Hellebores are a tough and beautiful perennial, renowned for being one of the earliest bloomers from spring to fall. The large bowl- or saucer-shaped flowers are delicate and lovely, often blooming in white with splashy pink, yellow, or maroon markings.
Virginia bluebells create a stunning sea of bell-like blue flowers in spring, perfect for brightening up woodland gardens. After blooming, the plants virtually disappear, so they should be paired with other perennials for continued color.
Violas, smaller cousins to the pansy, offer masses of tiny, delicate flowers that bloom from spring to fall under the right circumstances. Blooming in a variety of colors including white, blue, purple, yellow, and many mixes, they add a perky touch to spring container gardens and window boxes.
Peonies are one of the most-loved spring flowers, producing big round buds that open to large, fragrant blooms. They offer various flower types, including petal-packed doubles, semi-doubles, anemone-centered, and singles, in bright and pastel shades like red, rose, pink, salmon, white, and yellow.
Nepeta, also known as catmint, features soft purplish-blue blossoms and attractive gray-green foliage, blooming from spring to fall. This perennial adds color throughout the seasons and tolerates hot weather and drought.
The iris is a must-have in mixed flower borders, known for its delicate crepe-paper petals and intricate blooms. This easy-to-grow perennial produces spearlike foliage and long stems topped with fabulous flowers.
Baptisia, or false indigo, is a native prairie plant that looks stunning when in full bloom. These hefty plants, measuring 3 to 4 feet tall and wide, produce sturdy spires of blue, white, yellow, or bicolor pealike blooms in spring.