Flowering shrubs provide color and structure and can be used as groundcovers, hedge plants or eye-catching focal points. You can fill your garden with ornamental shrubs that bloom from early spring through late fall and even into winter. Many flowering shrubs also perfume the air with their own signature fragrance.
Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth in the garden After a long winter, it’s exciting to see those first splashes of color as bulbs like daffodils, tulips and hyacinths start to bloom But flowering bulbs are just the beginning of the spring bloom season. Next up are flowering trees like redbuds, cherries and crabapples. And then finally, right as bulbs are fading, spring-blooming bushes kick into high gear, covering themselves in colorful flowers.
Spring-blooming bushes add a big punch of color at a time when we’re all eager to get outside and welcome warmer weather. The bright blooms draw your eye and help disguise any fading bulbs or bare spots left in the garden. Spring bushes also provide early season color that lasts longer than bulbs. Most bulb flowers only stick around for a week or two while bushes can bloom for up to a month.
So if you’re looking to add more color and floral displays to your spring landscape, make room for some of these beauties. Here are 20 of the best bushes that bloom in spring:
Forsythia
Few shrubs put on a bigger spring flower display than forsythia. Plants explode with golden yellow blooms in March and April, depending on your location. The bright color is like a beacon announcing spring’s arrival. There are many forsythia varieties to choose from, but dwarf types like ‘Gold Tide’ and ‘Mindor’ are ideal for small spaces. Give forsythia full sun to encourage the most flowering.
Bloom time: March-April
Height/Spread: 5-10 feet tall and wide depending on type
Hardiness: Zones 5-8
Lilac
The sweet fragrance of lilac blooms is synonymous with spring for many gardeners. These classic shrubs produce an abundance of blooms on arching branches. Flower colors range from deep purple to white. In northern climates, lilacs bloom in May. But farther south they start flowering in March. For repeat blooms until frost, look for reblooming varieties like ‘Bloomerang’ and ‘Josee’.
Bloom time: March-May
Height/Spread: 8-15 feet tall and wide depending on type
Hardiness: Zones 3-7
Rhododendron
Available in a rainbow of colors including orange, yellow, pink, red, purple and white, rhododendrons put on a phenomenal floral display in spring. These evergreen shrubs also have lush green leaves year-round, so they add structure to gardens even when not in bloom. Plant rhododendrons in groups for maximum impact. Or mix colors for a striking effect.
Bloom time: March-May
Height/Spread: 4-15 feet tall and wide depending on type
Hardiness: Zones 4-9
Azalea
Closely related to rhododendrons, azaleas are smaller shrubs that produce colorful clusters of flowers in spring. Reds, oranges, purples, whites and bicolored blooms are all possible. Azaleas do best in climates with mild winters, where they can flower profusely in March and April. In colder zones, bloom time is mid to late May.
Bloom time: March-May
Height/Spread: 2-6 feet tall and wide depending on type
Hardiness: Zones 5-9
Spirea
A favorite of cottage gardens, spirea offers easy-care spring beauty. Many varieties produce clouds of small white or pink flowers on arching branches. ‘Goldflame’ spirea has pink blooms complemented by golden-orange new foliage. For repeat blooms until fall, grow a reblooming variety like ‘Double Play’ or ‘Bloomstruck’.
Bloom time: April-May
Height/Spread: 2-6 feet tall and wide depending on variety
Hardiness: Zones 4-9
Weigela
Weigela is prized for its trumpet-shaped spring flowers that come in shades of white, pink, red and purple. Newer weigela varieties also have colorful yellow, green or red foliage that provides visual interest after the flowers fade. ‘Wine and Roses’ is a classic favorite, but also look for ‘Spilled Wine’ and ‘My Monet’ for more compact habits.
Bloom time: April-May
Height/Spread: 4-6 feet tall and wide depending on variety
Hardiness: Zones 4-8
Flowering Quince
Flowering quince is an old-fashioned spring favorite that blooms prolifically in April. The thornless Double Take series offers camellia-like flowers in several colors including orange, scarlet, pink and white. Use flowering quince in borders, hedges or containers. It’s hardy even in cold climates.
Bloom time: April
Height/Spread: 4-5 feet tall and wide
Hardiness: Zones 5-9
Fothergilla
Native fothergilla puts on a show-stopping floral display in April and May. Plants produce fuzzy white bottlebrush blooms just as the leaves emerge. Fothergilla grows well even in shady spots. It also has excellent fall leaf color in hues of red, orange and yellow. Use fothergilla in borders, foundations or as specimen plants.
Bloom time: April-May
Height/Spread: 2-8 feet tall and wide depending on variety
Hardiness: Zones 5-9
Viburnum
From snowball bush to Koreanspice viburnum, there are lots of viburnum shrubs to grow for spring flowers. Most viburnums produce flat-topped clusters of tiny white or pink flowers from April to early June. Their sweet fragrance is an added bonus. Arrowwood viburnum is one of the prettiest.
Bloom time: April-June
Height/Spread: 6-15 feet tall and wide depending on variety
Hardiness: Zones 2-9
Deutzia
One of the prettiest spring flowering bushes, deutzia produces graceful panicles of star-shaped white or pink flowers on arching branches. Varieties like ‘Chardonnay Pearls’ and ‘Yuki Cherry Blossom’ are more compact at just 2-3 feet tall. Others can reach up to 10 feet tall and wide.
Bloom time: May
Height/Spread: 2-10 feet tall and wide depending on variety
Hardiness: Zones 5-8
Mock Orange
Mock orange offers amazingly fragrant white blooms in late spring. Its sweet scent perfumes the garden and smells just like citrus blossoms (even though mock orange isn’t related to oranges). For repeat blooms until frost, grow the variety ‘Bloomerang Dark Purple’. Give mock orange full sun to encourage the most flowers.
Bloom time: May-June
Height/Spread: 4-10 feet tall and wide depending on variety
Hardiness: Zones 4-8
Beautyberry
If unique foliage and fruit color are your thing, add beautyberry to your landscape. In spring, beautyberry produces small lilac-colored flowers. But it’s the vibrant purple berries that appear in fall that really make this bush stand out. Top choices include Calliope and Shim series.
Bloom time: May-June
Height/Spread: 3-5 feet tall and wide
Hardiness: Zones 7-10
Peony
Technically a perennial, but peonies grow into large, bush-like plants that deliver spectacular spring color. Giant, fragrant blooms come in shades like pink, coral, white, red and burgundy. Plant peonies in a spot that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight for best flowering. Add bone meal or compost to improve bloom performance.
Bloom time: May-June
Height/Spread: 2-4 feet tall and wide
Hardiness: Zones 3-8
Beauty Bush
Despite its common name, beauty bush isn’t as widely grown as it should be. This large shrub produces pale pink flowers on gracefully arching branches in spring. It tolerates drought, resists deer and requires little care. For something smaller, try the Baby Kim compact beauty bush.
Bloom time: May-June
Height/Spread: 5-10 feet tall and wide
Hardiness: Zones 4-8
Ninebark
If you want interesting foliage and flowers, grow ninebark. Varieties like ‘Summer Wine’ and ‘Little Devil’ have deep purple leaves. Others like ‘Tiny Wine’ have burgundy-red foliage. All produce clusters of small, white flowers in late spring. Ninebark does best in full sun and is very tough and easy to grow.
Bloom time: May-June
Height/Spread: 3-8 feet tall and wide depending on variety
Hardiness: Zones 2-7
Camellia
In mild winter climates, camellias begin blooming as early as November. But where winters are cold camellias flower in early spring. These broadleaf evergreens have glossy leaves and produce rose-like flowers in shades of pink, red and white. For the most blooms, choose varieties rated for your climate.
Bloom time: March-April
Height/Spread: 6-12 feet tall and wide depending on variety
Hardiness: Zones 7-10
Smoketree
For something totally different, grow smoketree. This large shrub has puffy flower plumes that give the impression of billowing smoke. Flower colors include purple, pink and white depending on variety. Smoketrees bloom best in full sun. Use them as specimen plants or tall hedges.
Bloom time: May-June
Height/Spread: 10-15 feet tall and wide
Hardiness: Zones 5-9
Bush Cinquefoil
Also called potentilla, bush cinquefoil is a tough, deer-resistant shrub that blooms in late spring and early summer. Varieties produce yellow, white, pink or red flowers. Bush cinquefoil does best in full sun and is very drought tolerant once established. Use it for borders, mass plantings or low hedges.
Bloom time: May-July
Height/Spread: 1-4 feet tall and wide depending on variety
Hardiness: Zones 2-7
Bridalwreath Spirea
As the common name suggests, bridalwreath spirea has masses of tiny white flowers that cascade along arching branches, looking like a bride’s flowing veil. This classic, easy-to-grow shrub maintains a rounded form and tolerates partial shade. For a smaller plant, choose Double Play Doozie bridalwreath.
Bloom time: May-June
Height/Spread: 4-6 feet tall and wide
Hardiness: Zones 4-9
So there you have it—20 of the prettiest, most carefree bushes that bloom in spring to add colorful floral displays to your landscape. Use flowering shrubs as foundation plants, anchors in mixed borders or standalone specimen plants. Spring blooming bushes are also ideal for planting around decks, patios and pools. Choose your favorites and make this spring the most colorful one yet in your garden.
KOREAN SPICE VIBURNUM (Viburnum carlesii)
This showy shrub produces clusters of pastel-pink buds in late March that open to domed clusters of white or pink-flushed flowers. However, it’s the heady fragrance, similar to spice cake, that makes this exceptional species a delightful addition to the garden.
Learn more about growing viburnum shrubs.
Sonic Bloom® Pink weigela. Photo: Proven Winners.
Gardeners love this popular shrub not only for its abundance of white or pink flowers on arching branches, but also for its unflappable nature and reliable performance. The trumpet-shaped flowers are a favorite of bees and hummingbirds, and often continue to bloom in scattered fashion from mid to late summer.
Learn more about growing weigela shrubs.
ShrubsDiscover the right shrubs for your garden.
Flowering shrubs provide color and structure and can be used as groundcovers, hedge plants or eye-catching focal points. You can fill your garden with ornamental shrubs that bloom from early spring through late fall and even into winter. Many flowering shrubs also perfume the air with their own signature fragrance.
On this page:
Bloomerang® Dark Purple reblooming lilac. Photo: Proven Winners.
6 Great Spring Blooming Shrubs
FAQ
What bush blooms in early spring?
Rhododendron. Among the most reliable flowering evergreen shrubs for Northern gardens, P.J.M. Elite Rhododendron is also one of the most beautiful. It delights in early spring as the big buds unfurl to reveal lovely clusters of lavender-purple blossoms.
What bush blooms in May?
Bridging the gap between spring and summer, many of them fill the garden with heady fragrance and colourful foliage. Some of the shrubs flowering at this time of year, such as deutzia, weigela and lilac, flower on growth made the previous year.
What are all season blooming bushes?
- 1.) Perfecto Mundo® Reblooming Azaleas. (Rhododendron sp.) …
- 2.) Butterfly Bush. (Buddleia sp.) …
- 3.) Panicle Hydrangeas. (Hydrangea paniculata) …
- 6.) Bloomerang® Lilacs. (Syringa sp.) …
- 7.) Double Take™ Flowering Quince. (Chaenomeles speciosa) …
- 8.) Rose Of Sharon. (Hibiscus syriacus) …
- 9.) Landscape Roses.
What is the most beautiful flowering shrub?
Flowering Shrubs with Most Beautiful Blooms: Camellia
Its lovely rose-like blooms have rich color and beautiful form. When It Blooms: This evergreen flowering shrub blooms in winter through early spring and summer, depending on the variety.
What is a spring flowering bushes & shrub?
Spring flowering bushes and shrubs that add color to backyards early in the season, attract pollinators and more. Cornus mas, Zones 4 to 8 Size: Up to 20 feet tall and wide Welcome spring with bright yellow flowers that appear earlier than forsythia’s blooms.
When do spring flowering bushes come out?
Spring flowering shrubs mark the arrival of warm weather by bringing light, colors, and vitality to your garden after all winter’s dreary browns and grays. Early spring blooming bushes like forsythia, and flowering quince wake up as soon as winter is over, around March and April, when the temperatures rise and the days slowly begin to lengthen.
What flowers bloom in spring?
Covered in pink, white, red, lavender or peach blooms, azaleas are one of the most beloved shrubs of spring. New varieties keep blooming from spring to fall so you’ll enjoy their flowers for months. 13. Hydrangeas Beautiful, bouncy and abundant, hydrangeas are versatile shrubs, Sears shares.
Do shrubs bloom in spring?
Evergreen or Deciduous, white or colorful bloom, fragrant or not, for Sun or shade, the varieties of shrubs that bloom in spring (sometimes from early spring through early summer) is endless. So get ready to welcome it, light up your garden or spring container, and help your imagination…
What happens if a shrub blooms in spring?
Your spring landscape will shine when these gorgeous shrubs begin blooming. Many of them also have beautiful foliage that is variegated or evergreen, so they’ll continue to add some color to your yard even after their flowers fade. Was this page helpful? Enjoy the vibrant flowers of these shrubs when they bloom in spring. A few smell divine, too.
Are spring-flowering shrubs a good choice?
Another great advantage of many spring-flowering shrubs is that the flowers really stand out. The tight buds can be beautiful in their own right and they are often carried on the bare stems of deciduous shrubs, appearing before the new foliage unfurls.