Kick off your garden season with blooms that wake up before the rest!
After a long Iowa winter, we’re all desperate for a little color. That’s why early spring bloomers are so special—they’re the first sign of life, bringing hope, pollinators, and cheer back into your landscape. Whether you’re working with beds, borders, containers, or small trees, here are 15 of our favorite early spring stars that will brighten your garden before most plants even wake up.
PERENNIALS & NATIVES
1. Hellebores (Lenten Rose)
Blooms in late March—even in snow! Nodding, rose-like flowers in pinks, purples, creams.
2. Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
A native beauty! White daisy-like flowers with striking foliage.
3. Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla patens)
Soft lavender petals with feathery foliage. A charming native for sunny spots.
4. Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)
Graceful and vibrant, these bell-shaped blooms add magical woodland color.
5. Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)
Perfect for edging or rock gardens. Spreads quickly and blooms in a bright carpet of pinks, purples, and whites.
SHRUBS FOR STRUCTURE & BLOOMS
6. Forsythia
A classic—bursts into bold yellow blooms before the leaves appear.
7. Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
Spidery yellow-orange flowers in late winter to early spring. A must-have for fragrance and interest.
8. Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii)
Compact and full of personality! White, bottlebrush-style flowers bloom before foliage emerges. Amazing fall color, too.
9. Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
A native understory shrub with fragrant yellow blooms in very early spring. Host plant for swallowtail butterflies!
10. Pussywillow (Salix discolor)
One of the earliest signs of spring! Fuzzy catkins emerge on bare stems and catch the light beautifully. Perfect for cutting gardens and floral arrangements.
TREES THAT WAKE UP EARLY IN IOWA
11. Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis)
Clouds of white blooms in April followed by edible berries and gorgeous fall color.
12. Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
Iconic lavender-pink blooms along bare branches—pure spring magic.
13. Magnolia (Magnolia x ‘Ann’, ‘Jane’, or ‘Royal Star’)
Large blooms in shades of pink and white. Stunning and fragrant!
14. Crabapple Trees (Malus spp.)
Early bloomers in a range of colors—plus spring fragrance and fall fruits for birds.
15.Japanese Tree Lilac (Syringa reticulata)
Large clusters of fragrant white blooms in early summer (technically just after spring, but worth it!).
Bonus Tip: Layer Your Blooms
Plant low-growers like Creeping Phlox under small trees like Redbud or Magnolia for tiered color and interest. Add a few containers of Hellebores by your front door for instant curb appeal!
Visit Ted Lare Garden Center for Your Spring Stars
We’re fully stocked with early-blooming perennials, shrubs, and ornamental trees—all chosen for Iowa’s climate and your garden’s glow-up.
Stop by and let’s build your most colorful spring yet!
