Early spring blooming shrubs

Back East the early spring blooming shrubs are popular. Here much less so. I suppose it is because they tend to be deciduous. Because people are continuing to want gardens that change during the seasons we are finding that they are more willing to consider them.

The big three are flowering quince, spireas, and forsythia. Most of the spireas that bloom real early get in the 8 ft range, but boy are they spectacular. My favorite spirea is Shoe Button Bridal Wreath. It is blooming now with small double white flowers up and down the stems. It makes a wonderful cut flower.

Yellow forsythia is also in bloom right now and makes a blaze of golden yellow color up and down the stems. Earlier blooming are the Flowering quince. Here there are dwarf varieties that grow in the 3-4 foot range and large ones that grow 8'. Flowering quince comes in bright red, shades of pink, white and even one variety, Toyo Nishiki, that will have white, red and multicolor blooms on the same plant.

Other less well-known but still showy spring blooming shrubs include flowering almond. We have a nice selection of the pink form with small double blooms on a 4 ft shrub. In addition we have the Bride pearl bush with small white blooms again on a 4' shrub.

All these enjoy the full sun and are tough and easy to grow. Enjoy them in the garden and as cut flowers first thing in the spring.

Come in this weekend and see what's bloomin'.