10 perennial plants with early spring flowering

Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis)

The Lenten rose is an essential perennial plant to brighten up gardens from the end of winter. This elegant hellebore comes in numerous hybrids with single or double flowers, showcasing an incredible palette of colours: pure white, soft pink, deep purple-red, raspberry, lime green, velvety black, yellow, orange, or even salmon.

Its evergreen, leathery, and decorative foliage throughout the year provides a perfect backdrop for its refined cup or star-shaped flowers. The Lenten rose prefers shaded to partially shaded locations, sheltered from direct sunlight that could damage its foliage. Plant it in cool, humus-rich, well-drained soil. It also adapts very well to pot cultivation, brightening up terraces and balconies.

Gardener’s tip: as soon as the first flowers bloom, highlight them by cutting back the old leaves, often damaged by winter. This allows for a better appreciation of the flowers’ beauty and helps limit foliar diseases such as black spot on hellebores. A light mulch in summer will help retain soil moisture.

Pulmonaria (Pulmonaria saccharata)

The lungwort is a hardy and decorative perennial, ideal for brightening up shaded corners of the garden. It produces lovely flowers in clusters from the end of winter, in shades of blue, purple, and sometimes pink or red for varieties like Pulmonaria rubra, the earliest, which blooms as early as February. Other varieties flourish from March to April.

Its ornamental foliage, marked with cream or silver spots, remains decorative after flowering. The variety ‘Majesté’, for example, is prized for its striking silver foliage and delicate pink flowers.

Plant lungwort in shade or partial shade, in cool, rich soil that stays moist in summer. Easy to care for, it self-seeds and spreads quickly, making it an excellent ground cover. It pairs perfectly with Oriental hellebores, creating beautiful contrasts of textures and colours.

The primrose (Primula vulgaris)

True emblem of early spring, the garden primrose brightens up beds, borders, and containers as soon as the first mild weather arrives, with a flowering period that lasts until the middle of spring. Easy to grow, it offers an explosion of colours thanks to numerous horticultural varieties with single or double flowers.

Among the most remarkable, the variety ‘Belarina Valentine’ charms with its intense red double flowers, while Primula ‘Zebra Blue’ draws all eyes with its blue and white striped petals. Primroses also come in bright yellow, soft pink, deep purple, or delicate blue, often enhanced by a bright yellow centre, the plant’s signature.

Primroses thrive in semi-shaded situations and prefer cool, rich, well-drained soil. Perfect for containers, in beds or borders, they bring a touch of cheer to the garden from the end of winter. Remember to water them regularly during dry periods to prolong the flowering.

Spring vetchling (Lathyrus vernus)

The spring vetchling is an early and perennial sweet pea that flowers as early as mid-February, well before most other perennials. Compact and elegant, it reaches about 40 cm in height and forms a dense tuft of bright green, slightly veined leaves that remain decorative after flowering.

Its delicate flowers, grouped in clusters, display intense blue-violet shades, with variations ranging from light pink to pure white depending on the cultivars. The flowering is not only early but also long-lasting, lasting almost two months, bringing a lovely splash of colour to shady borders.

The spring vetchling prefers shaded or semi-shaded areas, particularly at the base of bushes or roses, where it benefits from filtered light. It enjoys cool, humus-rich, well-drained soils. Easy to maintain, it withstands cold well and requires little care, apart from watering during prolonged dry spells.

Violet (Viola odorata)

Delicate and fragrant, the sweet violet is a small spreading perennial that naturally grows in woodlands and edges, in cool, rich soil. It spreads through its stolons, gradually forming a lovely carpet of greenery and flowers. The varieties with single flowers are more resilient than those with double flowers and provide a generous flowering from the end of winter.

While the wild violet typically displays a deep violet-blue, some varieties offer shades of white, mauve, pink, or even pale yellow. The variety ‘Alba’, with its bright white flowers, is perfect for brightening shady areas.

Plant it in shade or partial shade, in humus-bearing, cool soil. It self-seeds easily and makes an excellent ground cover, ideal for natural beds or woodlands.

Gourmet tip: Its edible flowers are perfect for enhancing salads, pastries, or infusions and can even be crystallised for a unique decorative touch.

Bergenia (Bergenia x cordifolia)

The bergenia is a robust perennial that makes an excellent ground cover thanks to its large, thick, evergreen and glossy leaves. Its leathery foliage remains decorative all year round, taking on beautiful bronze, purple or copper hues in winter, depending on the varieties. The upper side, often dark and glossy, contrasts beautifully with the underside’s pinkish tones.

From the end of winter, it adorns itself with numerous small bell-shaped flowers, clustered in dense clusters. The flowering ranges from bright pink to delicate white, adding a splash of colour to the still dormant flowerbeds affected by the cold.

The bergenia is low-maintenance and adapts perfectly to challenging conditions, particularly in dry shade where few plants thrive. It prefers well-drained soil but also tolerates poorer ground. Easy to care for, simply remove damaged leaves after winter to revive its splendour.

Caucasian leopard's bane (Doronicum orientale)

The Caucasian doronic is a bright perennial that enlivens borders from April with its vivid yellow flowering, reminiscent of little suns. Its large daisy-shaped flowers contrast beautifully with its fresh green foliage, adding brightness to borders and light woodlands.

This plant can reach up to 60 cm in height and forms dense clumps that gradually spread thanks to its creeping rootstock.

The doronic prefers a sunny to partially shaded position and well-drained soil, as it is sensitive to excess moisture which could lead to root rot. Ideal for borders, it pairs well with spring perennials such as forget-me-nots, primroses, or pansies for a guaranteed colourful effect.

The Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris)

The Pasque flower is a small perennial notable for its delicate flowering that blooms as early as March. Its bell-shaped starry flowers display a deep, velvety purple, sometimes tinged with lighter hues, beautifully contrasting with its golden centre.

Its finely dissected foliage and stems are covered with a silky silver down, adding a touch of softness and lightness to the overall appearance, even after flowering, when lovely feathery seed heads appear.

Ideal for rockeries, sunny slopes, or dry gardens, the Pasque flower appreciates well-drained soils and fears stagnant moisture. Provide it with a light, gravelly, or sandy substrate, and full sun exposure to encourage a beautiful flowering. Hardy and low-maintenance, it withstands cold and drought well once established.

The Caucasian forget-me-not (Brunnera macrophylla)

The Brunnera macrophylla is an elegant perennial that captivates with its light and airy flowering from the beginning of spring. Its small light blue flowers, adorned with a delicate white centre, resemble those of common forget-me-nots, adding a touch of freshness to shaded areas.

Its broad heart-shaped foliage, often dark green or variegated with silver depending on the variety (such as the stunning ‘Jack Frost’), is equally decorative. It forms an excellent dense ground cover, perfect for dressing the bases of bushes or filling shaded spaces.

The Brunnera macrophylla thrives in shade or partial shade, in cool, humus-rich, well-drained soil. Pair it with hostas or ferns for a lush woodland effect. Low-maintenance, it requires little care apart from watering during prolonged dry spells.

Thlaspi (Iberis sempervirens)

Also known as silver basket, the iberis sempervirens is a Mediterranean perennial valued for its bright and abundant white flowering, which brightens up gardens from March to April. Its small flowers in dense clusters create a true carpet of light, beautifully contrasting with its dark green evergreen foliage.

With its spreading habit and compact growth, it makes an excellent ground cover, ideal for borders, rockeries, or the front of flower beds.

Plant it in full sun, in well-drained soil, even poor or chalky. The Thlaspi is very drought-resistant and requires little maintenance, making it a perfect plant for dry gardens or challenging situations. Prune lightly after flowering to maintain a dense and harmonious habit.