Your Complete Guide to Beautiful Spring Flowers
A team of flower, style and design experts and enthusiasts. We love sharing advice on all things floral and offering top tips on expressing yourself and your emotions.
A team of flower, style and design experts and enthusiasts. We love sharing advice on all things floral and offering top tips on expressing yourself and your emotions.
Spring is here, and it’s the perfect time to celebrate the season’s beauty by filling your home and garden with fresh, vibrant spring flowers. Whether you’re looking to bring the outdoors inside or brighten your garden, the UK’s spring flowers offer a colourful range of options that will breathe life into any space. From stunning tulips and peonies to crowd-pleasers like pansies and lilacs, you’re spoilt for choice at this time of year.
With so many great spring flowers available, narrowing down what to buy can be challenging. That’s why we’ve selected some of the most popular spring flower names, known for their vibrant colours, beauty and fragrance.
If you’re wondering what flowers bloom in spring, this guide should inspire you to dust off your gardening gloves and get planting.
What Flowers Bloom in Early Spring?
Early spring flowers in the UK are the first to emerge after winter, brightening up our homes, streets and countryside. Here are some of our favourites to look out for this season.
Tulips
- Meaning: Pink tulips symbolise happiness, good wishes and an attachment to someone.
- Colour range: Most commonly pink or red, but other colours, such as blue, purple, yellow and white, are available.
- Availability: February to September (depending on the variety).
- Vase life: 7-10 days.
Tulip care tips: Cut the stems under cold running water so the tulips don’t dry out. Change the water every few days and re-cut the stems. Place in a cool area away from direct heat to maximise vase life, and add a 1p or 2p coin to the vase to keep them standing up straight.
Hyacinths
- Meaning: Pink hyacinths mean ‘playful joy’, which really reflects the essence of spring.
- Colour range: Cerise, pink, pure white, cream, salmon, china blue, deep blue, light blue and lilac.
- Availability: November to May.
- Vase life: 7-10 days.
Hyacinth care tips: Stand in fresh, shallow water and change every few days. Use flower food and mist them occasionally to prolong their life. Don’t forget to use gloves when planting hyacinths, as the bulbs can irritate the skin.
Daffodils
- Meaning: The gift of daffodils means ‘you are the only one’ and is believed to bring happiness.
- Colour range: Pure white, buttercream, pale yellow, bright yellow, gold and two-toned.
- Availability: November to May, peaks January to March.
- Vase life: 5-7 days.
Daffodil care tips: Narcissus sap is toxic to other flowers, so stand them alone for 24 hours before adding to the rest of the bunch. Don’t use flower food as it encourages the sap to flow, and change the water every few days.
Pansies
- Meaning: Yellow pansies represent happiness or a bright disposition, which is ideal for spring.
- Colour range: Pansies come in a range of colours from yellow through to violet. They can be solid, bi-coloured or tri-coloured. A great choice if you’re looking for purple spring flowers.
- Availability: Early spring/summer.
- Vase life: 7-10 days
Pansy care tips: They are mainly seen as potted flowers. They like to be in the full sun but won’t thrive if it’s too hot – this shouldn’t be a problem if you’re planting in the UK. Once grown, make sure you deadhead them often so they last as long as possible.
Primroses
- Meaning: The primrose symbolises not being able to live without a partner, and is usually related to young love.
- Colour range: Most commonly yellow, but can also be found in white, purple, red or pink.
- Availability: March to May.
- Vase life: 7-10 days.
Primrose care tips: They are mainly seen as potted flowers or in soil outdoors. Keep your primroses looking their best by pruning dead leaves regularly.
Irises
- Meaning: Royalty, faith, hope and wisdom.
- Colour range: Traditionally purple or blue, but also found in yellow, white, pink, red, brown and almost black.
- Availability: Peaks January to May, but commercially available all year round.
- Vase life: 3-6 days.
Iris care tips: To maximise their vase life, try to purchase irises in the bud stage. Remove any stem foliage that will be under the water and trim about an inch off the stems. Be careful not to let the stems dry out, and use flower food if available. Place in a cool area out of the sun.
Snowdrops
- Meaning: Hope, rebirth, purity and consolation.
- Colour range: As the name suggests, snowdrops only come in one colour, white.
- Availability: January to March.
- Vase life: Unfortunately, snowdrops can’t be placed in a vase, but still look lovely in the garden.
Snowdrop care tips: Plant them in the shade under deciduous shrubs, or along the front of herbaceous plant borders. They prefer well-drained soil, but if you only have heavy soil, add some sand or grit to the hole before you plant for better drainage.
- Colour range: As the name suggests, snowdrops only come in one colour, white.
- Availability: January to March.
- Vase life: Unfortunately, snowdrops can’t be placed in a vase, but still look lovely in the garden.
Snowdrop care tips: Plant them in the shade under deciduous shrubs, or along the front of herbaceous plant borders. They prefer well-drained soil, but if you only have heavy soil, add some sand or grit to the hole before you plant for better drainage.
Anemones
The name of this perennial flower is derived from the Greek word ‘anemos,’ which means ‘the wind’. The anemone genus consists of around 200 species and belongs to the Ranunculaceae family.
- Meaning: White anemones symbolise sincerity and were a favourite of impressionist painters. You’ll see them in works by Matisse and Monet.
- Colour range: The most common colour is white, but you’ll also find scarlet, crimson, blue and purple.
- Availability: October to May.
- Vase life: 2-3 days.
Anemone care tips: Diagonally trim the stems and add to cold water to lengthen the time it takes the buds to open up. Change the water every few days and keep away from direct heat and sunlight.
Crocuses
Crocuses are one of the first early spring flowers to emerge. It is often called ‘the light bulb’ flower because of its shape until it fully blooms. Saffron comes from the crocus flower, which is used as a spice for cooking, an antioxidant, and a fragrance in perfumes.
- Meaning: Youthfulness and cheerfulness.
- Colour range: White, yellow and purple.
- Availability: February to April.
- Vase life: 2-3 days.
Crocus care tips: Crocuses are mainly seen in domestic gardens. Plant your bulbs in well-drained soil in a fairly sunny spot. Watch out for squirrels that like to dig up and eat the bulbs, and for deer that graze on the shoots. Cover with wire mesh to prevent squirrels, and use natural deer repellents to protect the shoots.
What flowers bloom in late spring?
Late spring flowers in the UK bridge the gap between early spring and summer, prolonging that uplifting spring feel. Here are some of our top picks.
Alliums
Allium (from the Latin word for garlic) comes in hundreds of species, and most of them have a distinctive round-shaped head. In recent years, it has become quite popular as an ornamental flower in interior design and wedding arrangements.
- Meaning: Allium means unity and patience, and is often given to someone who is seen as flawless and elegant, making it the ideal choice for brides-to-be.
- Colour range: Purple, lavender, blue, pink, pale green and white.
- Availability: These are late-spring flowers, but they are often available all year round.
- Vase life: 5-10 days.
Allium care tips: Alliums can be toxic to cats and dogs, so don’t put them anywhere that pets can chew them. Change the water regularly, as hollow-stemmed flowers need clean water or they clog up and wilt.
Lilacs
- Meaning: Lilacs symbolise renewal and confidence, which is why they are often given as graduation gifts.
- Colour range: Lilac, magenta, violet, blue and white.
- Availability: February to November. Commercially grown lilacs are available year-round.
- Vase life: 3-7 days.
Lilac care tips: Like daffodils, the sap that comes from freshly cut lilac stems can reduce the vase life of other flowers. To avoid this, put them in a separate vase of cool water for a few hours before adding to the rest of the bouquet. To extend vase life, remove any dead or faded florets, mist the flowers and keep out of direct sunlight.
Bluebell
- Meaning: It is said to mean humility or gratitude. They can also represent everlasting love. It is believed that you can use a bluebell to call fairies, and you should not pick them because it brings bad luck to your home. Bluebells are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act, so they can’t be picked for the purpose of selling them.
- Colour range: Mostly commonly blue/lilac, but also comes in white and pink.
- Availability: April to June.
- Vase life: Unfortunately, bluebells can’t be placed in vases, but they still look lovely in the garden.
Bluebell care tips: English bluebells thrive in damp conditions and can handle both sun and shade. Make sure you water them regularly.
Freesia
- Meaning: Trust and innocence.
- Colour range: Most commonly yellow and white, but can also be found in red, purple, orange and pink.
- Availability: April to November, but are usually available all year round.
- Vase life: 7-10 days.
Freesia care tips: Diagonally cut the stems and remove any foliage that will be below the water line. Your freesias will last longer if you change the water every few days and re-trim the stems.
Peony
- Meaning: Happy marriage, prosperity, good fortune, honour and compassion.
- Colour range: The most common colour is pink, but you might also come across red and white varieties. Coral/peach is quite popular too.
- Availability: They bloom in late spring from April to June.
- Vase life: 5-7 days.
Peony care tips: Peonies are quite thirsty flowers, so make sure you top them up regularly. Change the water and cut the stems every few days. Keep them in a cool place away from direct sunlight.
Spring flowers FAQs
Some of the most popular spring flowers in the UK include daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, bluebells and crocuses. However, all of the spring flower names we’ve listed in this guide are well-known and much-loved.
We recommend choosing spring flowers that best reflect your individual tastes and preferences.
To care for spring flowers, start by making sure they’ve got enough sunlight and well-drained soil. When the soil is dry to the touch, you’ll need to water them. Avoid overwatering to make sure the roots don’t wilt or rot.
To keep your spring flowers healthy once they bloom, you can follow these simple steps:
- Deadhead flowers to redirect energy to the bulb. Make sure you allow the leaves to wither completely before you remove them.
- Once the shoots emerge, feed bulbs with a balanced fertiliser.
- Continue feeding until the foliage starts to wither.
By caring for your spring flowers in this way, you’re helping them bloom to their fullest potential.
When you should plant flowers for spring depends on the flowering time of the bulbs. As a general rule, spring-flowering bulbs in the UK should be planted from early autumn, as this gives them time to produce new roots before the ground starts to freeze during winter.
You should aim to plant bulbs 6 to 8 weeks before the first hard frost. However, it’s important to remember that this will vary depending on the type of spring flower.
Here are some quick steps for how to plant bulbs for spring flowers:
- Choose the right spot for your bulb.
- Prepare the soil and dig the holes.
- Plant the bulbs.
- Water the bulbs and add a layer of mulch.
At Interflora, our artisan florists select the very best seasonal stems to create hand-crafted spring bouquets that brighten someone’s day. Made with the freshest flowers, our one-of-a-kind bouquets are perfect for any special occasion, including anniversaries, birthdays and weddings.
You can find plenty of bright and uplifting bouquets in our spring flowers collection, specially curated for the season and ready to be personally delivered to your door. From sunshine yellows and enchanting blue spring flowers, our florists will select blooms that perfectly encapsulate the spirit of the season.
From sunshine yellows and enchanting blue spring flowers, our florists will select blooms that perfectly encapsulate the spirit of the season.
Discover the Best Spring Flowers to Brighten Your Home and Garden
Ready to make this spring the brightest and prettiest yet? Hopefully, this spring flowers guide has given you all of the motivation you need.
To make someone else’s spring as special as yours, consider sending flowers with Interflora. Assembled with care, our spring flower bouquets are guaranteed to impress and leave the recipient smiling from ear to ear. We also offer a wide range of wonderful gifts and presents.
Choose from same-day or next-day flower delivery and let our artisan florists make a positive difference to a loved one’s day.
