12 Spring Flowers That Bloom Quickly

Tom Gaffey
by Tom Gaffey
Credit: Shutterstock / budistudio77

Spring is famous for the vibrant-colored flowers that magically appear in manicured yards and wild fields. If you love this dramatic and colorful transition, you’ll want plenty of flowers planted in your garden. To ensure your yard is full of color shortly after spring arrives, you’ll need to choose flowers that grow and bloom quickly.

Some of the fastest growing spring flowers from seed include Johnny jump-ups, snap dragons, nasturtiums, and primroses. Daffodils and tulips are all staples of spring, and their bulbs should be planted in the late-fall for early spring blooms. Other popular flowers that grow quickly in the spring include bearded iris, pansies, petunias, and marigolds. Some lesser-known but equally great spring flowers that grow rapidly include crocus and cornflowers.

Deciding the perfect mix of colorful flowers to add to your outdoor landscape can be tough. One great way to help narrow down your search is to plant according to the season. This will ensure you always have stunning flowers in bloom if the weather permits it. Below is a list of flowers that bloom quickly in the early spring to ensure your early season flower garden is a technicolor success.

12 Flowers That Bloom Quickly In The Spring

1. Nasturtiums

One of the most underrated fast-growing flowers on the planet is the nasturtium. These reddish orange blooming flowers can be planted indoors from seed in late winter, and bloom in the spring. If you live in a warmer climate, they will grow back every year. 

These are creeping vine-like flowers, attracting bees and butterflies. This is great for your plants that need pollinators. These are also edible flowers, making them a great plant to add to salads and other homemade dishes as a stunning garnish.


2. Johnny Jump-Ups

If you are interested in planting something from seed and want it to bloom fast, consider the aptly named Johnny jump-up plant. This plant is native to northern Europe and Siberia, so it’s no stranger to cold weather. 

It can grow from seed by planting them in late fall, and they will sprout up in the early spring. The flowers come in various colors, which allows your early spring garden to have a nice variety of color right off the bat. Best of all, it blooms all season long, which will help keep your flower garden looking cheerful and dynamic throughout the spring and summer months.


3. Snapdragons

Another fun flower that’s emblematic of spring is the snapdragon. These flowers only bloom in the cool spring air, making them a staple in early spring gardens. 

These flowers get their name from the unique shape of their blooms. When you squeeze the bloom it opens up, making it look similar to the mouth of a dragon.

Snapdragons bloom within eight weeks of planting, but it’s also common to transplant already blooming flowers into a spring garden, especially since they bloom for a short period.


4. Cornflowers

Cornflowers are a lovely rustic yet colorful addition to any spring garden. They are also another terrific species for those looking to plant something from seed and want it to grow fast. A cornflower can go from seed to flower in just 10 weeks.

This is another flower that comes in various colors, and will look great in any spring bouquet. These plants are so easy to grow that they are sometimes considered an invasive weed, but their beautiful blue flowers and other colors make them a plant worth considering for a spring garden.


5. Crocus

If you are looking for stunning flowers that seem to sprout up magically before winter has fully disappeared, look no further than the crocus. This purple flower with yellow accents is a bulb that will return year after year as long as rodents don’t get to it.

These delicate flowers last only a few weeks, but if you are looking for a pop of color that can arrive before all the snow has melted, then this is a perfect flower for you. It blooms so quickly that it often blossoms and dies before there are leaves on your trees.


6. Petunias

Petunias are very popular in hanging pots and window beds, but these pretty blossoms are also great for those looking for fast-growing flowers. Petunias can bloom 10 to 12 weeks after you plant the seeds. This means you can transplant ones from a garden store, or plant the seeds indoors.

You can get petunias in all sorts of colors, which means they match nearly any garden aesthetic. They will also stay alive for the entire growing season, providing lush cover for your garden until winter returns.


7. Primrose

There are more than 400 species of primrose, and they come in all sorts of colors. This woodland flower is known not only for its colors, but also for how early it blooms in spring. These plants can go from seed to flower in less than a month, making them ideal for those looking for a quick-blooming spring flower.


8. Pansy

Pansies are one of the best flowers for window boxes, edge gardens, and colorful ground cover. Most people opt to plant already-blooming pansies, as they are available everywhere and are affordable.

If you want to plant them from seed, start them inside for about six weeks. Then you can transplant them when there is minimal risk of overnight frost, and they will bloom in just over one month. If you live in a warmer climate, sprinkle seeds in the ground at the end of the winter, and in twelve weeks or less you should have beautiful flowers.


9. Bearded Iris

If you want a spring flower that will look stunning in your garden and in a flower arrangement in your home, consider the bearded iris. Many iris species are exquisite, but the bearded iris is beautiful and grows fast. 

This hardy perennial is another spring-blooming bulb flower. This plant is usually a beautiful purple flower, but it can also be found in other colors, including yellow and blue. The “beard” refers to the fuzz it grows on the flower, distinguishing it from other iris varieties.


10. Marigolds

Marigolds are one of the easiest flowers to grow from seed, and also one of the quickest. After planting marigold seeds in the soil, they sprout up in just a few days, and flower in two months or less. 

These golden flowers bring vibrancy to any spring garden, and they are an important flower in many cultures. These plants are also edible, making them another great garnish for your favorite spring dishes.


11. Daffodils 

Daffodils are the first colorful sign of spring in many regions. These orange and yellow flowers pop up seemingly out of nowhere, as this annual bulb sprouts as soon as the ground softens and the sun warms up. 

As long as you plant these bulbs in the fall, they will bloom fast in the spring. Best of all, this perfect spring flower will multiply each year if properly cared for. So, you can have more and more of these early spring flowers in your garden each year.


12. Tulips 

Tulips are amazing to plant next to your daffodils, as they sprout up just as your daffodils start to fade. While daffodils come in a few varieties, there are seemingly endless species of tulips you can plant. Made famous and perfected in Holland, you can now find endless species of tulip bulbs at your local garden store, and even online.

You can have an entire garden of tulips, and each one can be a different variety. As long as you protect the bulbs from rodents and other pests, they will grow back rapidly each spring.


Wrapping Up Flowers That Bloom Quickly In The Spring

If you can’t say goodbye to winter quick enough, then you’ll want to find some colorful flowers that bloom as early and quickly as possible in the spring. Some popular spring bulbs that sprout up as soon as the ground thaws include daffodils, crocus, and tulips. Marigolds, nasturtiums, Johnny jump-ups, and primrose are all flowers that grow quickly from seed and bloom in two months or less. 


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Tom Gaffey
Tom Gaffey

Tom Gaffey is an expert writer who currently resides in Washington D.C. Tom has a passion for real estate and home improvement writing, as well as travel and lifestyle writing. He lived the last twelve years in Hawaii where he worked closely with luxury resorts and event planners, mastering his knowledge of aesthetics and luxury products. This is where he found his passion for home improvement and a keen interest in DIY projects. Currently, Tom resides in Washington D.C, and also working on his debut fiction novel.

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