: crowding is the Achilles’ heel of this plant.
‘Lisa Marie’ Lungwort
Name: Pulmonaria ‘Lisa Marie’
Zones: 4–8
Size: 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide
Conditions: Partial to full shade; moist, well-drained soil
Native range: Europe and western Asia
If someone were to accuse me of buying plants based on the name, I’d deny it. But then someone would say, “What about Pulmonaria ‘Lisa Marie’?” and I’d have to plead guilty. In my defense, I didn’t buy it on name alone. The raspberry flowers are quite large in comparison with most lungworts, and the long (up to 24 inches) silver-spotted leaves give me little hearts where my eyes should be. Early pollinators flock to the flower clusters in droves. I like to combine ‘Lisa Marie’ lungwort with some ‘Feather Falls’ sedge (Carex ‘Feather Falls’, Zones 6–9) and some dark-foliaged heuchera (Heuchera cv., Zones 4–9) and then call it a successful day.
Downy Serviceberry
Name: Amelanchier arborea
Zones: 4–8
Size: 15 to 25 feet tall and wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; tolerates most soil types
Native range: Eastern and midwestern North America
If you need a tree that you can trust not to fall on your house, this is it. Not just because it doesn’t get tall enough to actually fall, but because it’s a well-adjusted native that wouldn’t dream of it. Perfect for urban yards where every plant needs to do eight things to earn a spot, downy serviceberry is early to bloom and quick to berry. Its fruit is delicious for people and wildlife alike. If you let the berries ferment in situ for a bit, you get to watch the birds eat them and get drunk and then do funny things—birds are lightweights. Serviceberries have riotous autumn color with lots of yellow tones, and they tend to have pretty bark to appreciate in winter too.
‘Pixie’ Reticulated Iris
Name: Iris reticulata ‘Pixie’
Zones: 5–9
Size: 4 to 6 inches tall and wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; average to moist, well-drained soil
Native range: Western Asia
If you took an iris and accidentally washed it in hot water and threw it in the dryer, what comes out would look like a ‘Pixie’ reticulated iris. This variety has dark purple petals with yellow crests, and blooms when the crocuses (Crocus spp. and cvs., Zones 3–9) do in March, when the rest of the garden looks like an old kitchen sponge that has been rung out too many times. ‘Pixie’ reticulated iris is planted as a bulb in autumn. Be sure to choose a site where you won’t miss its petite presence. Mass bunches of them close to a walkway or window for a stunning effect, as they are tiny and easily overlooked if planted singly.
Regional expert: Amanda Thomsen owns Aster Gardens, a small plant and garden shop in Lemont, Illinois. She frequently neglects her home garden but would like to tell you what to do with yours.
Southeast
‘Zipline’ Holly Olive
Name: Osmanthus armatus ‘Zipline’
Zones: 6b–9
Size: 8 feet tall and wide in 10 years
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained, acidic soil
Native range: China
Colorful leaves, variegation, and dramatic texture are such great elements to work into any garden design. Combine these characteristics into a durable plant perfectly sized to fit almost any garden, and the result would be ‘Zipline’ holly olive. This wonderful evergreen introduction from Xera Nursery in Portland, Oregon, has only recently ventured into the gardening world. The deeply serrated leaf texture and bright variegation put on a spring show, especially as new leaves emerge tinted with pink. In fall, its tiny blooms produce a sweet fragrance that wafts through the garden. I love this plant and you will too, especially if you are able to site it in nearly full sun, where it will give you the best leaf color and flowering.
‘Carolina Yellow Jacket’ Pitcher Plant
Name: Sarracenia ‘Carolina Yellow Jacket’
Zones: 5–9
Size: 1 to 2 feet tall and wide
Conditions: Full sun; moist to wet, acidic soil
Native range: Hybrid of species native to the southeastern United States
The strange, colorful beauty of pitcher plants’ modified leaves tend to outshine even showy spring flowers. ‘Carolina Yellow Jacket’ stands out in my collection as an exceptionally easy grower. It produces brilliant chartreuse pitchers topped by charming pink and pale yellow blooms that remind me of winged biscuits. Grow this bug-eating beauty in a flashy container and I promise that it will grab the attention of any garden visitor. I put my pitcher plants in very large containers without drainage holes, or in smaller ones placed in shallow trays of water. Sarracenias have specific soil and water needs, preferring moist peat mixed with sand or perlite, but following their growing instructions is a breeze.
‘Country Cousin’ Aromi Azalea
Name: Rhododendron ‘Country Cousin’
Zones: 6–9
Size: 6 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; rich, well-drained, organic soil
Native range: Hybrid
In the South, we are fortunate to have many exquisite native azalea species, and the late Dr. Eugene Aromi from Mobile, Alabama, took them a step further. His selections have the larger flower traits of the Exbury hybrids but with the added heat tolerance of our native species. Of the hundred or more Aromi hybrids available today, trying to pick just one was a chore. I love ‘Linda Guy’ for its large flowers and ‘Four Kings’ for its fiery shade of orange; ‘Canary Isles’ is a must-have too. How could I choose only one for this list? After discussing my finalists with a local grower, we both confirmed ‘Country Cousin’ rises to the top with its red buds, pink petals, and warm golden spot. Give it more sun to boost its flowering potential.
Eclipse® Bigleaf Hydrangea
Name: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Bailmacseven’
Zones: 5–9
Size: 3 to 5 feet tall and wide
Conditions: Partial shade; rich, moist, well-drained soil
Native range: Japan, China, and Korea
My garden was graced with over 100 hydrangea varieties years ago, before the onset of the relentless summer droughts and extreme heat we’ve been getting lately. I have lost most of my bigleaf hydrangeas, despite my affection for their bountiful blooms that appear from late spring through summer, and now grow just a handful of cultivars in large pots that can be easily moved to shadier environs as the summer sun angles progress over my garden. The key has been to keep them within easy reach of my overworked garden hose. I swore off buying more hydrangeas until I laid eyes upon Eclipse®. Fantastic dark purple foliage and deep reddish blooms on a compact form made this beauty an essential plant for me. Siting it with some shade is best, especially in the Deep South.
Regional expert: Hayes Jackson is an urban regional extension agent with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the liaison for Longleaf Botanical Gardens in Anniston, Alabama.
Mid-Atlantic
Robb’s Spurge
Name: Euphorbia amygdaloides subsp. robbiae
Zones: 6–8
Size: 18 to 24 inches tall and 8 to 18 inches wide
Conditions: Full sun to full shade; medium to dry, well-drained soil
Native range: Europe, western Asia, and the Mediterranean region
This evergreen ground cover is easy to grow and is one of the most useful plants for dry shade. Dark green, deer-resistant foliage emerges in cheery whorls with an energetic vibe, but the real fun comes with its unusual blooms in spring. Stalks rise above the foliage, holding chartreuse bracts with tiny yellow true flowers. The bracts last for months, and their tight, graphic shape is somehow both elegant and a little cartoonish. This plant spreads by rhizomes, so plan to use it as a ground cover, not as a single specimen. I find offshoots easy to pull out in my garden, though it is possible for them to get out of control. Location, location, location!
Flame Thrower® Eastern Redbud
Name: Cercis canadensis ‘NC2016-2’
Zones: 5–9
Size: 15 to 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil
Native range: Hybrid of eastern North American species
The pink blossoms of eastern redbuds are a spring favorite in the Mid-Atlantic, but the cultivar Flame Thrower® has dramatic foliage that’s even more remarkable than the flowers that precede it. This hybrid’s new spring growth leafs out in a burgundy shade that fades through a rainbow of red, orange, and yellow as spring progresses. It finally settles on the beautiful bright green we love from one of its parents, The Rising Sun™ (C. canadensis ‘JN2’, Zones 4–8). It’s like autumn in reverse. Subsequent new growth at the branch ends continues this pattern, giving a flaming effect around the silhouette. It’s a cool, exotic-looking option for a specimen tree. Use sparingly; a grove might make your eyes twitch.
‘Little Honey’ Oakleaf Hydrangea
Name: Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Little Honey’
Zones: 5–9
Size: 3 to 4 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide
Conditions: Partial shade; moist, well-drained soil
Native range: Southeastern United States
The foliage of ‘Little Honey’ oakleaf hydrangea is right up there with any daffodil (Narcissus spp. and cvs., Zones 3–9) when it comes to lighting up the spring landscape. The distinctive lobed, serrated leaves unfurl in a strong golden yellow. They then gradually turn a more chartreuse green for the summer season, and you still get that classic red autumn foliage. The compact size will fit in almost any garden—just site it for some afternoon shade to avoid leaf burn during the summer months. Use it as a bright accent or plant it against a dark evergreen foil like Emerald Colonnade® holly (Ilex ‘RutHol1’, Zones 7–9) or Emerald Heights® distylium (Distylium ‘PIIDIST-I’, Zones 6–9) for maximum effect.
Koreanspice Viburnum
Name: Viburnum carlesii
Zones: 4–8
Size: 4 to 8 feet tall and wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil
Native range: Korea and Japan
Koreanspice viburnum is one of the stars of spring because of its fragrance, but I think the emerging flowers are the most appealing feature of this popular shrub. Clusters of tight, shiny buds form in a rosy pink that would be a lovely nail polish color. They gradually open to paler pink flowers that fade to white, often with all blooming stages present at the same time for a perfectly artful stem. People often use this shrub as a foundation plant, likely for its wafting scent near entryways, but doing so often necessitates pruning for size. Instead, plant it in the back of a bed where it can grow to its potential for a more low-maintenance option. It also works well as a hedge and is deer resistant.
Regional expert: Maureen Robinson is president of the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., chapter of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD).
Northeast
Virginia Spring Beauty
Name: Claytonia virginica
Zones: 3–8
Size: 6 to 8 inches tall and wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil
Native range: Eastern North America
There are many gorgeous spring ephemerals to chose from, but one I would not be without is Virginia spring beauty. This understated plant sends out both foliage and flowers in April before it hunkers down into complete dormancy. It is quite happy living under a deciduous tree, providing the loveliest pink-white carpet before the tree’s leaves emerge. This native bulb will naturalize delightfully if allowed to set seed, preferring moist soil but tolerating dry conditions. If containment is the name of the game, simply deadhead or string trim the plants after flowers fade. If you are looking for a spring-blooming native plant that is a departure from the norm, this diminutive beauty is the one for you.
‘Early Fantasy’ Crown Imperial Fritillary
Name: Fritillaria imperialis ‘Early Fantasy’
Zones: 4–8
Size: 36 to 40 inches tall and 8 to 12 inches wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil
Native range: Southwestern Asia
This is one of the most striking spring bulbs I have seen. The downward-facing, bell-shaped blossoms are held aloft by dark-colored stems and are topped with spiky foliage “hats,” making their appearance all the more dramatic. You may be familiar with the yellows, reds, and oranges of other crown imperials, but ‘Early Fantasy’ is in a class of its own. The soft apricot colors aren’t garish and are welcome in any bulb display. This plant blooms at the same time as daffodils (Narcissus spp. and cvs., Zones 3–9), complementing them perfectly. As an added bonus, crown imperial fritillaries taste terrible, so deer, rabbits, and other critters leave them alone.
Yuki Cherry Blossom® Deutzia
Name: Deutzia ‘NCDX2’
Zones: 5–8
Size: 1 to 2 feet tall and wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil
Native range: Hybrid
Yuki Cherry Blossom® deutzia was made for small spaces. It offers the impressive, arching branches that we expect from deutzias but without the usual grand size. The many-petaled, pink blossoms are simply the icing on the cake. This mini shrub makes the perfect companion to spring bulbs. It will not overwhelm a delicate planting but instead offer its graceful beauty and rounded habit as a complement to the more upright forms common in bulbs such as alliums (Allium spp. and cvs., Zones 4–11) and tulips (Tulipa spp. and cvs., Zones 3–8). If you, like me, love deutzias but simply don’t have the space for a large shrub, allow your heart to be stolen by this little treasure.
‘Pierre’s Purple’ Epimedium
Name: Epimedium grandiflorum ‘Pierre’s Purple’
Zones: 5–8
Size: 10 to 18 inches tall and wide
Conditions: Partial to full shade; medium to dry, well-drained soil
Native range: Japan, Korea, and northeastern China
I fell in love with epimediums the first day I met them. They are perfect dry-shade ground cover plants. Once established, they are low-maintenance queens that tolerate extremely dry conditions with hardly a shrug. Their one flaw is that they are slow spreaders, but have patience and they will reward you with increasingly impressive displays every year, with spring flowers that are always worth the wait. ‘Pierre’s Purple’ boasts large purple blooms above foliage that emerges bronze before fading to green. It is an unusual color contrast for spring that is sure to attract attention in the shade of your favorite tree. What better way to start the gardening season?
Regional expert: Betsy Ekholm is the gardens manager at Blithewold Manor, Gardens, and Arboretum in Bristol, RI. She is also a Northeast regional reporter for FineGardening.com.
Regional expert photos: courtesy of the contributors.
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