25 Best Spring Flowers to Plant for a Garden Glow-Up

These yellow blooms are a stunning signal of spring's arrival. Their cheerful, trumpet-shaped heads vary in size, shape, and color, including salmon, cream, and pink. The best part? Rodents tend to avoid daffodils, so they're less likely to be dug up compared to other spring flowers. Plus, they're incredibly low-maintenance. Simply plant them in the fall in a sunny spot, and you're all set!

Tulips are another spring flower that offers a burst of color across your garden. They can be purple, pink, or white, and, if you're lucky, have multi-flower stems and even lush double varieties! While they're often treated as annuals due to their tendency to have a weaker bloom in the second year, they can still be grown as perennials with the right care. To keep your garden vibrant, many gardeners replant tulip bulbs each fall. However, be mindful—tulips are a favorite snack for rodents. To protect them, consider planting them in pots or placing them under more rodent-resistant plants like grape hyacinth. These flowers thrive in full sun, so choose a bright, sunny spot for the best results.

As their name suggests, this flower resembles a tiny bunch of grapes (but unlike the fruit, they can naturalize, multiplying over time to form dense, colorful patches). Even their scent is mildly sweet, much like grapes. Plant them in the fall for beautiful spring blooms, ensuring they're placed in a spot with full sun. Keep in mind, they're toxic to pets, so be sure to plant them in an area that’s out of your pets' reach.

Crocuses, with their bright, cup-shaped blooms, are among the first flowers to brighten your garden in spring. You might find these sweet-smelling flowers popping up in unexpected places, like under bushes, as rodents often dig them up and replant them elsewhere! Make sure to plant them in a sunny spot in the fall for a stunning spring display.

This classic perennial is known for its delicate, fragrant flowers. Its tiny, bell-shaped blooms hang gracefully on slender stems, filling the air with a sweet scent in late March to early April. While it only flowers for about three weeks, it’s a beloved addition to the garden, especially with its vibrant green foliage. As it matures, the flowers turn into small red berries. Though this plant can spread quickly and form dense clumps, it thrives in mostly shaded areas and makes an excellent ground cover. Just be sure to give it enough space to spread without crowding out other perennials.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!