16 Early Spring Flowers That Chase Away Winter's Chill

The early blooms of spring tell you the coldest days of the year are behind you and the warmth of the new season has arrived. Look for these early spring flowers as a signal to get your garden started or include a few in your end of winter line up for a beautiful garden full of spring's earliest florals.

Blooming in early spring and into the mid-spring season, you may recognize hyacinth by its rich blue blooms stacked in a cylindrical form. You might also see pink or white hyacinth. This perennial only blooms once per year and when they do, you know spring has officially begun.

Possibly one of the easiest spring flowers to nurture, daffodils are a sure signal that springtime has begun. These bright yellow blossoms thrive in the sun or shade and will help your garden give spring a sunny welcome.

Attract lots of hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden with striking spring irises. Recognizable by their segmented petals and vivid display of colors, irises have a varied blooming season dependent upon the specific variety. Dwarf irises bloom in the early spring, while larger irises may bloom in the later spring season. Some irises will also bloom a second time in the late summer or early fall.

If you want tulips to line your home's walkway by early spring, the preparation takes place in late winter. These vibrant spring bulbs will be some of the first blooms of the season, so they need about four weeks of prep before the warm temps set in.

Mostly seen in shades of pink, purple, red, and blue, azaleas are an ornamental garden flower with lush bunches of blooms. Look for azaleas in the early spring, though there are some species that bloom in the late spring and early summer.

The nodding bell-shaped blooms of lily-of-the-valley are an unmistakable welcome to spring. Mostly seen in its signature white, you might catch an occasional lily-of-the-valley tinged with pink. These lilies need a long dormant period, so planting them in the late fall or winter will produce a beautiful spring blossom. If your climate is cooler, you might see them bloom in the late spring and early summer.

Blooming as early as February in some regions, snowdrops are reminiscent of the drooping bell shape of lily-of-the-valley. There are 20 species of snowdrops, and the flowers are almost entirely white, with the rare exception of a pale yellow. This spring blossom may look like snow falling, but they are only a preview of the warm weather to come.

Creeping phlox might be one of the first blooms you see in spring. With low-maintenance care and rich blossoms in purple, pink, and red, these fern-like plants are the perfect spring addition for your garden.

Blooming in various shades of pink, red, and white, camellias may grace your garden before the true break of spring. Camellias can bloom any time between the late fall and early spring, depending on the variety. If you want an early preview of spring each year, add a few camellias to your garden.

Also known as the spring rose, ranunculus flowers have lavish layers of petals. With the cup-like shape of these petals, it's no surprise that buttercups fall within the ranunculus family. The countless colors in the blooms will add vivid variety to your landscape in early spring and stick around until the break of summer.

Some of the first plants to bloom in early spring, pansies are a beloved flower for many gardeners. These colorful petals will add vivid layers to your landscape as they chase away winter's chill. See if you can find the face hidden in each flower when they bloom in early spring.

Most commonly seen in a rich shade of purple, crocus is one of the earliest blooms of spring. Some species of crocus in certain regions blossom as early as January. Crocus will bring the early joy of spring to your garden or landscape and will continue to spread and come back each year.

Part of the buttercup family, hellebore blooms usually sport speckles against a red, yellow, or purple petal. This bloom may sprout as early as December in warm climates and will come peaking through the cool ground in most climates by early spring. Be careful with your pets around this one as hellebore can be toxic to cats and dogs.

If you live in a cooler climate, your snapdragons may bloom in early spring and stick around through the summer. With warmer temps, your snapdragons will last until the early fall. This early spring and long-staying flower shows off bright and vast color variations with a striking and tall body in 40 different species.

Violas thrive in the cool temps of early spring, and with the right climate and care, they will last until the break of summer. Look for their famous violet or white petals and the occasional yellow. If you play your gardening cards right, you may see these blooms again in the fall.

A low-maintenance addition to your garden, forsythia pops out with its signature yellow blossoms in the early spring months. The blooms may not last all season, but this green shrub will provide plenty of beauty to your garden once the petals drop as the warmest months creep closer.

A few of these vibrant blossoms will have your garden overflowing with the sights of springtime beauty. Welcome the warmer temps and the anticipation in the air with the prettiest flowers that usher in the beauty of spring.