spring flowers that start with k

Spring Flowers That Start With K to Brighten Your Garden

The arrival of spring brings many joys – warmer weather longer days and the awakening of dormant plants. As flowers begin to bloom, it’s the perfect time to take stock of your garden and consider adding some fresh color and beauty. Why not look to spring flowers that start with the letter K? You’ll find a diverse range of options that can really make your yard pop this season. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best K flowers for spring and provide tips on how to incorporate them into your outdoor space.

Vibrant Kangaroo Paws

Native to Australia, kangaroo paw features distinctive blooms that resemble the paws of its marsupial namesake. Available in radiant shades like red, yellow, orange, and green, these eye-catching flowers can add a punch of color to garden beds and borders. Kangaroo paws thrive in warm climates (Zones 9-11) and prefer well-drained soil and ample sunlight. Plant in the spring after the danger of frost has passed. Give them plenty of room, as mature plants can reach up to 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Hummingbirds adore the tubular flowers!

Elegant Kalmia

Also known as mountain laurel, kalmia is a flowering evergreen shrub that flourishes in acidic soil. often found growing beneath conifers and around bogs. The showy spring blossoms feature flower colors from white to pink and purple, sometimes speckled with tiny red dots. Kalmia does best in partial shade and appreciates mulch and moisture retentive soil. After bloom time, this carefree plant continues adding interest with its waxy deep green leaves. Kalmia grows in Zones 5-9 and can reach 10 feet high and 15 feet wide when mature.

Colorful Kaffir Lilies

Few flowers can match the brilliant orange found on kaffir lily blooms. This South African native, also called clivia, sends up abundant clusters of flowers in late winter or early spring. The strappy green leaves look attractive all season long. Plant kaffir lily in partial shade or morning sun. Give them rich, well-drained soil and let them become fairly dry between waterings. In Zones 8-11, you can grow them outdoors. In colder climates, enjoy them as houseplants. Place them near a bright window indoors.

Eye-Catching Kniphofia

With its spiky torch-like flowers, kniphofia (red hot poker plant) always makes a statement. The spring-blooming perennial flowers come in warm hues like red, coral, and yellow. Hummingbirds can’t resist them! Plant kniphofia in full sun and well-drained soil. It does best in Zones 5-9. You can use these vertical accents in borders, rock gardens, or along pathways. Give them room, as mature plants reach 2-5 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage reblooming.

Charming Kolkwitzia

Also known as beautybush, kolkwitzia starts the season with abundant pink bell-shaped blooms that cascade from arching branches. This deciduous flowering shrub thrives in full sun to partial shade and reaches up to 9 feet tall at maturity. For best results, provide kolkwitzia with well-drained, moist soil amended with compost or manure. Blooms emerge on old wood, so avoid heavy pruning. After the pretty spring flowers fade, the leaves provide nice autumn color. Kolkwitzia grows in Zones 5-9.

Unique Kiss-Me-Over-The-Garden-Gate

Despite its delicate appearance, the old-fashioned annual kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate grows quite large, sometimes reaching heights over 8 feet! Graceful, dangling bell-shaped blooms create a romantic cascade of color in pink, red, or white. For best results, choose a site with full sun to partial shade and moist, fertile soil. Direct sow after the danger of frost has passed or start indoors 4-6 weeks before your last expected spring frost. Give plants 1-2 feet of space. The blooms attract pollinators before going to seed.

Vibrant Kalanchoe

Available in a mix of colors, kalanchoe blooms can brighten windowsills and tabletops with ease. This succulent houseplant thrives with minimal care – just provide plenty of sunlight and water when the soil is dry. Let the soil dry out between each watering to prevent root rot. Newer hybrids bloom in shades of yellow, orange, red, pink, and white. Remove faded blooms to encourage more flowers. When grown outdoors in frost-free areas (Zones 10-11), kalanchoe can reach up to 3 feet tall. The fuzzy, scalloped leaves stay attractive after the colorful flowers fade.

Showy King Protea

One of the most iconic flowers of South Africa, king protea makes a dramatic statement in the garden. The large, artichoke-like flower heads come in various colors including cream, blush, and crimson. Plant in well-drained, acidic soil in full sun to partial shade. Provide afternoon shade in very hot climates. Though slow growing at first, king protea can eventually reach heights of 15 feet! However, you can maintain a shorter shrub by pruning back upright stems after flowering. King protea thrives outdoors in Zones 9-11.

Cheerful Kyushu Meadow Rue

Also known as dwarf meadow rue, the petite Kyushu meadow rue blossoms in shades of pink, white, and lavender. It spreads to form a lush carpet of color and stays under a foot tall when mature. For best growth, select a site with partial shade to full shade and evenly moist soil. Kyushu meadow rue grows well around patios, in woodland gardens, and alongside pathways. It flourishes in Zones 4-9. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage additional flowering. The flowers have a sweet, honey-like fragrance.

Showstopping Kirengeshoma

Reaching 2-3 feet tall when mature, kirengeshoma produces abundant yellow bell-shaped blooms on gracefully arching stems in late summer. However, the maple-shaped leaves provide wonderful color and texture all season long. For best results, plant kirengeshoma in rich, moist soil amended with compost. It does well in partial sun to full shade. Kirengeshoma spreads slowly via rhizomes to form colonies in Zones 5-8. Site it near ponds or streams or in shady garden beds and woodland settings.

Delicate Knautia Macedonica

Also known as Macedonian scabiosa, knautia macedonica sends up rich, burgundy-red pincushion-like flowers atop wiry 18-inch stems starting in early summer. The long-blooming perennial does best in full sun and dry to medium moisture, well-draining soil. Allow knautia macedonica to self-seed for plentiful flowers year after year. Plant alongside ornamental grasses, roses, and other perennials. Be sure to leave some spent blooms in place for the benefit of seed-eating birds like finches. This short-lived plant grows best in Zones 5-8.

Fragrant Kleinia Galpinii

Known for its tolerance to dry conditions, Kleinia galpinii is a South African native that adds unique beauty to drought-prone areas. The succulent leaves have a powdery white coating. Tubular orange-red flowers emerge in late winter and spring. Plant in full sun to maximize bloom time. Kleinia galpinii grows about 3 feet tall and wide in ideal conditions. However, it can adapt to more compact forms in containers. Overwatering may cause root rot with this drought-resistant plant. Grow it outdoors in Zones 10-11 or indoors near a sunny window.

Sweet King’s Spear

Also known as Jacob’s rod, king’s spear displays abundant clusters of yellow, star-shaped blooms from late spring into summer. The flowers have a lovely, honey-like fragrance. King’s spear reaches a modest size of 12-18 inches tall. It thrives in hot, dry conditions and does especially well in rocky gardens and slopes. The spear-shaped gray-green leaves add nice texture. For best results, plant king’s spear in full sun and provide sharp drainage. This Mediterranean native grows well in Zones 5-10. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage reblooming.

Unique Kangkung

More than merely ornamental, kangkung offers edible shoots, leaves, and flowers! The versatile aquatic plant flourishes in damp conditions, often grown in water gardens or along the shallow edges of ponds. Kangkung thrives in hot conditions (Zones 10-11) and can be invasive. However, you can contain its vigorous growth by planting in containers submerged at the edges of water features. The leaves are harvested as a vegetable in Southeast Asian cuisine. When allowed to flower, kangkung blooms range from white to purple.

Vibrant Kalmiopsis

Among the rarest North American wildflowers, kalmiopsis mainly grows only in the remote wilderness of southwestern Oregon. The endangered deciduous shrub bears delicate pink bells framed by leathery dark green leaves that turn brilliant crimson-red in fall. Closely related to rhododendrons, kalmiopsis prefers acidic soil and flourishes in Zones 7-9. Its limited native range and conservation status mean kalmiopsis is not often cultivated. But it stands as a unique jewel of the native flora.

Tips for Growing K Flowers

• Check each variety’s preferred soil, sunlight, and hardiness zones. Choose ones suited for your region.

• Improve drainage by mixing compost or peat moss into soil. Many K flowers thrive in moist but well-draining conditions.

• Fertilize established plantings in early spring with a balanced organic fertilizer. Avoid high-nitrogen formulas that promote leafy growth over flowers.

• Water thoroughly after planting and provide 1-2 inches of water per week for most flowers during the growing season.

• Prune spring-blooming K shrubs like kalmia immediately after flowering. This encourages next year’s bud development.

• Deadhead spent blooms regularly to encourage reblooming. Leave some faded flowers in place for birds and pollinators.

• Control weeds to prevent unwanted plants from crowding out flowers. Apply mulch to suppress weeds.

• Check for pests like aphids and mites. Remove by hand or use insecticidal soap spray. Avoid pesticides that also kill pollinators.

With their diverse shapes, sizes, and colors, spring flowers that start with K infuse gardens with beauty and new life. Which K flowers will you include in your landscape? With proper care, these spring blossoms can continue lighting up your garden for years to come.