Favorite Spring Blooming Perennials

Also known as Virginia cowslip, this beauty deserves a spot in every garden. A native wildflower, Virginia bluebells is a spring ephemeral. That means it appears in spring and disappears completely when summer heat arrives. It’s a great choice for tucking into partial to full shade settings. Pink flower buds yield deep blue blooms that fade to lavender. Hardy in Zones 3 to 8.

If you have a spot where hosta, ferns and bleeding-heart grow well, you should include lungwort in the mix. ‘Raspberry Splash’ is one of the best lungworts available, offering excellent disease resistance. It’s also ignored by deer and rabbits. Lungwort stages a great display with flowers that change colors from bud to faded bloom. Silver-flecked leaves look good all season. Hardy in Zones 5 to 9.

A cherished spring wildflower, wake robin is often referred to by its botanical name, trillium. This plant unfurls a perfect trio of petals skirted with a trio of leaves. Trillium thrives in woodland settings or partly shaded garden beds with humus-rich soil. Plants go dormant in summer, after heat arrives. Hardy in Zones 4 to 8.

Low-maintenance and drought-tolerant, false indigo packages some of the best qualities of native plants in a hybrid with an unusual flower color. Deep burgundy flower buds open to reveal bicolor maroon and yellow blossoms from late spring to early summer. This perennial dislikes being moved; plant it where it can stay put. Hardy in Zones 4 to 9.