Spring flowers

It’s spring and soon you will see crocuses and daffodils everywhere (as long as the snow melts and it gets just a little bit warmer!).  So here are some fun facts about these early spring flowers.  First I am going to define some words that I will use.  Annual means that the flower has to be planted every spring and dies every fall or when it stops producing flowers.  Biennial means that a flower is planted in the spring, produces flowers during its season and comes back the next year.  When it comes the next year it makes the seed.  Perennial means that you plant it one year and it keeps coming back every year to make flowers.        

Crocuses: Crocuses, a perennial plant, are usually the first flowers that you see.  They come around late March to early April.  Their colors range from white and yellow to lavender and purple and usually grow to be 4-6 inches tall.        

Daffodils: This flower blooms in early spring.  Daffodils are also perennial plants.  It originated as a wild flower in Europe but is now grown in the United States as well.  They can be white, yellow, orange or a mixture of those colors.     

Tulips:  Tulips, a beautiful early spring perennial, come from southern Europe and Asia.  It is named after the Turkish word that means “Turban”.  In 17 century Europe, tulip bulbs were so valued that they were very expensive.  People would save up their money to buy them.  Now when we think of tulips, the Netherlands come to mind.  Tulips are planted in the fall with tulip bulbs and they bloom every spring.    Tulip seeds are rarely used.  They can be all different colors; some of them include red, yellow, orange, white, brown, pink and purple.    

            Hyacinths: Hyacinths are a perennial flower.  They came from Africa and Asia and were brought to             Europe in the early 16 century.  They are grown in great quantities in the Netherlands.  Hyacinths                   bloom around March and April.  They can be blue, pink, white, yellow, Red, or purple.    

Poppies: These flowers can be either perennial or annual, depending on the type of poppy.  There are different kinds of poppy plants.  The Iceland poppy (perennial) grows to be about 12-15 inches high and can have colors including yellow, orange, pink, red and white.  The Oriental poppy (perennial) is a tall plant towering to the height of 3-4 feet.  Its many colors include scarlet, red, orange, burgundy and in newer varieties, apricot, salmon and pink.  The Corn poppy (annual) grows to a height of about 1.5-2 feet tall.  The flowers can be of colors like apricot, salmon, scarlet, red, purple, and white.                   

Bleeding Hearts: Bleeding Hearts are a perennial flower that blooms in spring. They are called “bleeding hearts” because their little flowers are the shape of a heart and below the heart is the shape of a drop of blood.  They can be pink or white and are usually 2-2.5 feet tall.   

Iris: Iris is another perennial flower.  It can be many different colors, some of these include: white, yellow, orange, brown, pink, red, purple, blue, or gray.          

Narcissus:  Narcissus is a bulb that blooms in the spring.  It is white, yellow and orange. 

Pansy: Pansies can be white, yellow, pink, red, purple, or blue.  They are biennials.  

Peony:  These perennial flowers often are white, pink, red, or purple.  Peony plants tend to grow to about 3 ft. at most.  Personally, I think peonies are the most beautiful plants on earth (they smell wonderful too).       

Primrose: Primrose can be of different colors ranging from white, yellow and orange to bronze and maroon.  They are perennials.  There are over 300 different types of primrose.

Rose: Roses are perennial flowers.  They can be white, red, orange and different shades of pink. 

Rock Cress: Rock Cress is a perennial flower.  It is a part of the mustard family of plants.  It can be pink, violet or light purple.  It is a low to the ground flower at a maximum height of 6 inches. 

Basket of Gold: Basket of Gold blooms in the spring with bright yellow flowers.  It is a perennial and usually grows to be 6-12 inches high. 

Siberian Bugloss: This perennial has little sky blue flowers that bloom in mid – late spring.  It usually grows to be about 1-1.5 feet tall.  It is very invasive. 

Lily of the Valley: The perennial plant, lilies of the valley, has beautifully scented little white flowers.  They grow wild in northeastern forests.