When Do Spring Flowers Bloom? Bloom Times & Schedule

Whether you have a green thumb, or you are just starting out, one of the most important aspects of gardening is knowing when flowers bloom. When you understand that, you get smarter about your planting, so you enjoy blooms throughout the seasons. Canadians look forward to spring blooms that signal summer is near. So, when do flowers bloom in Ontario? Here we look at Ontario’s favourites by month along with a flower bulb schedule.   

Bloom Times for Popular Spring Flowers 

Here are some of the most popular Ontario flowering bulbs by month: 

March to Early April 

• Galanthus (Snowdrops): These lovely pale blue flowers are a harbinger of spring. They are small so are best planted in groups for impact. They come in different varieties as well, including a white and variegated version. 
• Danfordiae or Reticulata (Early Irises): Early irises bloom at the same time as snowdrops, so make a nice focal point in a small bed. Their distinct royal purple colour and intricate flower is always a showstopper. 
• Chrysanthus and C.Ttommasinianus cvs (Crocuses): This sweet flower brings cheer to gardens as they make their appearance in late March or early April. 
• Narcissus cvs.(Daffodils): No one can resist the bright, cheerful yellow daffodil despite its short-lived bloom. 
• Chionodoxa forbesii and C. luciliae (Glory-of-the-snow): This lovely flower creates a carpet of blooms in deep blue similar to the common blue bell. Just keep in mind it can spread and become hard to control. 

April 

• Hyacinthus (Hyacinths): These flowers have a similar appearance to lilacs but are single bulbs that produce a purply blue flower. They do very well in full sun or partial shade. 
• Tulipa sp. and cvs (Tulips): This symbol of Holland is the quintessential spring bloom bursting with colour in Ontario gardens. People love the variations of colour available and dedicate full beds for their short but sweet display. 
• Aquilegia canadensis (Columbine): This delicate, two-toned rather tall flower comes in a wide assortment of colours and can be mixed and matched to create a focal point in any garden. They also last a lot longer than most spring blooms.  
• Mertensia (Bluebells): Lovely deep blue flowers create carpets across lawns and garden beds, making excellent ground cover in shady areas.   
• Omphalodes Verna (Blue-Eyed Mary): Yet another purply blue bloom, the Blue-Eyed Mary loves shade, and contrasts beautifully with the mint-like leaves. 
• Phlox subulata (Ground phlox): Nothing produces a more impressive display than this beautiful ground cover which is popular in rock gardens. 

May 

• Cypripedium sp (Lady’s slipper): The moment you see these delicate blooms you’ll know how they got their name. They bloom in May and are very bee-friendly. 
• Ajuga cvs. (Bugle flower): If you want a flower that provides colour all year round, this is your guy. It provides purple flowers in May and the leaves are a deep burgundy to add interest for the rest of the summer and fall. 
• Dicentra and Lamprocapnos spp. And cvs. (Bleeding hearts): This swoon-worthy flower has been gracing gardens for centuries. Heart-shaped flowers, pretty ferny foliage and a long bloom time are just a few reasons they are so appealing. 

Bloom Time Chart 

Here is a complete list of spring bloom options: 

March 

• Crocus (Crocus) 
• Glory of the snow (Chionodoxa) 
• Winter aconite (Eranthis) 
• Snowdrop (Galanthus) 
• Christmas rose (Helleborus) 
• Lenten rose (Helleborus) 
• Iris (Iris Danfordiae) 
• Iris (Iris Reticulata) 
• Striped Squill (Puschkinia) 
• Squill (Scilla) 

April 

• Spring Adonis (Adonis) 
• Golden garlic (Allium Moly) 
• Anemone (Anemone sp. & CVS.) 
• Pasque Flower (Anemone Pulsatilla) 
• Columbine (Aquilegia Canadensis) 
• Rock Cress (Arabis) 
• False Rock Cress (Aubrietia) 
• Basket of Gold Aurinia (Alyssum) 
• Bergenia (Bergenia)
• Brunnera (Brunnera) 
• Marsh Marigold (Caltha) 
• Black Cohosh (Caulophyllum) 
• Spring Beauty (Claytonia) 
• Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra Eximia) 
• Draba (Draba) 
• Trout Lily (Erythronium Americanum)
• Dogtooth Violet (E. Dens-Canis CVS.) 
• Crown (Imperial Fritillaria CVS.) 
• Hepatica (Hepatica sp.) 
• Hyacinth (Hyacinth sp.) 
• Dwarf Iris (Iris Pumila) 
• Snowflake (Leucojum) 
• Virginia Bluebell (Mertensia) 
• Grape Hyacinth (Muscari CVS.) 
• Daffodil (Narcissus CVS.) 
• Blue-eyed Mary (Omphalodes) 
• Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra) 
• Creeping Phlox (Phlox sp.) 
• Ground Phlox (Phlox Subulata) 
• Primrose (Primula sp. & CVS.) 
• Lungwort (Pulmonaria CVS.) 
• Bloodroot (Sanguinaria) 
• Tulip (Tulipa sp. and CVS.) 
• Violet (Viola sp. and cvs.) 

May 

• Stone Cress (Aethionema) 
• Bugle Flower (Ajuga CVS.) 
• Spring Anemone (Anemone sp.) 
• Columbine (Aquilegia Hybrids) 
• Thrift (Armeria) 
• Alpine Aster (Aster Alpinus) 
• Masterwort (Astrantia Major) 
• Quamash (Camassia) 
• Bluebells (Campanula Poscharskyana) 
• Corydalis (Corydalis sp.) 
• Lady’s Slipper (Cypripedium sp.) 
• Pinks (Dianthus sp. and CVS.) 
• Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra sp. and CVS.)
• Shooting Star (Dodecatheon sp.) 
• Leopard’s Bane (Doronicum sp.) 
• Bluebell Endymion (Scilla) 
• Barrenwort (Epimedium sp.) 
• Cushion Spurge (Euphorbia) 
• Sweet Woodruff (Galium) 
• Cranesbill (Geranium sp.) 
• Avens (Geum sp.) 
• Candy Tuft (Iberis) 
• (Early) Iris (Iris Intermedia) 
• Spring Vetchling (Lathyrus Vernus) 
• (Early) Peony (Paeonia CVS.) 
• Fernleaf Peony (Paeonia Tenufolia) 
• Alpine Poppy (Papaver Alpinus) 
• Creeping Phlox (Phlox Stolonifera) 
• Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium) 
• Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum) 
• Primrose (Primula) 
• Buttercup (Ranunculus) 
• Wild Pink (Silene Caroliniana) 
• Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrhinchium)
• False Solomon’s Seal (Smilacina) 
• Meadow Rue (Thalictrum) 
• Foam Flower (Tiarella) 
• Spiderwort (Tradescantia) 
• Globeflower (Trollius) 
• Tulip (Tulipa CVS.) 
• Bellwort (Uvularia) 
• Speedwell (Veronica sp.) 
• Violet (Viola) 
• Barren Strawberry (Waldsteinia) 

Are you ready to take your landscaping to the next step? At MPS we will work with you to create a beautiful landscape design, full of your favourite plants and hardscaping elements. Contact our team today.  

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