More spring bulbs are always good, there are so many and some are quite large.

For early flowering, you might want to consider shrubs. You can have flowers any time you want from mid-winter onwards. Things like Viburnum, Berberis, Ceanothus, and Chaenomeles all provide good early colour.

For perennials you will probably need to look at evergreens since herbaceous perennials have to grow before they can flower. Bergenia, many alpines like Saxifrages, loads of Pirmulas. Maybe you could try blue poppies. Also self-seeders like Foxgloves and Forget-me-Nots.

Not quite what I was after shrubs n bulbs, but thanks for taking the time to answer anyway.

First perennials to flower in my garden this year were Hellebores (Lenten rose) primroses, pulmonaria in Feb/March. not much else until April then Pasque flowers, honesty (biennial),primula denticulata, aquilegias and asphodels.

From an entirely different climate: first perennials in Sweden are hepaticas, both the native and the Hungarian, white and yellow windflowers and other anemones such as Anemone blanda, white or blue. These flower with the early bulbs and when they are over there is a long wait for the next lot.

We have practically the same climate here in south-east Ireland.

The Clematis Montana gives a wonderful show in early Feb., and so do all the usual spring bulbs, followed closely by Ribes Sanguineum, Choisiya, Lambs Ears, all the many Aquilegia, Ceonothus, Lilies, Astrantia, Zantedeschia and Penstemums.

Iona

One perennial that has not been mentioned and one that I would not be without in the herbaceous border. It is one of the earliest to flower and is called Doronicum (Leopard's bane). It is seen in species and varieties.

Worth looking up to see if they would suit your climate and requirements. From what you write I would say they would be ideal.

Peter.

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Peter, how early does it usually flower in your region? I was given some Doronicum in the summer so I've yet to see it flower. I've liked it when I've seen it elsewhere, nice sunny little plant. It's clumping up nicely though the leaves are a bit marred by slug damage in my garden.

Thanks Peter, Doronicum looks perfect. I note in my reference books that it comes from West Asia and Siberia. Well, it should think all it's Christmases have come at once here, and hopefully flower in early Spring. I think I'll be able to get some from Tasmania.

Thanks everyone else who has tried to help. I actually grow a lot of the plants suggested, not in my perennial border, but in more shaded positions. My border runs north to south and faces west, so receives full sun, all day , all year.

It's a beautiful day here to day, I can see the Paulownia tree from my window, it's a mass of purple blooms, and, in my native garden, the Tea Trees (Leptospermums), are smothered in blossoms and the Honey Eaters are fighting over the Grevilleas.

Thanks again, WB.

Hope it turns out to be useful to you, wattleblossom.

Lori - after a mild winter, and we get many of those now don't we, I've seen D.plantagineum in flower during the first week of March.

Another early flowerer that comes to mind - and may already have been suggested, Caltha palustris. Here it comes into flower in late February, is classed as semi aquatic/bog subject but so long as you can maintain a moist organic root run for it it should do well. Certainly worth a try if you can easily obtain a plant.

Peter

My Website