While our entire garden shines in spring, there are a few standouts that steal the show. Here are some of the spring-blooming plants that we look forward to seeing year after year.
1. Spider azalea
Name: Rhododendron stenopetalum ‘Linearifolium’
Zones: 8–10
Bloom time: Late spring
Size: 3 feet tall and wide
Conditions: Partial shade; moist, well-drained soil
Native range: Japan
This is a hard-to-find plant. Both its evergreen foliage and flower petals are strappy and thin. Spider azalea packs a lot of color into a small package.
2. Leatherleaf viburnum
Name: Viburnum rhytidophyllum
Zones: 5–8
Bloom time: Midspring
Size: 6 to 10 feet tall and 6 to 12 feet wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; medium, well-drained soil
Native range: Central and western China
The lacy white flowers of this viburnum contrast well with its deeply textured, veiny leaves.
3. ‘Fireglow’ euphorbia
Name: Euphorbia griffithii ‘Fireglow’
Zones: 4–9
Bloom time: Late spring
Size: 1 to 3 feet tall and wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; dry to medium, well-drained soil
Native range: Central Asia
This is an easy-growing, reliable euphorbia that brings hot summer color to our spring garden with its fiery orange bracts.
4. ‘The Honourable Jean Marie de Montague’ rhododendron
Name: Rhododendron ‘The Honourable Jean Marie de Montague’
Zones: 6b–9
Blom time: Midspring
Size: 5 to 7 feet tall and 5 to 10 feet wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil
Native range: Hybrid
It’s unusual to get color like this from a rhododendron. The vivid red flowers are a focal point in this otherwise understated garden bed.
5. Corsican hellebore
Name: Helleborus argutifolius
Zones: 6–8
Bloom time: Early spring
Size: 1 to 2 feet tall and wide
Conditions: Partial to full shade; moist, well-drained soil
Native range: Corsica, Sardinia
This hellebore blooms for months with pale sea-green flowers drooping above deeply lobed foliage.
6. Honey bush
Name: Melianthus major
Zones: 7b–12
Bloom time: Early spring
Size: 8 to 12 feet tall and wide
Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil
Native range: South Africa
We love this shrub’s evergreen silvery foliage and burgundy flower spikes. We tell visitors to rub the foliage to release the distinctive peanut butter smell.
British Columbians Patrick and Suzanne Bulmer are lifelong gardeners.
Photos, except where noted: DoreenWynja.com
Fine Gardening Recommended Products
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