Early Spring Flowering Shrubs

When gardeners plan for early spring color in the landscape, bulbs are often the first flower that comes to mind. Though bulbs are a true sign of spring and warmer weather to come as some varieties such as Crocus and snowdrop, offer flowers as early as March. Bulbs should be incorporated into any spring garden. There are, however, a few early blooming shrubs as well which should be a part of any spring garden. All gardeners should include as many ideas in the garden as their space and imagination can provide -- maybe images of pristine white snowdrops bursting through the melting snow, drifts of golden daffodils, billowing white clouds of crabapples fill your dreams. Go for it!

Some Winners in the Garden

Common Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) blooms in early spring, while most other garden shrubs are still dormant; often as early as mid-March. Its small yellow, fragrant flowers complement its silvery bark nicely. The cultivar 'Sandra' is a lovely choice. The plant can actually be in bloom for 3-4 weeks or more, since the flowers curl up on the coldest of days to protect themselves from freezing temperatures and desiccating winds -- they unfurl again when more favorable weather returns. Plant witchhazel in a prominent place in the garden so that the flowers can be appreciated. Useful for shrub borders, specimen plantings, cuttings and for naturalizing a landscape, witchhazel is quite a flexible planting.

Witchhazel can grow up to 15' tall under perfect growing conditions, but in colder climates will grow not much larger than 6-8' tall and wide. It is best grown in full sun or part shade and is tolerant of poor soils as long as they aren't extremely dry.

Another popular early bloomer is Forsythia (Forsythia sp.). It's bright yellow flowers provide early spring color when few other shrubs are flowering. This is a great shrub for the beginner gardener and the expert gardener because given a little attention, the forsythia bush will reward you a thousand times. Forsythia x intermedia 'Spring Glory' is a particularly hardy shrub suitable for colder climates. Forsythia is easy to grow and require almost no maintenance. They’re effective as specimens, hedges or in border plantings.

A third shrub for early spring color is the Corneliancherry Dogwood (Cornus mas). A profuse bloom of small yellow flowers are clustered on the bare stems in March that last for about three weeks makes this shrub a valuable part of the spring landscape. Though great in spring, its attractive year-round with colorful fall foliage and bright red berries. Corneliancherry dogwood is an oval shaped, large shrub or small tree which can reach up to 15-20' tall and wide. With selective pruning it can also be a single or multi-stemmed small tree.

Tolerant of a poor soil, full sun and shade, the corneliancherry dogwood is also easy to grow and maintain.

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