Sick of Winter? Keep an Eye Out for These 6 First Flowers of Spring That Mean Winter Is Almost Over

The days are getting longer, the temperatures are warming, and the wild birds are celebrating each dawn with songs. Or at least you wish all that was happening as your garden gets covered in yet another blanket of snow. If you feel like you're still stuck in the middle of winter and can't see any signs of spring on the horizon, it's time to take a look at the garden.

Nothing marks the close of winter more powerfully than the appearance of the first spring flowers. These are considered spring markers, signaling that the new season has finally arrived. There are more than a few early spring flowers – the brave blossoms that are the first to appear, pushing their way up through the snow. Some are bulbs like daffodils, while others appear on shrubs, like forsythia, but all are welcome.

Here are a few of the first flowers of spring to watch for in your garden and around town to signal that winter is almost over. If you don’t already grow them, they’re well worth planting so that every winter you’ll know when spring is just around the corner.

First Flowers to Bloom in Spring

The first flowers of spring are among the most appreciated, since they signal that winter is finally over. The earliest species to appear may vary depending on where you live, but many gardeners will recognize these first-of-the-season favorites.

1. Snowdrop

Snowdrops (Galanthus spp.) are said to symbolize hope and renewal, since they are often the very first to flower. The first ones to arrive can be seen pushing up through the snow in cold areas.

True to their name, snowdrops are small with six white pendant petals. There are many species of galanthus. They are native to the woodlands and alpine grasslands of mountainous regions of southern Europe.

Plant snowdrop bulbs in a sunny location, that is, one that gets full sun during the spring. Plant in well-draining soil in the autumn, spacing the bulbs 3 inches (7.5 cm) apart and 3 inches (7.5 cm) deep. Do not fertilize until after the shoots first appear in spring.

You can get gorgeous double snowdrop bulbs from Amazon for extra frilly early spring flowers.

2. Crocus

Are you ready for brightly colored spring blossoms? Crocus flowers may be the first to arrive and certainly qualify. They are also early bloomers and their vibrant flowers sometimes appear through the snow.

Different types of crocus flowers blaze in a variety of colors from deep purple, to blue, yellow, orange, pink or white. Like snowdrops, they are said to symbolize new beginnings.

Plant crocus corms in well-draining soil some 4 inches (10 cm) deep and 4 inches (10 cm) apart. They need full sun for best blooms. Water regularly. All you have to do after bulbs bloom is cut back leaves when they are entirely yellow or let the foliage die back on its own.

Shop a wide variety of crocuses from Burpee and find the perfect ones for your spring garden.

3. Forsythia

Cheerful daffodil-yellow blooms with four petals cover the graceful, arching stems of a forsythia shrub in early spring. The bright yellow flowers appear on bare branches even before its leaves grow in, symbolizing hope and good fortune in Chinese culture.

These low-maintenance shrubs require almost no care and provide a welcome burst of color as winter slips away. Consider pruning regularly since this deciduous ornamental shrub can grow to 20 feet (6.5 m) tall and 10 feet (3m) wide.

Plant forsythia in the fall while they are dormant. Select a spot in full sun. The shrub will also need well-draining soil and plenty of elbow room to grow.

Buy healthy, high-quality forsythia bushes from Wayside Gardens.

4. Winter Aconite

Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) is another bright yellow blossom to appear on the winter side of the winter/spring boundary. It may not surprise you that winter aconite – like snowdrops and forsythia – symbolizes hope, new beginnings, and rebirth. The bright yellow flowers bloom so early they are often seen in snow.

Each solitary, cup-shaped blossom has six petals and numerous stamens and pistils in the center. These plants form low, rounded clumps about 6 inches (15 cm) tall and wide. The leaves do not appear until after the flowers fade.

These flowers work well in rock gardens and woodland gardens. Winter aconite may bloom earlier if you plant it in a sunny spot. Plant tubers in the fall 3 inches (7.5 cm) apart and 3 inches (7.5 cm) deep in humus-rich, well-drained soil.

Get 25 winter aconite bulbs for under $25 on Etsy.

5. Daffodil

No list of early spring flowers would be complete without iconic yellow daffodils (Narcissus spp.) celebrated in Walt Whitman’s famous poem. We may think of daffodils as American, but these beloved bulb flowers are native to Europe and North Africa.

Daffodils require little care. Plant these bulbs in the fall so they can overwinter in the ground. They are sun-loving plants and require well-draining soil to thrive.

I love the traditional golden daffodil flower with six petals and a trumpet-shaped central corona. But if you are adventurous, try one of the many cultivars in fancy colors or shapes.

Shop tons of unique daffodil varieties in a huge range of colors and bloom types from Burpee.

6. Lenten Rose

The Lenten rose (Helleborus x hybridus) is unrelated to the rose family although the flowers do look rose-like in colors ranging from pink, to purple, to almost black, green, and white. This plant flowers at the time of late winter when Lent is most often celebrated by Christians, usually in March.

It typically grows as a bushy clump, about 1 foot (0.3 m) tall and wide, with clusters of large, nodding blooms that rise above the leaves. Blooms appear in late winter and persist into spring.

Lenten rose flowers can grow in either partial sun or shady conditions, and never was a plant easier to care for. Plant it in moist, neutral-to-alkaline, rich soil with good drainage. Propagate Lenten roses by dividing clumps to fill your whole shade garden with early spring blooms.

Explore lots of exciting hellebore varieties from Wayside Gardens.