Whispers of Spring: Early Flowers to Brighten Gray Days

As the clouds part and the sun begins to peek through, we can’t help but look ahead to the bright blooms and lush greenery of summer. It can be so hard to hold back on planting more tender plants when early morning frosts, late snowfall, and rainy spring deluges may still wreak havoc on these early gardening efforts. Even so, there are few special whispers of spring that may sate your early desire for flowers, beauty and growth as the seasons start to change. We thought we'd take a little time just to celebrate a few of these dainty, beautiful plants...

Grevillea | Dec - July

With unique, almost tropical blooms in shades of red, pink and orange, most varieties of this lesser-known shrub hail from Australia. Bloom timing for these aptly named 'spider flowers' varies depending on species, but many will continue for long periods of time, music to the ears of the bees and hummingbirds who absolutely love this plant! Drought tolerant once established, adapted to poor soil and low organic matter environments, but prefers full sun!

Pictured: Grevillea 'Canberra Gem' on the Interurban Trail by Sky Nursery in early April.

Sweetbox (Sarcococca) | Jan - Feb

An unassuming feast for the senses that comes at a time when other plants are nothing more than a sprout in the ground. Small, white flowers with a heavenly floral scent that permeates the cold winter air sit nestled amongst glossy evergreen foliage. Shade loving, drought tolerant once established, and available in taller and dwarf varieties.  Great as a hedge, on slopes and in foundation planting (near houses)!

Pictured: Sarcococca hookeriana. Other great varieties include: S. ruscifolia, S. confusa, and more! Speak to our nursery dept. for recommendations. 

 

 

 

Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum) | Feb - April

This is one of the most showy and readily available PNW natives that we see at Sky. A deciduous shrub, 3-9 ft tall, with small broad green leaves, and light to dark pink blossoms in drooping clusters, followed by dark purple, edible (if a little tart) berries in mid-summer. A great choice for wildlife habitat and food for pollinators. She's also drought tolerant, and grows well on rocky slopes and hillsides.

Pictured: King Edward Flowering Currant on the Interurban Trail by Sky Nursery

 

Trillium ovatum | Feb - June

A rather special Pacific Northwest Native that's not always easily available, but we thought it deserved a mention even so. We see these occasionally as bare-root rhizomes in early spring, and as starts on the native perennials table in the greenhouse. It can take up to 10 years for these to flower from seed, (shorter for starts and rhizomes) but that just makes it all the more special when they finally do open their 3 lobed blooms. They prefer mossy shaded areas with plenty of moisture, and love to live near water features with rich soil. A great choice for native pollinators too!

 

 

 

 

 

Winter-Blooming Daphne | Feb - April

One of the most beloved late winter-flowering plant is Daphne odora, the aptly-named Winter Daphne. Beautiful, four-pointed pink or white flowers are highly perfumed and spring from a compact, evergreen shrub with glossy green leaves. Its deciduous cousin, Daphne genkwa (February Daphne), has lilac flowers with an equally intense fragrance. Such a welcome sight as we wait patiently for spring to, well, spring.

Pictured: Daphne genkwa, and D. odora, both early spring/late winter bloomers.

 

Evergreen Clematis (Clematis armandii) | March - April

An evergreen woody perennial, with climbing vines that look striking on any trellis, fence or even the side of your house. It prefers full sun to part shade, and can be an aggressive grower in good conditions: i.e. moist, well-draining soil, and  great for bees butterflies and hummingbirds, long leathery leaves with fragrant starry blooms in white or apple blossom pink.

 

 

Forsythia | March - April

This is THE shrub for a splash of sunshine in our spring rains! Bare branches are absolutely covered with gold in early spring, and can last for weeks. This sun-lover is great in a mixed border or even as a light privacy screen. When you see this shrub blooming, you know spring is here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aubretia | April - May

This is one of several rock garden perennials that really come into their own in early spring! Despite the plant's diminutive size, its profuse pink and purple blooms really stand out against gray/green leaves. It makes a fantastic addition to rock gardens, containers, and even between stepping stones. Drought resistant once established, and prefers well draining soil and full sun.

Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra) | April - May

Delicate and ephemeral, with bright pink, red, or white blooms that stand out on an otherwise stormy gray day in the garden: now that's a quintessential spring flower! This tender perennial is great for shaded areas or a woodland garden, with filigree foliage in green or even gold and literal heart shaped flowers. Sky begins to see a selection of these from late February/early March until the end of their blooming season.

Pictured: Dicentra spectabilis 'Gold Heart.' See also, D. spectabilis 'Alba,' D. spectabilis 'Valentine,' and more.

 

 

Brunnera | April - May

Yet another shade-lover, Brunnera shines nearly year-round with interesting, broad green leaves; many varieties of which are patterned with silver that shines in dappled sunlight. In early spring, gardeners will be rewarded for their patience with sprays of dainty, blue forget-me-not flowers.

Pictured: Brunnera 'Sea Heart.' See also Brunnera 'Jack Frost'

 

 

 

Spurge (Euphorbia) | April - May

Annual & perennial varieties both available! Hardy and shade tolerant, showy, and low maintenance. Dramatic and diverse, ranging in size from 12-18” groundcover types to 4-5’ tall spires. Look for variegated foliage, and unique, almost alien flowers in green, red, orange and yellow. 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Camas (Camassia quamash) | April - June

Native perennial with long, narrow, grass-like leaves. Grows on 1-2 ft tall racemes of star like flowers - usually in shades of blue/purple, sometimes white. Great for native bees and other pollinators! It prefers moist soil and sunny areas to grow, great for rain gardens and on slopes near water. Can be a challenge to keep in stock, but when you see it, this is a great plant to invest in!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wallflower (Erysimum) | April - July

Perennial, prefers full sun and well drained alkaline soil, can grow to around 2-3’, resists deer and rabbits but attracts pollinators, bright spikes of small blooms in a variety of colors, some with many colors on one, sweet honey-like fragrance.

 

 

 

 

 

Candytuft (Iberis) | May - June

Perennial, low grower, comes in pink and white blooming varieties, dark green foliage and great for early rising pollinators, good rock garden and container plant.

Mountain Laurel (Kalmia) | May - June

Evergreen Shrub, dense and rounded habit, unusual hexagonal flowers ranging from white to pink, red and maroon, likes moist acidic soil and partial shade, at full maturity in prime conditions it can grow to around 5-8’ height and width.