Eranthis hyemalis (Winter Aconite) is a charming tuberous perennial that bursts from the ground in late winter (before crocuses) with cup-shaped, upward-facing, bright yellow flowers (1 in. wide or 3 cm), surrounded by divided leafy bracts. The foliage of rich green leaves, divided into several lobes, emerges after the flowers. Winter Aconites go dormant by late spring.

Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrop) is one of the earliest and loveliest spring flowering bulbs, adding several weeks of color and beauty to the garden from late winter - early spring. Slightly fragrant, this small bulbous perennial features dainty, nodding white flowers with a green spot at the apex of each petal atop 2 narrow, grayish-green leaves. The foliage emerges before the flowers, develops during and after bloom, and neatly fades away in spring.

Showy and long-lasting, Hellebore Winter Jewels 'Amethyst Gem' (Helleborus) features double, cup-shaped, deep amethyst-rose blossoms delicately margined in opal. Blooming for weeks from late winter to early spring, these nodding beauties rise on sturdy, thick stems above the leathery, glossy, evergreen foliage. Exquisitely beautiful!

Unjustly named Stinking Hellebore, award-winning Helleborus foetidus provides gardeners with some of the greatest pleasures in winter. This evergreen perennial features large, open, and long-lasting clusters of cheerful chartreuse, bell-shaped flowers, 1 in. wide (2 cm), edged with dark red. Blooming heavily for weeks from late winter to mid-spring, these nodding beauties rise on sturdy, erect stems above handsome foliage of leathery, narrow, fan-like (palmately divided), dark green leaves.

Resembling long, feathery Ostrich plumes, Matteuccia struthiopteris (Ostrich Fern) is an elegant, upright to arching, deciduous fern with showy, finely dissected, fresh green sterile fronds. Emerging at the base of the plant in spring, they gracefully unfurl until they depreciate over summer and lose their leaflets later in the fall, as the plant goes dormant for the winter. They surround shorter, brownish fertile fronds which will persist into winter. Low maintenance, pest and disease free, Ostrich Fern is a great asset for the bog garden!

Native to California, Trillium chloropetalum var. giganteum (Giant Wake Robin) is an incredible beauty with a striking garden presence in spring. Poking from the soil in winter, large buds send up stout stems topped with three broadly ovate, lightly marbled leaves. Resting in their center in early to mid-spring is a large three-petaled, lustrous purple-brown flower, 2-4 in. long (5-10 cm). Long-lived, spreading slowly, and taking several years to form a significant clump, trilliums are worth the wait! Fabulous as a groundcover, this Giant Wake Robin is ranked by many as the most impressive species within the Trillium genus.

Incredibly hardy and eye-catching, Bergenia 'Bressingham Ruby' is a compact clump-forming evergreen perennial noted for its outstanding foliage and bright magenta flowers. Borne on short stems in early spring, erect clusters of rosy-red, bell-shaped flowers rise above a most interesting foliage of leathery, shiny, rounded leaves. Deep green in summer, the large leaves change to rich maroon-red in winter, providing year-round interest. Low maintenance, Bergenia 'Bressingham Ruby' looks stunning in mass plantings or as an edging plant along paths and walkways.

A New Zealand native, Chionochloa rubra (Red Tussock Grass) is a graceful evergreen perennial grass that forms a dense tussock of elegantly arching, red-tinted to coppery-red, slender leaves. In summer, its lightly weeping stems bear attractive, lax panicles of small, awned spikelets which remain for many weeks. In winter the leaves turn to beige at their tips, with coppery tones at their bases, adding bristling color to the dull winter landscape. Gorgeous, and tough as nails, Chionochloa rubra is a very easy perennial to grow.

Noted for its stunning bright coral red stems in winter, award-winning Cornus alba 'Sibirica' (Tatarian Dogwood) is a medium-sized, suckering, deciduous shrub forming a thicket of vibrant red stems, turning bright crimson in winter. Often numerous, they radiate beautifully from the base of the shrub. Flat-topped clusters of tiny yellowish-white flowers, 2.5 in. wide (6 cm), appear in late spring and sometimes sporadically flower in summer. While not especially showy, they attract butterflies and pollinators and give way in midsummer to clusters of bluish-white berries, that are greedily devoured by birds. The summer foliage consists of elliptic to ovate, mid to dark green leaves, that turn brilliant purple-red in fall. Prized for its stunning fall color, attractive berries, and vivid red stems, this Tatarian Dogwood is a spectacular addition to the garden for most seasons. Cornus alba 'Sibirica' certainly adds a WOW! to the winter landscape.

A member of the Gold Collection®, Helleborus niger 'HGC Jacob' is a gorgeous Christmas Rose with large, single, pristine white flowers, 3 in. across (8 cm), adorned with crowns of showy golden-yellow stamens. As they mature, the blooms turn rose pink in cool weather and pale green in warm temperatures. Unlike most hellebores, the flowers face outward attracting interest. They are borne on short, dark stems and rise above the evergreen foliage of leathery, dark green, serrated leaves. A very early bloomer, with blooms appearing as early as November, 'HGC Jacob' flowers the first year. Perfect to brighten the shade garden!

Few sights surpass a mixed planting of Cyclamen coum (Persian Violet) on an early spring morning! Award-winning Cyclamen coum is an early spring bloomer with lovely heart-shaped, glossy leaves and small but showy flowers in shades of white to rosy-purple with every hue in between. Adding several weeks of cheerful color and beauty to the garden in late winter - early spring, the blossoms are so abundant that they almost obscure the leaves! Very decorative, the leaves may be plain dark green but are also adorned with pretty silver patterns.

Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrop) is one of the earliest and loveliest spring flowering bulbs, adding several weeks of color and beauty to the garden from late winter - early spring. Slightly fragrant, this small bulbous perennial features dainty, nodding white flowers with a green spot at the apex of each petal atop 2 narrow, grayish-green leaves. The foliage emerges before the flowers, develops during and after bloom, and neatly fades away in spring.

Hellebore Winter Jewels 'Rose Quartz' (Helleborus) features incredibly showy, fully double, cup-shaped, sparkling white blossoms adorned with a charming rose-pink picotee around the edges. Blooming heavily for weeks from early to late spring, these nodding beauties rise on sturdy, thick stems above bushy mounds of leathery, evergreen, dark green leaves. A gem in the spring garden!

Erica carnea 'Myretoun Ruby' (Winter Heath) is one of the darkest red Heath with masses of small, urn-shaped flowers that open heliotrope and deepen from magenta to rich, ruby-red over the season. Blooming heavily for weeks from mid-winter to late spring (Jan-May), they beautifully smother the needle-like, dark green foliage. Great at providing winter color, this low-growing, evergreen shrub creates an excellent ground cover for sunny locations while requiring little care. Grows in an attractive mound, up to 6-12 in. tall (15-30 cm) and 18 in. across (45 cm). Spreading along the ground by procumbent stems, this perennial will form a dense ground cover over time.

Helleborus x hybridus 'Double Ellen White Spotted' (Hellebore) is an exquisite semi-evergreen clump-forming perennial with large, double, pendant or outward-facing, cup-shaped, white flowers adorned with rose-pink flecks. Blooming heavily for weeks from late winter to early spring, these charming beauties rise on sturdy stems and contrast well with the leathery, mid-green foliage. Showy and long-lasting, this Lenten Rose provides year-round interest and is ideal to brighten areas of dappled shade under deciduous trees and shrubs!

One of the earliest spring bloomers, Scilla siberica is a bulbous perennial boasting intense blue, bell-shaped, nodding flowers (2-5 per stem) in early to mid-spring. Each bulb produces 3 to 4 flower stems above a grassy foliage of narrow strap-shaped leaves. Easy to grow, this is one of the most winter hardy of the scillas and can be found in hardiness zone 2. A great naturalizer, it multiplies and comes back year after year, turning the landscape into a sea of blue. Looks best when planted in large drifts. Grows up to 3-6 in. tall and wide (7-15 cm). Hardiness Zones: 2-8

Multiple award-winner, Anemone blanda 'White Splendour' is a very attractive tuberous perennial that provides drifts of pure white color in mid-spring. Lovely mounds of large and luminous daisy-like flowers, about 2 inches wide (5cm), with a greenish-yellow center and pink-tinted backs, show off over a finely cut fernlike foliage and spread out to form a carpet of flowers. These daisies are a delight and seem to last for weeks. Ideal to plant in quantity along paths and borders, even under shade trees. For sheer spring joy, plant a few!

Although its clouds of bright blue flowers add cool and striking color to the landscape in spring, award-winner Brunnera Macrophilla 'Jack Frost' is mostly valued for its beautiful foliage which creates a lush carpet of large, heart-shaped silver leaves edged and veined with green. Clump-forming, this deciduous perennial remains attractive during the entire growing season. It is resilient to most pests and diseases, deer & rabbit resistant, and is easy to care for.

Adding a burst of color to your spring, Fritillaria meleagris (Checkered Lily) features 1 or 2 nodding flowers per stem, generally presenting an interesting checkerboard pattern of dark purples and whites - although all-white varieties are also available. Blooming in mid to late spring, this hardy bulbous plant grows up to 14-16 in. tall (35-40 cm). Great for borders, rock gardens, under trees and shrubs and perennial beds. Perfect for naturalizing in a moist woodland edge. Hardiness Zones: 4-8

Showy and long-lasting, Hellebore Winter Jewels 'Berry Swirl' (Helleborus) features double, cup-shaped, blossoms in shades of juicy berries ranging from pink to deep rose, some delicately adorned with creamy-white centers. Irresistible! Blooming for weeks from late winter to early spring, these nodding beauties rise on sturdy, thick stems above the leathery, glossy, evergreen foliage. A rich mix for the shade garden!

Very fragrant and vigorous, award-winning Narcissus 'Thalia', referred to by many as the Orchid Narcissus, is a terrific Triandrus Daffodil, boasting large, gently nodding, very fragrant, pure white flowers in the mid-spring garden. Up to 3-4 per stem, each delicate bloom features slightly arched petals and a dainty cup-shaped crown. Long-lived, this superb Daffodil is a great naturalizer and multiplies quickly. Introduced in 1916, Thalia remains popular as ever, and we can't recommend it enough.

Sturdy and sweetly fragrant, award-winning Narcissus 'Topolino' is a miniature daffodil bearing medium-sized flowers, 3 in. across (6.5 cm), adorned with creamy-white pointed petals and contrasting, lemon-yellow trumpets with a ruffled edge. Blooming in early-mid spring, this Trumpet Daffodil is a great choice for rock gardens, containers, or forcing. It is well suited for the front of borders and provides lovely drifts of color when planted en masse.

Asarum europaeum (European Wild Ginger) is a slowly spreading ground cover that is primarily grown for its glossy, leathery, heart-shaped, dark green leaves (to 3 in across - 7 cm) which remain evergreen in mild winters. Small, bell-shaped flowers bloom in late spring to early summer but are usually unnoticed since covered by the dense foliage. Among the best foliage plants for shade. Grows 6 in. tall (14 cm) and spreads 8-12 in. (20-30 cm).

Noted for the straight, pure line of its fronds and its tropical appearance, Asplenium scolopendrium (Hart's Tongue Fern) is an evergreen fern forming a pretty rosette of arching, strap-shaped, bright green fronds. Unusual for a fern, the fronds are undivided, giving the plant a substantial appearance. They remain lush and fresh-looking throughout the year. On mature fronds, the underside is handsomely marked with conspicuous brown stripes, the sori that contain the spores of the plant. Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society

Noted for its superb silver fronds and long-lasting color, Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Silver Falls' (Japanese Painted Fern) is a very elegant deciduous fern forming a large rosette of arching, strikingly refined, lance-shaped, bipinnate fronds. Lustrous, the fronds are soft gray-green with a strong silvery overlay accented by contrasting purple-red midribs. Slowly spreading, this fern is easy to grow and one of the most rewarding ferns. Low maintenance, pest and disease free.

Noted for its unique foliage and the beauty of its flowers, Helleborus 'Penny's Pink' (Hellebore) features large, single, bright mauve blossoms, 3 in. wide (7 cm), adorned with a crown of creamy stamens. Unlike most hellebores, the flowers face outward attracting interest. Opening from dark purple buds, these charming and dainty beauties turn deeper pink and take on green tones as they mature. Blooming heavily for weeks from late winter to mid-spring, they rise on sturdy stems above the most attractive leathery foliage. Emerging bronzy green in spring, the evergreen leaves display conspicuous hot pink veins which gradually mature to bright emerald green, creating a lovely marbling effect.