Plants that flower in the spring put an end to the monotony of winter with a colorful prelude to summer. Long before summer plants fully wake up, spring plants have responded to the gradual change of seasons. Not only are they a welcome sight for us, but they also provide food for wildlife at a time when food is scarce—by early spring, most of last year’s plant harvest has been consumed. These sixteen spring-flowering perennials will brighten your yard while providing food. It doesn’t get better than that!
Note that the bloom times shown below represent a broad range. So, plants may bloom earlier or later within their range, depending on where you live.
Native spring-flowering perennials for full sun
![A garden of Blue Wild Indigo, Baptisia australis, with blooms of bluish-lavender.](https://www.welcomewildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Blue-False-Indigo-2-e1526758458373-1024x787.jpg)
Blue Wild Indigo, Baptisia australis. Wildlife value: nectar for native bees, bumblebees. Blooms: Apr to July. Exposure: full sun. (Jean-Pol Grandmont / Wiki; cc by-sa 3.0)
![A garden of Purple Poppy Mallow, Callirhoe involucrata , plants with purplish-red blossoms.](https://www.welcomewildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Purple-Poppy-Mallow-Callirhoe_involucrata-e1526758496398-1024x725.jpg)
Purple Poppy Mallow, Callirhoe involucrata. Wildlife value: nectar for native bees; host plant for Gray Hairstreak Butterfly. Blooms: Mar to June. Exposure: full sun. (Krzysztof Golik wiki cc by-sa 4.0)
![Prairie Smoke, Geum triflorum, in bloom with pinkish flowers.](https://www.welcomewildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Prairie_Smoke-Geum-triflorum-1024x683.jpg)
Prairie Smoke, Geum triflorum. Wildlife value: nectar for butterflies. Blooms: Apr to May. Exposure: full sun. (USFWS, Mountain-Prairie / Wiki cc by 2.0)
![Bed of Missouri Evening Primrose, Oenothera macrocarpa, in bloom with yellow flowers.](https://www.welcomewildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Missouri-Evening-Primrose-Oenothera-macrocarpa.-K-M-flickr-cc-by-2.0-1024x554.jpg)
Missouri Evening Primrose, Oenothera macrocarpa. Wildlife value: nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies, nectar-moths. Blooms: Apr to Aug. Exposure: full sun. (KM / Flickr; cc by 2.0)
More native spring-flowering perennials for full sun
![Penstemon cobaea in bloom with lovely pinkish-purple flowers](https://www.welcomewildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Penstemon-cobaea-1024x818.jpg)
Prairie Penstemon, Penstemon cobaea. Wildlife value: nectar for hummingbirds; host plant for Dotted Checkerspot Butterfly. Blooms: Apr to May. Exposure: full sun. (Peganum / Wiki; cc by-sa 2.0)
![Foxglove Beardtongue, Penstemon digitalis, variety "Husker Red" in bloom.](https://www.welcomewildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Foxglove-Beardtongue-1024x704.jpg)
Foxglove Penstemon, Penstemon digitalis. Wildlife value: nectar for hummingbirds, bumblebees. Blooms: May to July. Exposure: full sun. (Wendy Cutler / Flickr; cc by 2.0)
![Spiderwort, Tradescantia tharpii, in bloom with purple flowers.](https://www.welcomewildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Spiderwort-Tradescantia-tharpii-1024x576.jpg)
Spiderwort, Tradescantia tharpii. Wildlife value: nectar for native bees. Blooms: Apr to May. Exposure: full sun. (KM Flickr; cc by 2.0)
![Rose verbena, Glandularia canadensis, blooming with bright pink flowers.](https://www.welcomewildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Rose-verbena-Glandularia-canadensis-1024x619.jpg)
Rose verbena, Glandularia canadensis. Wildlife value: nectar for butterflies. Blooms: Feb to Sept. Exposure: full sun. (Carl Lewis / Flickr; cc by 2.0
Native spring-flowering perennials for part shade, shade
![Wild Columbine, Aquilega canadensis, in bloom with red flowers.](https://www.welcomewildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Wild-Columbine-Aquilega-canadensis-2-1024x710.jpg)
Wild Red Columbine, Aquilegia canadensis. Wildlife value: nectar for butterflies, hummingbirds; host plant for Columbine Duskywing Butterfly. Blooms: Feb to July. Exposure: part shade. (Joshua Mayer / Flickr cc by-sa 2.0)
![Coral Bells with dark pink blossoms.](https://www.welcomewildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Coral-Bells-1-Heuchera-sanguinea-Patrick-Standish-Flickr-CC-BY-2.0-1024x768.jpg)
Coral Bells, Heuchera sanguinea. Wildlife value: nectar for hummingbirds. Blooms: May to June. Exposure: shade. (Patrick Standish / Flickr; cc by 2.0)
![Golden Alexanders, Zizia aurea, in bloom with yellow flowers.](https://www.welcomewildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Golden-Alexander-Zizia-aurea-1024x681.jpg)
Golden Alexanders, Zizia aurea. Wildlife value: nectar for butterflies; host plant for Black Swallowtail Butterfly. Blooms: Apr to Aug. Exposure: sun, part shade. (Fritzflohrreynolds / Wiki; cc by-sa 3.0)
![Dwarf Crested Iris, Iris cristata, blooming with lavender flowers.](https://www.welcomewildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Dwarf-Crested-Iris-Iris-cristata-1024x680.jpg)
Dwarf Crested Iris, Iris cristata. Wildlife value: nectar for hummingbirds, native bees. Blooms: Mar to May. Exposure: part shade, shade. (Ryan Somma / Flickr; cc by 2.0)
![Bleeding Hearts, Dicentra eximia, blooming with pink flowers.](https://www.welcomewildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Bleeding-Hearts-Dicentra-eximia-1024x768.jpg)
Bleeding Hearts, Dicentra eximia. Wildlife value: nectar for hummingbirds, bumblebees; host plant for Clodius Parnassian Butterfly. Blooms: Mar to Oct. Exposure: part shade, shade. (Jason Hollinger Flickr; cc by 2.0)
Native spring-flowering vines for sun, part shade
![Crossvine, Bignonia capreolata, in bloom with red flowers.](https://www.welcomewildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Crossvine-Bignonia-capreolata-1024x680.jpg)
Crossvine, Bignonia capreolata. Wildlife value: nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies. Blooms: Mar to May. Exposure: sun, part shade. (Stan Shebs / Wiki; cc by-sa 3.0)
![Carolina Jessamine, Gelsemium sempervirens, blooming with yellow flowers.](https://www.welcomewildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Gelsemium-sempervirens-1024x761.jpg)
Carolina Jessamine (Evening Trumpetflower), Gelsemium sempervirens. Wildlife value: nectar for hummingbirds, native bees, Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly. Blooms: Jan to May; Dec. Exposure: sun, part shade. (Kenpei / Wiki; cc by-sa 2.0)
![Coral Honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens, blooming with coral-colored, trumpet-shaped flowers.](https://www.welcomewildlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Coral-Honeysuckle-2-1024x759.jpg)
Coral Honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens. Wildlife value: nectar for hummingbirds, native bees; host plant for Spring Azure Butterfly and Snowberry Clearwing Sphinx Moth. Blooms: Mar to Jun. Exposure: sun, part shade. (Peganum / Flickr; cc by-sa 2.0)
More reading:
Attract more butterflies with native nectar plants
Think all moths are drab? These will change your mind
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
Plan in winter for summer yard projects