15 Early Blooming Spring Flowers You Need to Know About

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8
• What It Needs: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight)

The sunny little faces of winter aconite are some of the earliest to appear in spring, often when snow is still covering the ground. And if you live in an area with plenty of rabbits and deer, take note: Both tend to leave this flower alone.

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
• What It Needs: Full sun

These spring bloomers also appear in very early spring in shades of yellow, purple, white or orange. They’re a favorite of early spring pollinators.  

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
• What It Needs: Full sun

This sweet little European wildflower also appears in snow-covered gardens, and they, too, are deer and rodent resistant. For the biggest impact, plant them in drifts, or groups.

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
• What It Needs: Full sun

When you see the yellow, bobbing heads of daffodils, you know spring has arrived. There are varieties that bloom early, mid- and late spring, so you can enjoy blooms all season long. Read the plant description to know which type you’re buying.

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 7
• What It Needs: Part sun to full shade

These gorgeous perennials bloom in late winter to early spring in a profusion of bright, happy colors. They’re also deer and rabbit resistant.

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8
• What It Needs: Part sun to full shade

Also called Lenten rose because it blooms around the time of Lent, this stunning evergreen perennial looks delicate but is super cold hardy. It’s also deer and rabbit resistant.

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 8
• What It Needs: Full sun

Vivid blue flowers appear in late winter, popping up right through the snow. These petite flowers look amazing when massed or used as a seasonal groundcover.

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 8
• What It Needs: Full sun

As you’d imagine from its common name, these tiny pink, white or blue flowers pop up when winter is still going strong to turn their cheerful faces to the sun. They often bloom when there’s still snow, and they’re also deer resistant.

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
• What It Needs: Full shade

With such a cute common name, you have to grow this shade-loving perennial. Yes, its tiny flowers appear in early spring and resemble teeny pairs of upside-down pants hung to dry on a line.

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
• What It Needs: Full sun

These petite bloomers appear in early to mid-spring in shades of purple, blue and white. They spread readily and are deer and rabbit resistant.

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8, but usually grown as annuals
• What It Needs: Full sun to part shade

These spring-blooming bulbs are absolutely gorgeous and come in every hue imaginable, flowering in early, mid- or late spring. (Pro tip: Plant a selection for season-long color!.) They’re treated as annuals because the blooms don’t usually come back well after the first season.

• USDA Hardiness Zones: Grown as annuals
• What It Needs: Part to full sun

These funny-faced little flowers come in exquisite colors from pale lemon yellow to brilliant purple. They look similar but some violas are perennials, so read the plant descriptions when buying. Some annual types will self-seed and pop up again in your garden next spring.

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8
• What It Needs: Part to full sun

There are many different types of irises, but this one has dainty flowers that pop up in early to mid-spring alongside grassy foliage. They’re darling in rock gardens or along borders.

• USDA Hardiness Zones: Grown as annuals
• What It Needs: Full sun

Snapdragons have upright blooms in bright colors, and they’ll tolerate light frosts, so they’re one of the first annuals you can plant outdoors in mid- to late spring.

• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
• What It Needs: Full sun

This easy-to-grow spring bloomer has spikes of intensely fragrant blooms in early to mid-spring. Bunnies and deer tend to leave them alone, too.