Perfect Perennial Pairings for Spring Color in the Sun
Posted by Annie Algren on May 1st 2025
Perfect Perennial Pairings for Spring Color in the Sun
Every spring, the Midwest gardener patiently waits for the gardens to slowly thaw and melt away the long winter blues. The winter season can be long, cold and dark, but it often reminds us to appreciate the nature of rest and reset that sets the stage for a fantastic display of renewal in the landscape!
Plants that emerge and bloom in early spring excite the senses and play a crucial role in supporting eager pollinators. If you’ve got a sun-drenched garden begging for early spring color, consider these perfect perennial pairings to usher in the warmth of spring right when you and the wildlife need them the most!
Bearded Iris (Iris x Germanica)
Attributes
Soft green, flattened, sword-like foliage with large, ornate blooms
Growth Habit
Gentle spreader
Soil Type
Sandy loam
Bloom Color
Blue/ Purple/ Yellow/ White/ Pink/ Orange/ Black
Size
24-36” H x 18-24” W
Bloom Time
Late Spring to Early Summer
Use
Sunny beds or borders
Maintenance
Divide every 3-5 years to prevent overcrowding, cut back foliage to 6in in fall
Benefits
Attracts bumblebees, fragrant, deer/rabbit resistant, tolerates drought/salt, cut flower
Peony (Paeonia)
Attributes
Lush, dark green foliage and abundant large, fragrant blooms
Growth Habit
Clumping
Soil Type
Loam or silt
Bloom Color
White/ Yellow/ Pink/ Red
Size
24-36” H x 24-36” W
Bloom Time
Late-Spring to Early Summer
Use
Borders and beds alike
Maintenance
Best grown with a hoop or caging support, cut back to basal foliage in fall after foliage yellows
Benefits
Cut flowers, deer resistant, tolerates salt
Bluestar (Amsonia)
Attributes
Dark green leaves that give golden fall color, with star shaped flowers
Growth Habit
Clumping, compact
Soil Type
Loam, will tolerate clay
Bloom Color
Various shades of blue
Size
24-36” H x 24-36” W
Bloom Time
Late Spring to Early Summer
Use
Sunny borders, cottage gardens, or mass plantings
Maintenance
Cut back 1/3-1/2 after flowering, cut back to basal foliage in early spring
Benefits
Support butterflies, hummingbirds, and carpenter bees, vibrant fall foliage, deer/rabbit resistant, tolerates drought
Always approachable and happy to help!