Spring-blooming perennials are a must-have in any garden, and the Better Homes & Gardens Test Garden has some reliable, versatile options that will bring color and life to your outdoor space. Garden manager Sandra Gerdes shares her top picks, focusing on varieties with long-lasting flowers and attractive foliage that will continue to shine even after the colorful petals fade. These plants are also known for their excellent drought tolerance and resistance to deer and rabbits. Here are eight spring-blooming perennials that the Test Garden swears by:
Hellebore: These perennials are some of the first to bloom in the Test Garden, defying winter with flowers that withstand the season's last frosts. Deer and rabbits don't bother the dark green foliage of this shade perennial. Gerdes recommends the 'Red' variety from the Ice N' Roses series or 'Romantic Getaway' from the Honeymoon series for their bold flowers. Zones 5-9.
Lungwort: The whimsical spotted foliage of lungwort lights up the shade garden from spring through fall. The flowers of this low-growing perennial, in shades of pink, blue, and purple, fare best in cool weather and pair well with spring bulbs such as hyacinth and glory-of-the-snow. Deer and rabbits don't bother it. Test Garden favorites include 'Shrimps on the Barbie', 'Spot On', and 'Twinkle Toes'. Zones 3-8.
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Pasque Flower: Low-maintenance plants get high grades in the test garden, and pasque flower fits the bill. Purple, or sometimes red or white, flowers dance over the ferny foliage of this zero-maintenance perennial in April or May. When the flowers fade, silky seedheads that look like wispy, wild hairdos decorate the plant into summer. Plant it in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil. Zones 4-8.
Bleeding Heart: This classic perennial has graceful, arching stems of tiny heart-shaped flowers. Growing best in part shade, bleeding heart pairs well with tulips and daffodils. Like spring-blooming bulbs, this bleeding heart goes dormant in early summer when its foliage recedes. Gerdes says 'Gold Heart' has especially striking chartreuse foliage that almost appears to glow among the fresh greens of other spring plants. Zones 3-9.
Variegated Fragrant Solomon's Seal: Variegated fragrant Solomon's seal has attractive green and white foliage. Small, white, bell-shaped flowers dangle from the stems in late spring, emitting a sweet fragrance. This hardy perennial grows in dappled light or full shade. It spreads slowly by underground stems and has vibrant yellow fall color. Zones 3-8.
Bishop's Hat: A solution for dry shade, bishop's hat has heart-shaped leaves tinged with red and purple. Tiny flowers in red, white, or yellow hues decorate this easy-to-grow groundcover in spring. Plant it near the front of a shade border or between hosta, astilbe, and other larger shade perennials where it will slowly spread to fill the gaps in between. 'Purple Pixie' is a favorite of Gerdes. Zones 5-9.
Siberian Bugloss: An elegant perennial with silvery-white leaf veins decorating its heart-shaped leaves, Siberian bugloss is a low-growing shade plant. Its light purple flowers bloom for a few weeks in mid-spring, but it's the foliage that makes this plant a star from spring through fall. 'Jack of Diamonds' and 'King's Ransom' are two favorites in the Test Garden. Zones 3-8.
