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
