Our Favorite Plants for April

Spring is in the air and there are so many plants to choose from! It’s almost impossible to choose our favorites but we settled on ten (what will we do in May??) These plants epitomize spring, offering the best of spring blooms and fresh new foliage.

 

BLEEDING HEART (Dicentra)

Bleeding Heart Plant with pink flowers
Red and white flowers on a bleeding heart plant (Dicentra)

This graceful perennial has arching stems that drip with pink, white, or red heart-shaped flowers in late spring. Foliage ranges from bright golden green to deep green. A perfect addition to cottage and woodland gardens.

  • Part shade to shade

  • Average, well-drained soil; tolerates moist soil

  • 12”-36” tall and wide, depending on variety

  • Blooms in spring

 

ROCK CRESS (Arabis & Aubretia)

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One of the most beautiful spring rockery plants! This evergreen cascades down rockeries, walls, and hillsides and bursts into full splendor with purple, white, or pink blossoms April-June.

  • Full sun to part shade

  • Well-drained soil

  • 2” tall (flowers bloom to 6” high) x 18” wide

  • Blooms April-June

 

FALSE SPIREA (SORBARIA SORBIFOLIA)

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Beautiful, brightly-colored foliage emerges in spring, gradually turning green as it matures. White flowers appear in late spring on this compact deciduous shrub.

  • Full to part sun

  • Average, well-drained soil; water regularly

  • 4’-6’ tall and wide

  • Blooms spring to summer

 

BERGENIA

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This evergreen perennial sports bright green leaves that turn burgundy in winter. Pink, white, or red flowers appear on tall stems in March and last through May.

  • Full sun to part shade or shade

  • Average, well-drained soil

  • 12” tall x up to 2’ wide

  • Blooms March-May, depending on variety

 

CLEMATIS

The climbing vines of the genus Clematis are a must in every garden. Flowers can bloom in spring, summer, and into fall, depending on the variety, and range from small bells to large, flat-petaled beauties, often with interesting centers. Look for types such as Montana and Cirrhosa for Spring blooms. Most are deciduous but a few spring bloomers, such as Armandii, are evergreen.

  • Full sun

  • Well-drained soil; let dry between waterings

  • 8’ tall

  • Blooms early spring-fall, depending on variety

 

Barrenwort (EPIMEDIUM)

This vigorous ground cover has clusters of small flowers in various colors and heart-shaped, evergreen leaves, often with red edges of blotches. Also called “Fairy Wings,” this perennial is great for dry woodland sites.

  • Part shade to shade

  • Well-drained soil; let dry between waterings

  • 12”-15” tall x 5’-6’ wide, depending upon variety

  • Blooms March-May, depending on variety

 

MARIGOLD (Tagetes)

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Marigold are the workhorses of the spring and summer garden with their cheery, continuous blooms. A great help in the edible garden, they deter some tomato pests!

  • Full sun

  • Average, well-drained soil

  • 8”-30” tall and wide, depending on variety

  • Blooms March-Fall if deadheaded regularly

 

Rhododendron & Azalea

This classic PNW shrub shouldn’t be overlooked for vibrant spring blooms. Evergreen leaves add interest year-round and the plant plays nicely with its neighbors. New cultivars have increased the range of flower colors, as well as leaf and plant sizes available.

  • Full sun to part shade

  • Moist, well-drained soil

  • Size varies, depending on variety

  • Blooms in spring

 

ANNUAL HANGING BASKETS

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Pre-planted baskets filled with colorful annuals (like the mini petunias pictured) add instant color and cheer to the spring and summer garden without a lot of work.

  • Full sun to shade, depending on variety

  • Water and fertilize regularly

  • 12 – 24” tall and wide, depending upon variety

  • Blooms April-Fall, depending on type of flowers

 

DAPHNE

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This compact, evergreen shrub is coveted for its incredibly fragrant flowers. Try Daphne odora and Daphne transatlantica for a burst of blooms in springtime and scattered blooms into summer and fall.

  • Full sun to part shade

  • Well-drained soil

  • 3’-4’ tall and wide

  • Blooms heavily March-May, lightly in summer and fall

 

We’d love to help you choose the best plants for your individual needs, whether in person or on social media using #heyswansons!

This post has been updated for 2023.