1. Snowdrops (Galanthusnivalis)
- Hardiness: snowdrops are hardy to USDA zones 3 to 8.
- Light exposure: full Sun or partial shade.
- Blooming season:early spring or even late winter!
- Size:4 to 6 inches tall (10 to 15 cm) and 2 to 3 inches in spread (5 to 7.5 cm).
- Soil requirements:they are adaptable to loa, clay, chalk and sandy soils as long as well drained, with pH from slightly acidic to fairly alkaline. They are heavy clay tolerant.
2. Crocus (Crocus Spp.)
- Hardiness: crocus is hardy to USDA zones 3 to 8 usually, but some cultivars may vary.
- Light exposure:full Sun or partial shade.
- Blooming season:early spring.
- Size:they reach a maximum of 6 inches tall (15 cm) with giant varieties, though most are under 4 inches (10 cm). their spread is maximum 3 inches (7.5 cm).
- Soil requirements:crocus is an easy going little plant. It will grow in well drained loam, chalk, clay or sandy soil with neutral pH, though it will tolerate slightly acidic or slightly alkaline. They do not stand wet soil (poorly drained).
3. Daffodil (Narcissu Sspp.)
- Hardiness: daffodils are usually hardy to USDA zones 3 to 9.
- Light exposure: full Sun or partial shade.
- Blooming season: early spring (some will come in mid spring too).
- Size:the maximum size is 2 feet tall (60 cm) and 10 inches in spread (25 cm), but poet’s daffodil and similar varieties can be smaller.
- Soil requirements:daffodils want well drained soil. Apart from this, they will adapt to loam, clay, chalk or sandy soil, with pH from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.
4. Grape Hyacinth (Muscarispp.)
- Hardiness:grape hyacinth is hardy to USDA zones 4 to 8.
- Light exposure:full Sun, dappled shade or partial shade.
- Blooming season:mid to late spring.
- Size:6 to 8 inches tall (15 to 20 cm) and 1 to 2 inches in spread (2.5 to 5 cm).
- Soil requirements:well drained loam, clay, chalk or sandy soil ideally with neutral pH (6.0 to 7.0) but adaptable to slightly acidic or alkaline.
5. Squill (Scilla Spp.)
- Hardiness:squills are usually hardy to USDA zones 4 to 8.
- Light exposure:full Sun, dappled shade, light shade or partial shade.
- Blooming season:early spring.
- Size:3 to 6 inches tall and in spread (7.5 to 15 cm).
- Soil requirements:well drained loam, chalk or sandy soil but not clay; they prefer a slightly acidic pH (6.1 to 6.5) but will do well in neutral soil and will adapt to lightly alkaline soil.
6. Dwarf Iris (Iris Reticulata)
- Hardiness:dwarf iris is hardy to USDA zones 5 to 8.
- Light exposure:full Sun or partial shade.
- Blooming season:early spring.
- Size:3 inches tall and in spread (7 cm). Their size is very regular indeed.
- Soil requirements:it will adapt to well drained loam, chalk, clay or sandy soi. It prefers a slightly acidic pH (6.1 to 6.5) but it will do very well in neutral soil as well and it will tolerate slightly alkaline soil too.
7. Glory Of The Snow (Chionodoxaforbesii)
- Hardiness: glory of the snow is hardy to USDA zones 3 to 9.
- Light exposure: full Sun pr partial shade.
- Blooming season: early spring.
- Size: 4 to 10 inches tall (10 to 25 cm) and 1 to 2 inches in spread (2.5 to 5 cm).
- Soil requirements:adaptable to well drained loam, chalk, clay or sandy soil, it prefers the pH around 6 (slightly acidic) but will far well also in neutral soil and tolerate slightly alkaline soil too.
8. Forsythia (Forsythia Spp.)
- Hardiness: most forsythia varieties are hardy to USDa zones 6 to 9.
- Light exposure:full Sun or partial shade.
- Blooming season:early and mid spring.
- Size:up to 10 feet in height (3 meters) and 12 feet in spread (3.6 meters).
- Soil requirements:very adaptable to well drained loam, clay, chalk or sandy soil with pH from fairly alkaline to slightly acidic. It is drought resistant and heavy clay tolerant.
9. Japanese Pussy Willow (Salixchaenomeloides)
- Hardiness:Japanese pussy willow is hardy to USDA zones
- Light exposure:full Sun.
- Blooming season:early spring, but the catkins will stay on till mid spring at least.
- Size:10 to 20 feet tall (3 to6 meters) and 6 to 10 feet in spread (1.8 to 3 meters)
- Soil requirements:it likes clay soil, but it rows also in loam and sandy soil; it needs to be well drained and it likes neutral pH but can tolerate slightly acidic or alkaline soils.
10. Vernal Witch Hazel (Hamamelis Virginiana‘Kohankie Red’)
- Hardiness:vernal witch hazel is hardy to USDA zones 4 to 8.
- Light exposure:full Sun or partial shade.
- Blooming season:late winter and early spring.
- Size:7 to 10 feet tall and in spread (2.1 to 3 meters),
- Soil requirements:it will grow in well drained clay, loam or sandy soil, with pH from acidic to neutral.
11. Japanese Andromeda (Pieris Japonica)
- Hardiness: Japanese andromeda is hardy to USDA zones 5 to 8.
- Light exposure:full Sun or partial shade.
- Blooming season:early spring.
- Size:5 to 8 feet in height and spread (1.5 to 2.4 meters).
- Soil requirements:it will need well drained loam or sandy loam with an acidic pH to neutral maximum (5.0 to 7.0).
12. Korean Fir (Abieskoreana ‘Kohout’s Ice Breaker’)
- Hardiness: Korean fir is hardy to USDA zones 5 to 7.
- Light exposure: full Sun.
- Blooming season: early spring.
- Size: 1 to 2 feet tall (30 to 60 cm) and 2 to 3 feet in spread (60 to 90 cm).
- Soil requirements:it wants well drained loam, clay or sandy soil with pH from acidic to neutral.
13. Winter Heather (Erica Carnea)
- Hardiness:winter heather is hardy to USDA zones 5 to 8.
- Light exposure:full Sun.
- Blooming season:winter and spring.
- Size:4 to 6 inch tall (10 to 15 cm) and 1 to 2 feet in spread (30 to 60 cm).
- Soil requirements:it will grow in well drained loam, clay or sandy soil with pH between acidic and neutral.
14. Bridal Wreath (Spiraea Prunifolia)
- Hardiness: bridal wreath is hardy to USDA zones 3 to 8.
- Light exposure: full Sun or partial shade.
- Blooming season: early and mid spring.
- Size: 4 to 9 feet tall (1.2 to 2.7 meters) and 6 to 8 feet in spread (1.8 to 2.4 meters).
- Soil requirements:it needs very well drained loam or sandy loam with pH between acidic and neutral. It is drought resistant.
15. Bloodroot (Sanguinariacanadensis)
- Hardiness:bloodroot is hardy to USDA zones 3 to 8.
- Light exposure:full Sun or partial shade.
- Blooming season:early and mid spring.
- Size:6 to 10 inches tall (15 to 25 cm) and 3 to 6 inches in spread (7.5 to 15 cm).
- Soil requirements:well drained loam or clay with pH from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. It is drought resistant.
16. Creeping Phlox (Phlox Subulata)
- Hardiness: creeping phlox is hardy go USDA zones 2 to 9, which means it will grow anywhere in Canada too.
- Light exposure:full Sun.
- Blooming season:early to late spring.
- Size:4 to 6 inches tall (10 to 15 cm) and 1 to 2 feet in spread (30 to 60 cm).
- Soil requirements:it need well drained loam, chalk or sand with alkaline to neutral pH. It is drought resistant and salt tolerant.
17. Pig Squeak (Bergeniacordifolia ‘Winter Glow’)
- Hardiness: pig squeal is hardy to USDA zones 3 to 8.
- Light exposure:full Sun, partial shade and even full shade.
- Blooming season:from early to late spring.
- Size:1 to 2 feet tall (30 to 60 cm) and 1 foot in spread (30 cm).
- Soil requirements:very adaptable to well drained loam, chalk, clay or sandy soil with varying pH from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. Keep the soil humid.
18. Primrose (Primula Spp.)
- Hardiness: primroses are usually hardy to USDA zones 3 to 9, but some varieties may need warmer climates, usually zone 5 and upwards.
- Light exposure: partial shade and dappled shade.
- Blooming season:early spring.
- Size:6 to 8 inches tall and in spread (15 to 20 cm).
- Soil requirements:they prefer well drained loam and sandy loam with pH from acidic to neutral. Keep the soil moist all the time.
19. Twinleaf (Jeffersoniadiphylla)
- Hardiness:twinleaf is hardy to USDA zones 5 to 7.
- Light exposure: partial shade or full shade.
- Blooming season:from early to late spring.
- Size:8 inches to 2 feet tall when the flowering stems are at their highest (20 to 60 cm) and between 10 inches and 2 feet in spread (25 to 60 cm).
- Soil requirements:it will only grow in well drained loam or clay, which needs to be humid at all time. The pH can go from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.
20. Virginian Bluebells (Mertensiavirginica)
- Hardiness: Virginian bluebells is hardy to USCA zones 3 to 8.
- Light exposure:partial shade or full shade.
- Blooming season:early and mid spring.
- Size:1 to 2 feet in height and spread (30 to 60 cm).
- Soil requirements:it will adapt to well drained loam, chalk, clay or sandy soil with pH from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. Keep it humid at all times.
21. Hellebore (Helleborusspp.)
- Hardiness: hellebore is hardy to USDA zones 3 to 8.
- Light exposure: partial shade or full shade.
- Blooming season: from winter to early spring.
- Size:1 to 2 feet in height and spread (30 to 60 cm).
- Soil requirements:it will grow in well drained loam, clay or chalk with pH from neutral to fairly acidic. Keep the soil humid all the time.