March has arrived, and although it may still be winter, it won’t be long before the first brave flowers begin to bloom. Some of these pioneers are so tough they will poke their heads right through the snow, leading the way for the host of blossoms that will follow as the season progresses. Many of these first flowers are bulbous plants, with common names that refer to their proclivity to bloom early: Snowdrop, Glory of the Snow, Winter Aconite. But not all early bloomers are bulbs. Some are also herbaceous perennials.
The Hellebores are among the first to flower, starting as soon as March. Like the bulbs, they too, will bloom right through the snow. Helleborus orientalis, or Lenten Rose, is the easiest to grow and the best Hellebore for the Chicago area. It is an attractive, long-lived perennial with glossy, dark evergreen foliage and nodding three to four inch flowers. Blooms are purple in bud, cream as they open, and green in maturity. Lenten Rose grows from 18 to 24” tall, thriving in part to full shade. Plant Lenten Rose along a walk or a path where it can be seen and its early flowers can be enjoyed. Its glossy leaves will remain attractive all season.
Early spring also finds many of the native wildflowers in their glory. These woodland plants need a head start in order to finish their blooming before the trees leaf out completely. Look for Hepatica’s dainty flowers as early as March. They are white to pink and appear before the foliage. Hepaticas grow 4-6” tall. Foliage changes throughout the season, starting out light green, deepening to olive, and taking on a purple hue for winter.
Another native wildflower, Bloodroot, produces single white flowers before the leaves unfold in
April. Bloodroot grows to about 6-12” tall before the foliage disappears again in late summer. In time, Bloodroot will slowly spread to form naturalized patches. Intermingle Bloodroot with ferns and with other wildflowers such as Trilliums.
Trilliums are among the most beautiful and well-known of the native wildflowers. Snow Trillium or Great White Trillium begins to bloom in April. It is a lovely plant, forming 12-14” mounds of foliage and producing large, showy flowers. Each flower has three white petals backed by three greenish sepals. Petals slowly fade to a pink blush as they age. Other Trilliums are soon to follow: Painted Trillium is white with a crimson base; Yellow Wood Trillium has yellow, lemon-scented flowers, and Toad Trillium has flowers in shades of maroon, purple or greenish yellow over mottled leaves.
In April, another native, Celadine poppy, begins to produce its bright yellow, poppy-like flowers. This show continues through the spring, and if conditions are right, it will may continue to flower sporadically throughout the summer. In dry areas, however, the plant will go dormant. Celadine poppy grows 12-18” tall, and is a fine addition to the woodland garden.
A number of spring flowers bloom in shades of blue. Virginia Bluebells are pink in bud and blue in flower, and they, too, begin to bloom in April. Wild Blue Phlox likes the light shade of the woodland border. It sends up clouds of fragrant blue flowers from late April through June. Also in April, Heartleaf Brunnera begins to produce its bright blue forget-me-not flowers over leathery, dark green, heart-shaped leaves.
Heartleaf Bergenia brings a different texture to the shaded garden, with its large, shiny evergreen leaves. It begins to flower in April, in shades of pink, white or rosy red.
Not all early blooming flowers are shade plants. Pasque Flower is an April blooming plant that grows in light shade to sun. Reaching a height of 8 to 12”, it produces violet, reddish-violet, or white, cup-shaped flowers over delicate, fern-like foliage. Attractive, smoke-gray seed pods resemble those of a clematis and add interest long after the flowers have finished blooming. Pasque Flower is a lovely perennial that adds an interesting texture when used in combination with spring-flowering bulbs.
Basket-of-Gold is a sun-loving perennial that will bloom from mid-April into May. Its bright yellow flowers are produced in clusters, and it reaches only 6-8” in height, making it a good choice for the rock garden or to trail over a stone wall. This plant likes good drainage and an infertile soil.
Rock Cress is another good choice for rock gardens or walls. It is a low-growing, mat-forming plant that flowers in shades of white or rose-pink. Depending on the variety, foliage may be gray-green, dark green, or green and white. It requires full sun and a well-drained soil.
For early color in damp or wet areas, consider Marsh Marigold. Its flowers are bright yellow and resemble buttercups. The plants grow from 12-18” over dark green, heart-shaped, shiny foliage. Marsh Marigold thrives in sun to open shade and can even grow in water up to 6” deep.
Date: February 10, 2000
Author: Maureen Safarik
Maureen Safarik is a Horticulturist at The Planter's Palette