Key Points
Columbines are fast-growing perennials that bloom quickly and thrive in both sun and shade.
They are easy to grow, attract pollinators, and add a natural, airy look to spring gardens.
Columbines are perfect for gardeners seeking quick, stunning blooms without long waits.
Growing perennials is an investment in the future that will fill your garden with eye-catching flowers for years to come. But unlike annuals that sprout and flower fast, perennials require patience and may take a year or more to bloom when grown from seed.
Transplanting pre-started perennials can allow you to enjoy flowers sooner, and the pros let us know that there’s one fast growing perennial for beginner growers you definitely need in your garden.
Meet the Expert
Doug Muller is the co-founder and managing director of Hudson Valley Seed Company.
Karen Musgrave is a certified nursery landscape professional (CNLP) working at Hicks Nurseries.
Eva Ward oversees the annual greenhouse team at Ward’s Nursery.
The Fast-Growing Perennial You Should Add to Your Spring Garden
Credit: The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Every seasoned grower has their list of favorite and “must-grow” plants, but plant pros agree there’s one fast-growing perennial that’s a perfect pick for spring gardens: the columbine.
“Columbines are North American natives with extremely pretty, ethereal flowers, which give the impression of tiny floral birds floating in the air,” notes Doug Muller of the Hudson Valley Seed Company. “These short-lived perennials typically flower in mid- to late-spring, but may bloom into early summer too.”
When asked about their favorite spring flowers, Karen Musgrave of Hick Nurseries and Eva Ward of Ward’s Nursery also highlighted the many charms of the humble columbine.
“They have a light and airy quality that works beautifully in spring gardens,” Musgrave says. “They also establish quickly, readily self-sow, and can give planting beds a more natural and organic feel over time.”
With over 20 types of native columbines to choose from, there’s a columbine for every garden and grower.
“They’re lovely woodland natives—especially for fairly shady locations—but they can handle sun in moist areas as well,” Ward says.
When planted from seed, columbines may take 2 to 3 years to bloom, but they grow much faster from nursery stock and may flower in just a few weeks if you get pre-started plants in the ground early in spring.
8 Other Fast-Growing, Long-Lasting Perennials for Spring
Columbines are reliable bloomers that tolerate shade, attract pollinators, and are easy to grow. But if you’re on the hunt for easy care perennials for spring gardens, there are lots of other attractive plants that fit the bill.
Spring Bulbs
Credit: The Spruce / Grant Webster
When most growers think of springtime flowers, daffodils, hyacinths, snowdrops, and crocuses come to mind. These bulbing plants all bloom earlier in the season than most flowers and they tolerate cold well. However, spring bulbs need to be planted in fall if you want them to bloom on time.
Foxgloves
Credit: The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Pretty as a picture, foxgloves produce spires of bell-shaped flowers that draw in hummingbirds and can linger from May to July.
“These plants are technically biennials,” Muller points out, “but they’ll typically self-sow and come back for years!”
Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
Johnny Jump-Ups
Credit: The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Small and dainty Johnny jump-ups are the stars of cool weather gardens with tiny purple, yellow, and cream-colored flowers that bloom in spring and potentially again in fall.
“The most classic of all spring blooms, these cultivated relatives of wild violets produce loads of open-faced flowers, they naturalize readily, and they’re even edible and make great decor in spring salads,” Muller says.
Bloom Time: Spring to early summer, fall
Creeping Phlox
Credit: The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Some spring flowers add height to garden beds, but creeping phlox is an easy-care groundcover that’s ideal for sunny flower beds that need more color.
“Planting creeping phlox is one of the easiest ways to create a strong visual impact in early spring,” Musgrave says. “It spreads quickly into a dense carpet of color, helps blur the edges of garden beds, and cascades naturally over stone walls or slopes.”
Bloom Time: Mid-spring to early summer
Bleeding Heart
Credit: The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
If you’re looking for a springtime perennial for a shady location, bleeding hearts always impress with their curious, heart-shaped blooms.
“They’ve always been one of my favorite spring plants,” Musgrave says. “They may look delicate, but they’re actually very tough and hardy perennials that come up quickly, fill out beautifully, and bring a soft, romantic, cottage-garden feel just as gardens are waking up for the season.”
Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
Dianthus
Credit: The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Some varieties of dianthus are perennials, while others are annuals or biennials. Either way, these early flowering plants explode with gorgeous color in spring and attract early season bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
Poppies
Credit: The Spruce / K. Dave
There are hundreds of varieties of poppies that vary in flower color, size, and bloom time. However, most poppies are relatively easy to care for and they’ll naturally self-sow and spread if you leave the dried seed pods intact after the plant’s petals fade.
Basket of Gold
Credit: The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Aptly named, basket of gold plants produce an abundance of bright yellow flowers in spring that have a sweet, honey-like aroma.
“These plants are also drought tolerant and low growing,” says ward. “And they’re a really great choice for garden borders and for spilling over rock walls.”
Bloom Time: Spring to early summer
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