Check Out Spring Blooming Perennials for Early Spring Color!

Nature Hills Nursery | February 14, 2026

We love spring-flowering plants and trees! Their cheerful color and fragrance are much-needed bursts of beauty to help us shake off a long, sometimes dreary winter!

Get ready to folic this spring of 2024 with some new and exciting spring-blooming perennials that will surely be your new favorite harbingers of the growing season!

Freshest Spring Flowering Favorites!
In With The Old and In With The New Too!

Freshest Spring Flowering Favorites!

Leap into spring by mixing these easy-to-grow perennial bloomers among your spring bulbs, early spring flowering shrubs, and early-blooming trees for layers upon layers of spring delight!

1. Winter Glow Bergenia

This Pig Squeak cultivar is a truly unique and highly adaptable plant that has a world of unique perks that make it a must-have for this year's garden refresher! Let’s start with the fact it’s an evergreen perennial in mild winter climates, has fall and winter foliage color, and even reblooming fragrant rosy pink blooms! Then toss in its highly adaptable spreading rhizomes and lovely rosettes of deep green leaves that squeak when you rub them and handle full sun to full heavy shade!

Evergreen glossy green foliage rosettes
Slender red stems with clusters of ruffled trumpet-shaped rose-red blooms
Fragrant for cut flower bouquets and nectar-rich for bees and butterflies!
Widely adaptable
Deer and rabbits seldom bother them
Easy to grow throughout USDA hardiness zones 3 to 8!

Call them Elephant’s Ears, or spell them Winterglow or Winter Glow, Pigsqueak or Pig Squeak, Bergenia is brown-thumb-proof and won’t take up a ton of space in the garden despite being a real spring treat and year-round show-stopper!

2. Dark Side of the Moon Astilbe

Need a dramatic near-black foliage plant with blooms that shoot for the stars? You need the Dark Side of the Moon Astilbe! The intense compound leaves from tidy cascading mounds throughout the landscape, soon accented by upright green stems full of branched, deep pink to maroon buds! Opening candy pink from the bottom up, these are incredibly showy pollinator and hummingbird perennials! Long-lasting in the landscape as they are in a bouquet indoors, these hardy perennials are widely adaptable and very easy to grow if you have average to moist soil.

Tall spires of rosy-purple-pink plumes
Dark cascading near-black foliage all growing season long
Widely adaptable throughout USDA planting zones 4 to 9!
Pollinator and hummingbird-friendly and dramatic cut flowers!
Shade to part-sun gardens, container gardens, and modern fresh color!

Eclipse other plants in your garden with the dark and brooding Dark Side of the Moon Astilbe. Create some much-needed drama in your landscapes! Want something less dark and brooding? Try the new Little Vision in Purple Astilbe for a fluffy candy pink bloom that is equally out of this world, backed by highly textured green mounds of leaves!

3. Newest Creeping Phlox

One of the earliest spring-flowering perennials includes the low-growing Carpet Phlox! Also known as Groundcover Phlox, or Creeping Phlox, some of the newest varieties include the light lavender-pink Fort Hills, the white and purple-eyed North Hills Creeping Phlox, and the vividly eye-popping scarlet-pink Scarlet Flame! You and your early-emerging pollinators will adore these carpets of evergreen needle-like foliage mounds that become smothered in gorgeous fairy flowers!

Cold-hardy early-spring flowering groundcover and edging perennials
Can remain evergreen in many growing zones
Full sun perennials handle drought and xeric sites
Nectar-rich pollinator favorites
Can rebloom in the fall
Blocks weeds as groundcover and great container spillers and fillers

Handling extreme cold in the north, heat and humidity in the south, while remaining easy to grow and low-maintenance everywhere, Creeping Phlox are beloved garden standards!

4. Lungwort

Lungwort are spring-flowering shade-loving perennial plants (Pulmonaria) that are also known as Common Lungwort or Lady's Milk Drops. Lungwort’s silver-speckled foliage is a gorgeous accent for the taller stems with terminal clusters of brilliant blue, pink, or white trumpet-shaped blossoms in the spring! The long-lasting show continues for weeks before leaving, so you can focus on their spectacular, bespeckled leaves all summer and fall. Calling bees (especially Bumblebees!) and Hummingbirds to shady gardens! The light blue or purple blooms age to violets and pinks throughout the mid to late spring, creating a multi-hued effect on the same plant!

Tall stems packed with many little purple, blue to pink color-changing flowers
Blooms all spring on tall stems - Vital pollinator resource
Early spring color in the shade and moist partial shade garden
Spreading and creeping politely by way of underground rhizomes
Wonderfully easy to grow in USDA growing zones 3 to 8/9

Lungworts are ideal shade garden, jeweled, interesting mixed perennial garden additions, lovely Moon garden specimens for their foliage, and work beautifully in containers and planters, or as unique foliage accents!

5. Coral Bells

Coral Bells (Heuchera) may not flower until the summer, but their dramatic and colorful foliage takes the stage from the early days of the spring growing season! Their leaves (sometimes changing color throughout the year) are the real stars of the show anyway, and last much longer than the blooms. Albeit, those delicate and dainty fairy flowers are fragrant and beloved by all - especially florists and pollinators for their long stems, sweet scent, and ample nectar for bees.

The textured leaves can be two-tone or variegated, usually spectacularly saturated, and for the most part, anything but ho-hum green! Choose from chartreuse, purple, near-black, orange, caramel, and peach hues, to red, burgundy, purple, and bronze or silver splashed! Then they change from spring wardrobes to summer hues, to dramatic fall colors too!

Long-lasting - sometimes evergreen/semi-evergreen - textured foliage mounds
Hardy in cold and heat/humidity
Wonderfully easy to grow
Summer blooms are pollinator-friendly and look great in bouquets!
Dizzying array of foliage colors to choose from - looks great all growing season long

Fantastic shade to partial shade garden edging and specimens, or moist full sun cool-climate accents, Coral Bells offer space-saving interest that can’t be beat! Some of the newer varieties of Coral Bells to include in your landscape are the spiced reds of Carnival™ Cinnamon Stick and Carnival™ Fall Festival Coral Bells perpetual autumn colors, the purple, bronze and green Palace Purple, and the soft peachy caramels of Southern Comfort Coral Bells!

In With The Old and In With The New Too!

Keep planting those old-fashioned standards like Peony, Columbine, and Bleeding Hearts, which are always sure-fire early-spring bloomers that consistently knock your socks off, but add a touch of spice with some fresh, new spring-flowering perennials that turn heads!

Check out these and all Spring-Flowering Perennials available at Nature Hills and leap into spring of 2024 with both feet!

Happy Planting!

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best spring-blooming perennials for early color in my garden?

Some of the best spring-blooming perennials for early color include Winter Glow Bergenia, which thrives in zones 3 to 8 and delivers fragrant rosy-pink blooms alongside year-round evergreen foliage, and Dark Side of the Moon Astilbe, which produces stunning deep pink to candy pink plumes above dramatic near-black foliage in average to moist soil. Both are widely adaptable, deer-resistant, and easy to grow, making them excellent choices for gardeners of all skill levels. For the best results, mix these perennials with spring bulbs and early-flowering shrubs to create layered waves of color throughout the season, and shop Nature Hills Nursery to find these and other spring favorites ready to plant.

How long do spring-blooming perennials stay in bloom, and will they rebloom later in the season?

Bloom duration varies by variety, but most spring-blooming perennials put on a show for two to four weeks as temperatures warm. The Winter Glow Bergenia is a standout exception, offering reblooming fragrant rosy pink flowers beyond its initial spring flush, making it an exceptional choice for extended color in zones 3 to 8. To maximize your season-long display, pair these early bloomers with later-season perennials so something is always coming into flower as others fade. Layering spring bulbs, early shrubs, and perennials like Astilbe and Bergenia together is the best strategy for continuous color from late winter through summer.

Which spring-blooming perennials grow best in full sun versus shade?

Winter Glow Bergenia is one of the most adaptable options available, thriving in everything from full sun to full heavy shade across USDA zones 3 to 8, making it an excellent choice for tricky spots in the garden. Dark Side of the Moon Astilbe performs best in partial shade with average to moist soil, where its dramatic near-black foliage and deep pink plumes really shine. For maximum spring impact, pair Bergenia with early bulbs in your shadier beds and tuck Astilbe along a moist woodland edge or shaded border.

What type of soil do spring-blooming perennials prefer, and how should I prepare my beds before planting?

Different spring-blooming perennials have varying soil preferences, but most thrive in well-draining soil with consistent moisture. The Dark Side of the Moon Astilbe, for example, performs best in average to moist soil, while the Winter Glow Bergenia is highly adaptable and can handle a wider range of conditions across USDA zones 3 to 8. Before planting, work 2 to 3 inches of compost into your beds to improve drainage, boost fertility, and help retain moisture where needed. Plant in fall or early spring when soil temperatures are workable to give roots time to establish before the growing season begins.

When and how often should I fertilize spring-blooming perennials for the best results?

For most spring-blooming perennials like Bergenia and Astilbe, apply a balanced slow-release granular fertilizer (such as a 10-10-10) once in early spring just as new growth emerges from the ground. A second light feeding after the first bloom cycle can encourage reblooming varieties like the Winter Glow Bergenia to push out additional flowers. Avoid over-fertilizing, especially with high-nitrogen formulas, as this tends to promote leafy growth at the expense of blooms. Work a 2- to 3-inch layer of compost into the soil each fall as well to naturally enrich your beds and reduce the need for heavy feeding the following season.

How can I extend the bloom time of my spring-blooming perennials?

Extending bloom time starts with selecting a mix of early, mid, and late spring bloomers planted together, such as pairing Winter Glow Bergenia (which can rebloom) with Dark Side of the Moon Astilbe to carry color from early spring well into summer. Deadheading spent flowers promptly encourages many perennials to push out additional blooms, and consistent moisture is especially critical for astilbes, which perform best in average to moist soil. Layer your perennials among spring bulbs and early-flowering shrubs to create a seamless succession of color throughout the season. Visit naturehills.com to explore our full selection of spring-blooming perennials and build a planting plan that keeps your garden in bloom from the first warm days through early summer.

Should I deadhead spring-blooming perennials, and which types benefit most from it?

Deadheading spring-blooming perennials depends on the plant, but many benefit from removing spent blooms to encourage reblooming or tidy appearance. Bergenia, for example, is a natural rebloom candidate, so removing faded flower stems can help prompt additional flushes of fragrant rosy pink blooms through the season. Astilbe plumes, on the other hand, are often left in place since they dry attractively and provide winter interest, though cutting them back in late fall keeps beds looking clean. Focus your deadheading efforts on rebloomers like Bergenia and Coral Bells to maximize flower production, and leave ornamental seed heads like Astilbe standing until early spring cleanup.

When is the right time to cut back spring-blooming perennials after they finish blooming?

The best time to cut back spring-blooming perennials like Bergenia and Astilbe is shortly after their flowers fade, typically in late spring to early summer. Deadheading spent blooms encourages reblooming in varieties like Winter Glow Bergenia and keeps the garden looking tidy, while leaving attractive seed heads on Astilbe can provide winter interest if you prefer. For most spring perennials, cut flower stems back to the base but leave healthy foliage intact to continue feeding the roots through the growing season. A light trim and a balanced slow-release fertilizer after blooming will set your plants up for a strong return next year.

How do I know when spring-blooming perennials need to be divided, and how do I do it?

Spring-blooming perennials like Bergenia and Astilbe typically signal it's time for division when the clump's center begins to die out, flowering diminishes, or the plant visibly outgrows its space, usually every 3 to 5 years. The best time to divide most spring bloomers is in early fall or late summer after flowering has finished, giving roots time to establish before winter. To divide, use a sharp spade to lift the entire clump, then split it into sections with at least 2 to 3 healthy growth points each, discarding any dead or woody center portions. Replant divisions at the same soil depth, water them in thoroughly, and mulch lightly to protect roots through their first winter.

Can I plant spring-blooming perennials in containers, and what do they need to thrive in pots?

Many spring-blooming perennials like Bergenia and Astilbe adapt beautifully to container growing, giving you the flexibility to move color exactly where you need it. Choose pots at least 12 to 16 inches deep with excellent drainage, and use a rich, moisture-retentive potting mix since plants like Astilbe prefer consistently moist soil. Container perennials in colder zones may need extra winter protection since pots expose roots to more temperature extremes than in-ground planting does. Select varieties suited to your USDA hardiness zone, water consistently through the growing season, and plan to divide or repot every two to three years to keep plants vigorous and blooming at their best.