Fall-planted spring bulbs like Crocus, Snowdrops, and dwarf daffodils are a great way to add early spring color to the landscape. Perennials that show up for the ‘early show’ include:

	Aurinia (Basket of Gold), with attractive gray foliage and bright yellow blooms, Aurinia is perfect for edging or rock gardens. Prefers full sun, and grows about 12” tall. Blooms early April to early May.
	Brunnera (Siberian Bugloss) – delicate sprays of blue flowers appear from April to May. Foliage is heart-shaped, and is available in green, as well as variegated with white or silver. Best in shaded areas. Cultivars available include: ‘Jack Frost’, with silvery highlighted foliage, ‘Looking Glass’, with solid silver leaves, and variegata, with white margins. Blooms April-May.
	Dicentra (Bleeding Heart) – an old standby for the shade garden, the fringed varieties are shorter and have the longest bloom time, where as spectabilis, with its showy, heart-shaped flowers, only blooms in the spring. A new cultivar of spectabilis is ‘Gold Heart’, with bright gold foliage that seems to last longer than the species. ‘Luxuriant’ is a fringed variety with pink flowers that will bloom most of the summer with enough moisture. ‘Aurora’ is a fringed variety with white flowers. Also available is ‘King of Hearts’, with blue-green foliage and dark pinkish-red blooms.
	Epimedium (Bishop’s Hat) – a great groundcover for dry, shady areas, Epimediums have small, delicate blooms that appear before the foliage and resemble tiny Columbine flowers. Red, yellow, pink, and white colors are available, with the red (E. rubrum), and yellow (E. sulphureum) being the best growers. Grows 8 -10” tall, with foliage that is semi-evergreen. Bloom time is April-May.
	Euphorbia polychroma – the bright yellow blooms of this perennial are hard to beat. Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Grows 12-18” high, and blooms late April-early May.
	Iris pumila (Dwarf Bearded Iris) – available in a variety of colors, these little guys are great in rock gardens, or close to a walkway. Available varieties include: ‘Baby Blessed’, which is a pale yellow that reblooms in the fall, ‘Black Suede’ (deep purple), ‘Lumalite’, (white & yellow), and ‘What Again’, which is blue and yellow, and also reblooms. Other varieties are also available. Grow 10-12” high. Best in full sun. Bloom late April to May.
	Phlox subulata (Moss or Creeping Phlox) – forms low-growing mats of pink, purple, red, or white blooms. Best in well-drained soil and full sun. ‘Laurel Beth’ is a variety with variegated foliage and pink flowers, ‘Candy Stripe’ has blooms that are striped pink and white. Blooms April to May.
	Phlox stolonifera (Creeping Phlox) – taller growing than Phlox subulata, at 12” high. ‘Home Fires’ has pink flowers. Blooms April to May.
	Pulsatilla vulgaris rubra (Pasque Flower) – an early bloomer with fuzzy buds that open to purplish-red blooms. Grows 8-12” high, and is best in full sun or light shade. Blooms from March to April.
	Pulmonaria (Lungwort) – with attractive foliage and blooms, pulmonarias are a great addition to any shade garden. ‘Majeste’ is a variety with solid silver leaves. ‘Mrs. Moon’ has green leaves with silvery spots, and pink buds that open to blue flowers. ‘Roy Davidson’ has smaller leaves with abundant silver spotting, and pink flowers that age to blue. All varieties grow to 10-12” high, and bloom from March to April.