The Late April Garden: Bursts of Spring Color!

The month of April is abundant with blooms as we start off spring, and one of the wonderful aspects of my job as a landscape designer is that I get to be surrounded by them on a daily basis.  For early spring color the use of flowering trees and shrubs such as Weeping Cherry, Kwanzan Cherry, Flowering Plum, Eastern Redbud, Magnolia, Viburnum and Ornamental Pear along with spring blooming bulbs such as muscari, hyacinth, crocus, tulips and daffodils bring bursts of color to the landscape. Add some early blooming perennials such as ajuga and phlox to the mix and you have an array of color! Here are some of the more popular flowering species for your early spring garden, followed by information for each individual plant.

Weeping Cherry  (Prunus subhirtella Pendula)

Plant Type:	Flowering Tree
Deciduous/Evergreen:	Deciduous
Hardiness Zone:	5-8                Hardiness Zone Map
Light Needs:	Full Sun
Water Needs:	Low
Mature Size:	Height 15-20′ x 15-20′ Wide

Weeping Cherry Blossom

Red Tulip

Pink Tulip

Orange Tulip

Yellow Tulip

Plant Type:	Bulb (Tulip Assorted)
Deciduous/Evergreen:	Herbaceous
Hardiness Zone:	3-9    Hardiness Zone Map
Light Needs:	Full Sun
Water Needs:	Moderate
Mature Size:	12-18″ tall

Kwanzan Cherry (Prunus serrulata ‘Kwanzan’)

Plant Type:	Flowering Tree
Deciduous/Evergreen:	Deciduous
Hardiness Zone:	4-8   Hardiness Zone Map
Light Needs:	Full Sun-Part Shade
Water Needs:	Moderate
Mature Size:	Height 20-30 ‘x 20-30’ Wide

Creeping Phlox

Plant Type:	Perennial, groundcover
Deciduous/Evergreen:	Herbaceous
Hardiness Zone:	3-8   Hardiness Zone Map
Light Needs:	Full Sun
Water Needs:	Moderate
Mature Size:	4-6″ tall x 16-24″ wide

Fragrant Viburnum (Viburnum x carlcephalum)

Plant Type:	Flowering Shrub
Deciduous/Evergreen:	Deciduous
Hardiness Zone:	6-8   Hardiness Zone Map
Light Needs:	Full Sun – Part Shade
Water Needs:	Moderate
Mature Size:	6-10′ tall x 6-10′ wide
Growth Rate:	Moderate

Ajuga ‘Burgundy Glow’

Plant Type:	Perennial, groundcover
Deciduous/Evergreen:	Herbaceous
Hardiness Zone:	3-9   Hardiness Zone Map
Light Needs:	Full Sun – Full Shade
Water Needs:	Moderate
Mature Size:	4-6″ tall x 12-18″ wide

Krauter Plum Blossoms (Prunus cerasifera ‘Krauter Vesuvius’)

Plant Type:	Flowering Tree
Deciduous/Evergreen:	Deciduous
Hardiness Zone:	5-8   Hardiness Zone Map
Light Needs:	Full Sun – Part Shade
Water Needs:	Moderate
Mature Size:	15-20′ tall x 15-20′ wide

Try some of these beauties for spring delight in your landscape. For much more information on flowering trees, shrubs and perennials,  check out my book A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, available on Amazon.

 As Always…Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee@A Guide to Landscape Design & Maintenance, © Copyright 2016. All rights reserved