Garden in early spring with yellow and purple early flowers

Seasonal Tips20 May 20265 min

Early spring blooming: what flowers week by week from February to May

spring blooming early flowers spring plants bulbs seasonal calendar

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Spring week by week: bloom plan February to May

You want your garden colourful in early spring. Don't wait until May - flowers are here from February. The key: mix of bulbs, early perennials, and shrubs.

Here's the weekly calendar. Plant now (November-December) to guarantee spring bloom.

Week 1-2: February (first glimpses)

Helleborus niger (Christmas rose, white-pink, 40 cm) - blooms December-January already, but February peak.

Galanthus (snowdrop, white miniature, 15 cm) - first flower of the year. Invisibly small but proof of nature.

Eranthis hyemalis (winter aconite, yellow, 10 cm) - follows snowdrops fast.

Crocus vernus (spring crocus, purple-white, 10 cm) - by late February.

Jasminum nudiflorum (winter jasmine, yellow flowers, climber) - technically blooms all winter, February peak.

Week 3-4: March (real spring begins)

Tulipa kaufmanniana (water lily tulip, pink-yellow, 20 cm) - earliest tulips.

Puschkinia (striped squill, blue-white, 20 cm) - follows tulips.

Primula (primrose, many colours, 30 cm) - feels like real spring.

Helleborus orientalis (Lenten rose, pink-purple, 50 cm) - bigger than nigra, less stiff.

Magnolia stellata (star magnolia, white-pink flowers, 300-400 cm tree) - spectacle, very early.

Forsythia (forsythia, yellow flowers, 200-300 cm fast shrub) - standard spring herald.

Week 5-6: April (peaks)

Tulipa Darwin Hybrids (Darwin tulips, red-yellow-pink, 60 cm) - tall, colourful, classic.

Allium (ornamental onion, purple flowers, 50 cm) - not tulips but feels spring.

Fritillaria imperialis (crown imperial, red-yellow, 100 cm) - exotic, heavy foliage.

Lunaria annua (honesty, purple-white flowers, silver seed pods later, 80 cm).

Anemone blanda (daisy anemone, purple-white-pink, 20 cm) - late arrival but full bloomer.

Paeonia (peony, pink-white-red, 80 cm) - early varieties already April, but May peak.

Epimedium (bishop's hat, pink-yellow flowers, small but full, 30 cm).

Week 7-8: May (full bloom)

Tulipa parrot (parrot tulips, large frilly flowers, many colours, 60 cm) - not classical, but spectacular.

Convallaria majalis (lily of the valley, white flowers, fragrant, 20 cm) - feels spring, feels precious.

Laburnum anagyroides (golden rain, yellow hanging flowers, tree 600 cm) - spectacle for a day.

Wisteria (wisteria, purple-white flowers, hanging, climber) - spectacle, feels luxe.

Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) - young foliage still red, then green. Subtle beauty.

Planning strategy

Plant now (October-November):

All bulbs (tulips, crocus, allium, fritillaria) - dig holes + plant.
Perennials (helleborus, primula, epimedium) - these stay.

Next spring (March-April):

Buy and plant: forsythia, magnolia, laburnum - these grow years, not bulbs.

Budget

Bulbs (1 m2 full bloom):

30-40 bulbs at 0.50-1 euro = 20-40 euros
Perennials: 3-5 at 5-10 euros = 15-50 euros
Total: 35-90 euros for full spring garden

Frequently asked questions

When do I plant bulbs?

October-November, as soon as ground doesn't freeze. Depth: roughly 2-3x bulb height. If bulb is 5 cm, dig 12-15 cm deep.

Do bulbs survive after flowering?

Yes. After bloom let them flower out, then cut foliage (not the green). Next year fewer flowers (nutrients depleted), but year three better. Or buy new bulbs annually.