Take a walk with me as we explore native spring wildflowers that are perfect for most of our gardens, small or large. Here are three ready to present their spring show.

Wild geraniums 

Hardy wild geraniums can be found in the wild and are named to differentiate them from hybrid geraniums. The flower varies with shades of white, pink, or blue. It blooms in spring and early summer for about a month and grows well in shade. Wild geranium attracts bees, butterflies, and flies.

Cut back wild geraniums when they are done blooming or if they get too scraggly. The plant’s leaves stay green all summer and change to a beautiful red, purple, or orange in the fall. If the winter is mild, the plant is evergreen or semi-evergreen.

This native perennial easily doubles as a flowering ground cover. It creates a long-lasting mat with multiple seasons of interest and little maintenance. It’s also a good companion for spring-blooming bulbs and adds a different texture to hosta.

Virginia bluebells 

Talk about magic plants. Virginia bluebells are my favorite spring ephemeral. They appear, hang around for a while, and then disappear without you doing anything.

Virginia bluebells have stalks of blue, bell-shaped flowers. The oval leaves have purple hues when they break ground in early spring and turn a medium green as the plant grows. There are white and pink variations. Virginia bluebells are slightly fragrant and can be cut for a vase with other spring flowers.

Grow Virginia bluebells in shade to part shade and moist soil. Once established, the plants can tolerate drier conditions. These native ephemerals self-sow, but not in a pesky way. 

At 12 inches tall, Virginia bluebells are another good companion plant for spring bulbs, especially yellow daffodils. For a lovely color combo, they can also be planted under forsythia or Japanese kerria.

These plants can be hard to find in garden centers because they look like a pot of dirt once they go dormant. Some retailers carry and ship Virginia bluebells already growing in pots, ready to go in the ground for the spring show.

Hepatica

An Eastern U.S. native perennial, hepatica sports blue, white, or pink flowers for about a month in spring among liver-shaped leaves. It’s a favorite of butterflies, bees, and other pollinators.

Hepatica is a diminutive plant that does best in an area where it can flourish for years without disturbance. Plant it in clusters of uneven numbers in part sun to shade. The low-growing leaves are glossy green, turning a rust color in fall and remaining on the plant through winter. 

Hepatica’s texture and form make it a good companion plant with shade-tolerant ferns. As a spring bloomer, it also provides an early-season companion with spring bulbs. Hosta, the shade-go-to plant, also does well with hepatica.

Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp blogs at hoosiergrdener.com. She’s been writing and speaking about gardening for more than 30 years.