There is something very special about the first bloom of spring – the garden is coming back to life after being dormant through the winter, and you know that warmer days are on their way.
If you want to create this effect in your garden then it requires preparation – most spring flowers need to be planted in the fall. But which ones should you plant?
If you want to have the most beautiful garden in early spring then choosing blue flowers is a good idea. They will stand out against the green grass and create a visually stunning, vibrant effect.
We have put together this list of the best early spring flowers that will create a blue bloom in your garden. Keep reading to find out what you should be planting.
1. Bluebells
Bluebells are one of the most well known early spring flowers. There are two main types – Spanish bluebells and English bluebells. Both varieties are a deep blue/violet in color and have bell shaped flowers.
Spanish bluebells grow a little taller but English bluebells are more fragrant. They bloom before the trees grow their leaves back, when the early spring sun can reach the ground. The milder the spring, the earlier they bloom.
Bluebells are toxic, so you should avoid planting them if you have dogs or small children. They have sticky sap that used to be collected and used to bound books, and it was even used to starch Elizabethan ruffs and collars.
Bluebells grow well in woodland and grassland as well as hedgerows. They like damp conditions and thrive in humidity. Plant the bulbs in the fall, about 4 inches into the soil.
Make sure the growing tip is facing upwards. In the wild, bluebells tend to grow in random, small groups. If you want to create a natural effect in your garden then you should try to recreate this growing pattern.
They will seed freely, so you can expect the amount of bluebells in your garden to multiply each year.
2. Glory Of The Snow
Glory of the snow is a bulbous perennial plant that is native to Turkey. They get their name from where they grow, as they tend to be found in mountainous regions on the edge of the snow-capped peaks.
It is one of the earliest flowers to bloom in the spring and has a beautiful pale blue color.
These plants can grow in the sun or in partial shade. It is often best to plant them around the base of a tree or some shrubs. Push the bulbs about 3 inches deep into the soil, in groups of between 4 and 7.
These flowers are self-seeding, so year after year you will gradually develop a stunning blue carpet of glory-of-the-snow.
If you don’t have any trees or shrubs in your garden you can plant them on the lawn. However, you will need to avoid mowing the grass until all the foliage has died or the flowers won’t come back in the spring. They will also do well in rock gardens.
One of the great things about these flowers is that they are deer resistant, they repel rodents, and they aren’t as susceptible to disease as many other flowers.
3. Siberian Squill
Despite being called ‘Siberian’ Squill, this plant is not native to Siberia. It actually comes from Turkey and Southwest Russia. It was introduced to Northern America in the late 1700s and has been popular there ever since.
This perennial bulb can be planted in areas of full sun, partial sun or shade and it will still bloom in the spring. The flowers are a cobalt blue color and the plant will grow up to 6 inches tall and 4 inches wide.
This plant is similar to bluebells as the flowers are bell shaped and it tends to grow naturally around the base of trees and shrubs, but they can also grow well when planted in lawns.
It will self-seed, so if you don’t want it to spread you should deadhead the flowers once the blooming season is over.
The flowers are smaller than bluebells so you will want to plant the bulbs in groups of 10 or so to create a pop of color. The bulbs should be pushed about 4 inches deep into the soil and you need to leave around 3 inches in between each bulb.
All parts of this plant are toxic to humans and many animals, so be careful if you have pets. This also means that the flowers will repel rodents and deer which can help to protect your garden.
4. Iris Reticulata
The reticulated iris has many different names in the gardening community including the dwarf iris and the netted iris. This perennial is native to Eastern Turkey but can grow in any temperate climate.
Plant the bulbs in well drained soil in a sunny part of your garden, or in partial shade. They are considered drought resistant, and are surprisingly hardy.
The flowers actually bloom towards the end of winter and continue into spring. They are visually stunning – bright blue petals with white and yellow markings in the center. As the name suggests, this is a small plant – about 4 inches tall and 3 inches wide.
You can plant them about 3 inches apart and 4 inches deep. After the flowers have finished blooming you should remove the foliage so that it can grow back in the spring.
Reticulated iris will tend to spread over time, so each spring you will see more and more pretty flowers popping up in your garden. They repel deer which is handy.
5. Hyacinth
These stunning spring flowers are known for their beautiful fragrance. They come in different colors including pink, white, and yellow, but the various shades of blue are arguably the most attractive.
They bloom in early spring with a lot of flowers on each plant, creating a bright display. Hyacinths grow best in the sun or in partial shade, and depending on the variety they can grow up to 14 inches tall and 8 inches wide.
Each variety has a slightly different blooming time, but delft blue is the earliest.
The rich scent of these flowers makes them perfect for a border placement or even to line a pathway. Avoid planting a single, uniform row of hyacinths as you will not get the full effect. Plant the bulbs in groups of up to 8 or 9, leaving at least 6 inches between each bulb.
Not only will this look great, it will also support the stems so you won’t need to stake them with bamboo. You can mix up the different shades of blue. The bulbs should be about 6 inches deep in the soil and can be planted in mid to late fall.
Hyacinths are technically perennial plants, but most gardeners treat them as annuals as the second bloom is never as good as the first. These flowers are an excellent choice if you have any issues with deer or rodents in your garden.
6. Pansy
Wild pansies, also called viola tricolor, are native to Europe. They are annual in most areas but can be perennial in areas where the summers are not so hot.
They come in different colors, but the blue varieties are considered to be one of the purest blue flowers in existence. They are also frost resistant and will bloom all winter in milder climates.
These plants like sunny spots, but they prefer a temperature range of 45 to 65 degrees fahrenheit.
They need to be watered regularly, and also thrive when given a low nitrogen fertilizer that is soluble in water. You should aim to fertilize your pansies every 3 weeks or so.
You can plant pansies in pots, window boxes or flowerbeds and they will grow nicely.
If you want to make sure that your blue pansies bloom for as long as possible, you should deadhead them throughout their blooming season. If you want a really blue color on the petals then go for the ‘delta marina’ variety.
7. Spring Starflower
The spring starflower, also called spring star, has several varieties that produce blue flowers. They tend to grow around 6 inches tall and up to 6 inches wide, depending on the variety.
This flowering plant is related to onions, and although the flowers are sweet-smelling the leaves have an odor that is similar to garlic.
This puts off a lot of animals which will protect your flower beds, but try to avoid crushing the leaves if you don’t want to release the smell.
This plant will grow in sun or in partial shade. The flowers will bloom in early spring and will keep blooming until the weather gets warmer, which will depend on the climate in your area.
The best way to plant them is to place the bulbs 2 inches deep in the ground during the fall, then cover them with mulch.
Make sure you leave 2 inches between each bulb so the plants aren’t overcrowded. Once the green shoots appear, you can remove the mulch.
After the blooming season, you can deadhead the flowers to avoid them self-seeding and spreading (or leave them if you want to create a blue blanket of spring flowers). Some gardeners let the plants self-seed, then divide them after 3 to 4 years.
8. Forget Me Not
Myosotis, more affectionately known as ‘forget-me-not’, is the national flower of Alaska. When the days begin to get longer, they will bloom from fuzzy buds into the most beautiful yet tiny flowers.
They range in color from pale blue to sky blue. In midler regions, they might even begin blooming at the end of winter. You can deadhead the flowers during the blooming season to encourage new growth and really make the most out of the flowers.
You may need to start the seeds off indoors and then move them outside for initial planting.
This plant is self-seeding, and after the first season it will try to spread as far as possible to grow in new locations next spring. It prefers shade, but will also grow in the sun. They like moist soil, but don’t do well sitting in permanently soggy ground.
This plant may be small (as little as 4 inches tall) but it has an important meaning. It symbolizes love and respect. If you forget me not, it means that you will keep that person in your thoughts forever. It is also considered a symbol of faithfulness and fidelity.
9. Windflower
Windflowers are also called anemones and they have daisy-like flowers on the end of each stem. They come in different colors, including various shades of blue, and tend to have yellow centers.
The plant will grow up to 6 inches long and between 4 to 6 inches wide. The foliage around the flower tends to be delicate, similar to fern. This plant likes partial shade so is well suited to a woodland garden, but it will also grow in full sunlight.
These flowers are dainty, so they are best enjoyed as a border plant where they are on full display. The soil should be rich and well drained and the corms need to be planted 3 inches deep.
Leave 2 to 3 inches between each one when planting, and give them plenty of water. At the end of the blooming season the foliage will naturally die back. Next spring you will notice more flowers, and they will continue to multiply over time.
All parts of this plant are toxic to humans and pets so you should be careful where you plant it. However, this makes it resistant to deer and rabbits which is useful for many gardeners.
10. Liverwort Flower
The Liverword flower, not to be confused with the flowerless plant of the same name, blooms from early to mid spring. It comes in different colors – blue, white or pink.
The blue flowers are particularly stunning. It is one of the earliest flowers to bloom in wild woodland, and it has evergreen leaves which look lovely all year round.
This plant prefers the shade, so choose a fully shaded or partially shaded spot in your garden.
The flowers will still open without the sunlight, but they might not fully open on a rainy day. Either way, your garden will be full of a fresh scent that is reminiscent of spring.
Summary
If you want to create a magical and enchanting effect in your garden then you should plan ahead and plant some early spring bloomers in the fall. Choosing blue flowers will give you a vibrant pop of color.
I love sharing my experiences with individuals in this community, and I enjoy sharing some of the best tips I have learned over the years caring for my own garden at home.
In my articles, you will find the best flowers, most fragrant flowers you can plant in your garden, how to care for your favorite plants, informative guides and how-tos so you can have the best backyard in town!
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