Although the calendar tells us that spring officially begins on March 20th, nature doesn't always follow the clock strictly. There's a very special group of ornamental plants that arrives ahead of the rest, gifting us with bursts of color when the landscape still displays those brown and yellowish tones typical of the intense cold.
These species act as a true harbinger, a sign that the days are getting longer and the temperatures are starting to rise. It's a wonderful feeling to see the garden come alive long before the full splendor of April or May arrives, breaking the monotony of winter with their petals.
How do early flowering plants work?
The secret to this phenomenon lies in the fact that these plants prepare their flower buds during the preceding summer or autumn . In this way, when the time is right, the flowers open before the vegetative part, that is, the leaves, appears.
This process is especially striking in deciduous species . With no leaves to obstruct or distract the view, the flower colors stand out much more, creating a striking visual contrast against the bare branches.
The main protagonists: Featured trees
If we're talking about the kings of this season, the almond tree (Prunus amygdalus) takes the crown. It's usually the first to awaken in our region, opening its buds in mid- to late March, although if we have a strong anticyclone at the end of winter, it might bloom a little earlier.
Along the same lines, we find its close relatives. The plum tree (Prunus cerasifera) follows very closely in its footsteps, and the cherry tree, although a little slower, also joins in this chromatic celebration before turning green.
We mustn't forget the Mimosa (Acacia dealbata) . Unlike the previous ones, it's an evergreen tree, but it blooms at the same time as the almond trees, filling the surroundings with a spectacular yellow that doesn't go unnoticed by anyone.
Shrubs and small trees for gardens
For those who don't have a huge plot of land, there are magnificent options. Deciduous magnolias , such as Magnolia x soulangeana, are an absolute gem; their flowers are large and display shades ranging from pure white to pink or mauve.
There are other species that, although they don't have traditional flowers, color the landscape. Hazel and beech trees display bright yellow, hanging catkins that look like tears of pollen, always appearing before the foliage.
As for more compact shrubs, we have a wide variety of options:
- Forsythia x intermediaIt is characterized by a very abundant yellow bloom that appears on the shoots of the previous year.
- Viburnum tinus (Laurustinus)Its pink winter buds give way to small white flowers towards the end of February.
- Camellia japonicaIt offers some of the most elegant and showy flowers, with a huge variety of colors thanks to botanical research.
- Mahonia aquifoliumIt is a very resistant and hardy plant, ideal for urban furniture, which stands out for its bright yellow flowers in February.
If you're looking for something different, there are varieties of hydrangeas that are large shrubs (around 1,5 meters) and whose papery flowers range from white to blush to deep red.
The curious thing is that these flowers last from summer to winter, and they are the only ones that also give us a bright autumn foliage.
Depending on what you're looking for, you can organize your garden based on colors: from trees with pink, white or yellow flowers , to those with more intense shades like purple, blue, red or orange, thus achieving a dynamic and vibrant landscape throughout the year.
Having these species in the garden is the best way to combat winter monotony, ensuring that the transition to spring is a visual spectacle thanks to those plants that decide to bloom before their leaves awaken.
