After weeks of gray desolation, nature finally wakes up from hibernation in spring. Immediately she reaches deep into the paint box, dresses the first flowers in all the colors she can find. Add a pinch of scent and you have a remarkable range of flowers. So everyone can create their own idea of spring. Which colors would you like?
Knows like a last snow salute
snowdrop(Galanthus)
The snowdrops are the first flowers to break through the gray of winter and give us a little foretaste of spring. Not only the color of their flowers is reminiscent of snow, their blooming can also take place in the middle of the snow. They have to be planted out in autumn and then simply left alone. They don't like too much care. The small white flowers come into their own in combination with other early bloomers.
Many types of snowdrop tend to grow wild and are conquering ever larger areas year after year. If you don't own a garden but love snowdrops, you can keep the delicate flowers in flower pots. The flower stalks are a pretty eye-catcher in the vase, which unfortunately lasts far too short.
lily of the valley(Convallaria majalis)
They like places that other plants avoid. They can be partially shaded and even shaded. That's why they like to settle under trees and bushes. The soil should only be moist, warm and rich in nutrients. Most of the year they are not particularly noticeable. But in spring the small stems, adorned with white bells, appear in abundance and delight with their puristic simplicity.
In June or July they can be easily propagated by division. Often the flowers end up in a vase as a small bouquet. But be careful: lilies of the valley are poisonous, be careful when you touch them.
Yellow like the bright sun
daffodil(Narcissus pseudonarcissus)
For many people, yellow is the color of spring. When the yellow daffodils are in full bloom, you know that spring is here. In parks, gardens, on balconies or on windowsills, they can now be discovered everywhere. They are also available in white or with a hint of orange. But the mass is bright yellow like the sun.
Tubers that have already been driven forward can bloom on the windowsill in late winter. They can be planted until the first frosts, but September is the ideal month for planting daffodils. They are not as sensitive to moisture as other bulbous flowers. They are easy to care for and give themselves with a little compost in the spring
All shades of red
Ranunculus(Ranunculus)
The ranunculus had been forgotten for a long time and is now in great demand again. Quite rightly, because they convince with beautiful flowers consisting of many rows of leaves. Thanks to the strong tones, the flowers contrast with the green leaves. They are mainly available in all shades of red.
They are usually planted in pots and boxes to decorate balconies or terraces. They are offered in stores at an early stage and are therefore tempting to buy even on cold days. However, they come from the warm Orient and do not tolerate frosts well. On very cold days, they have to be protected from the cold on the balcony or brought into the warm.
Knight star(Hippeastrum)
The knight's star is also widely known as the amaryllis. Already in winter the onion can be bought in pots in stores. On a sunny windowsill, one flower stem grows quickly, sometimes two. Several funnel-shaped, large flowers then form on the approximately 30 cm high shaft.
The range of knight stars is supplemented by white, pink or even multi-colored variants. The amaryllis is mainly kept as a houseplant that is allowed to shine on its own. In the heyday it can be poured abundantly over the coaster.
Note: The amaryllis is a good cut flower. However, it is toxic and can cause contact allergies.
Blue like the cloudless sky
Bunny bell(Hyacinthoides)
The little rabbit bells are quite undemanding bulbous plants. Planted once in autumn, they bloom anew every spring. They are hardy and can simply remain in the ground. A few horn shavings are sufficient as fertilizer. The gardener is happy about so little work.
Since the bunny bell spreads quickly by itself and is happy with almost any space, it is well suited for natural gardens. The typical color of the small, bell-shaped flowers is sky blue. Occasionally they can also be found in white and pink.
Grape hyacinth(Muscari)
Already in March we are delighted by the grape hyacinths with their beautiful blue flowers. They are much less common in white or pink. Usually they come in groups and become more and more numerous over the years. The grape hyacinth likes to spread by itself and tends to grow wild. Your demands are low, it shouldn't be too shady, otherwise the flowers will only come out sparsely.
forget Me Not(Myosotis)
Its pale blue little flowers stand for loyalty, longing, memory. The biennial plant is most common in gardens. It is grown from seeds and needs a well-drained soil. June and July are the optimal months for sowing. Choose a sunny or partially shaded place for this. The flowers do not follow until the following year from March to May.
If forget-me-nots are left alone, it will sow itself again and again. In addition to the usual blue, some varieties also bloom in white and pink.
Tip: Forget-me-nots are great for filling in gaps in the flowerbed.
gentian(Gentiana)
The gentian blooms blue, blue, that is widely known. Some species bloom in spring and offer the most intense blue that can be discovered in the garden. In spring or autumn they are planted in humus-rich soil. The location must not be too sunny. Once planted out, the gentian no longer wants to be disturbed.
It should not be missing in any stone or natural garden. It is also suitable as a gap filler. And if you don't like blue, you can buy it in a few other colors.
Purple, from delicate to intense
Crocuses(Crocus)
As soon as it gets a little warmer, they sprout out of the ground everywhere. Its flowers form white, yellow and especially purple spots of color in the green lawn. As early as February they bring us a piece of spring. They develop their effect in groups and should therefore not be planted individually.
After they are planted out, they hardly need any maintenance.
Tip: Do not cut away the leaves immediately after the flowering phase, as this will give the plant its strength for the next season, it is better to wait until they turn yellow.
Horned violets(Viola cornuta)
Few types of flowers bloom as persistently and extensively as the horned violet. The first flowers appear in March. Intense purple is the most preferred color, including attractive patterns. Of course, the horned violet is now also available in many other tones. Especially varieties in which differently colored leaves have been combined with each other bring a colorful spring feeling.
It thrives practically anywhere, in the garden, in pots and window boxes. As a border for flower beds or in combination with other spring flowers. Normal soil enriched with fertilizer is sufficient for them to develop the sea of flowers. For early flowering, sowing can be done on the windowsill as early as January.
Spring anemone
The tubers come into the ground in autumn and only hibernate there for a short time. The mostly purple blooming spring anemone is one of the first signs of spring. They are also available in more delicate shades of pink or entirely in white.
The wood anemones that bloom in spring like to grow under trees and still enjoy the first rays of sunshine of the year. Because they bloom from February when the trees are still bare. They spread themselves through rhizomes and seeds and form beautiful carpets of flowers over the years.
Colorful, fulfills every color wish
daisy(Bellis)
The wild daisy inspires so much in flower meadows that some cultural forms have emerged from it. Bellis as a "de luxe" variant, so to speak. Numerous, bulging flower heads in the strongest colors adorn each individual plant. The entire color palette is represented, from white to pink to dark red.
It looks particularly good as a path border in the garden, in borders or in the planter with other spring flowers. It is most convenient to buy early plants in stores in the spring. They can also be sown in May or June, but will not bloom until the following year.
Tip: If the garden soil appeals to the Bellis, they expand strongly. Cut off dead flowers if they do not want them to spread.
Tulips(Tulipa)
Spring without tulips? Unthinkable! The elegant shape of the flowers and the bright colors make this flower a favorite spring flower. The more of them come together, the more impressive the overall picture. Only one tulip in bright blue has not yet been created, all other colors are already represented. There are also some colorful, patterned variants.
Filled shapes or curled leaves also enrich the variety. If you don't just want to buy tulip bouquets in the flower shop, you can dig tulip bulbs in the sandy soil in autumn and wait for spring.
Garden pansies (Viola wittrockiana)
Their flower shape is similar to the horned violet, but exceeds their size several times. Garden pansies bloom just as profusely and in all sorts of colors and color combinations. They can easily be propagated from seeds sown in autumn. The new plants bloom the following spring.
If you don't want to be so patient, you can buy ready-made plants cheaply in stores and plant them in beds or flower boxes from mid-March. They like it damp, but shy away from being too wet. Faded things should be cleaned up regularly, then they will flower even more profusely.
hyacinth(Hyacinthus)
Other flowers would be satisfied with just a fraction of the fragrance intensity that any hyacinth exudes with ease. Therefore, it creates a wonderful scent of spring in the midst of odorless types of flowers. Due to its enormous variety of colors, it fits into many arrangements.
They are available in white, yellow, orange, red, rose, violet and pink. She loves freedom in the garden as well as company in a planter. She likes sunny and warm places. It is best to get into the soil in October or November, where it will patiently wait for spring. Moisture and nutrients are important to her in the growth phase.
iris(Iris)
The iris is a diverse flower that blooms in many colors. The magnificent flowers are even available in "almost black". The first varieties start to bloom as early as February. The reticulated iris is small in growth and is therefore well suited for a rock garden or for planting in pots. Bearded iris loves sun and tolerates drought well. Sword iris, on the other hand, feels at home in damp locations, such as at the edge of a pond.
Most of the iris varieties are perennial plants that are propagated via rhizomes. Reticulated iris forms small bulbs. The rhizomes and bulbs are best planted between August and October. Plants bought in pots, on the other hand, can be planted in the garden at any time from spring to autumn.
primrose(Primula)
The primrose is one of the first flowers to bloom in countless colors. It is a standard item in the supermarket and its small size gives it a safe place in spring-like flower arrangements. It has been with us for what feels like an eternity and is still a regular companion for loyal souls.
If you want to rediscover the primrose, it is best to buy plants in stores in spring and plant them in the garden or decorate the windowsill with them. They like moist soil and a bright location but not too sunny.