As the colorful display of early spring bulbs fades away for yet another year, many gardens fall into a mid-spring flower gap – that pause before the summer perennials and tender annuals really get the party going!
The following are some dependable early perennials I grow in my own gardens that get me through the mid-spring flower gap and beyond with color, fragrance and form:
CREEPING PHLOX
A classic spring perennial here in New England, creeping phlox blooms prodigiously for several weeks beginning in May and is a sight to behold when planted en masse as a garden edge or along rock walls. If I had to choose one plant to carry my gardens through to early summer, creeping phlox would be it!
SNOW-IN-SUMMER
My mother grew Snow-in-Summer in her garden, so for me this plant has pleasant associations that bring me back to my childhood. Although Snow-in-Summer is an absolute stunner when covered with snowy white blooms in May, it continues to please all season long with soft, silver-blue foliage.
IRIS
Iris are typically thought of as June perennials, but many are early bloomers that add subtle fragrance and bold, sword-like foliage to our garden beds. In the photo above, this bright yellow variety never disappoints when it blooms with the lilacs!
BASKET-OF-GOLD ALYSSUM
Golden alyssum looks best when planted in rock garden crevices or spilling over walls with other May bloomers. A stellar companion for all shades of creeping phlox!
BRUNNERA AND LUNGWORT
I place these two plants together because they have a similar look to their foliage and flowers although the Brunnera is a larger plant and more sun-tolerant. Both have silvery foliage and tiny, sparkling blue flowers that resemble forget-me-nots. In my opinion, Brunnera and Lungwort light up a shady spring garden like nothing else!
EARLY HARDY GERANIUM
Hardy Geranium Macrorrhizum is a May bloomer with bright magenta flowers that rise on dainty stems above the rounded leaves. As a bonus, fall sometimes brings shades of crimson to the foliage. This particular geranium makes an excellent groundcover as it slowly spreads to fill in any spaces. Hardy geraniums are perfect companions for cottage gardens!
SWEET WOODRUFF
Delicate-looking Sweet Woodruff is an excellent ground cover to grow under trees where it sparkles in the dappled shade. This plant will spread via runners to quickly fill shady areas as long as there is adequate moisture. Lovely for naturalizing in woodland gardens!
SOLOMON’S SEAL
I know I sing the praises of this plant on a regular basis, but Solomon’s Seal is hard to beat for versatility in the garden! Tall and highly ornamental with its artistic splashes of white, variegated Solomon’s Seal will quickly form impressive colonies. I find that it grows equally well in full sun to full shade, and even dry shade. Charming, fragrant bell flowers dangle along the stems in spring and you can look forward to golden foliage and berries in the fall!
OLD-FASHIONED BLEEDING HEART
This large, almost shrub-like plant, makes a powerful floral display in May but then magically melts away once temperatures heat up. Because of the ephemeral nature of Bleeding Heart, be sure to plant them next to summer perennials such as ferns or hostas which will easily fill those vacant spaces come summer.
All of the above plants are deer and rabbit resistant and hardy in my Zone 6 New England garden. The Iris, Basket-of-Gold Alyssum and Snow-in-Summer prefer full sun locations while the Solomon’s Seal, Creeping Phlox, Geranium and Old-Fashioned Bleeding Heart tolerate both sun and part shade. The best plants for shady gardens are the Brunnera, Lungwort and Sweet Woodruff.
