False Indigo (Baptisia)

Baptisia and I have some history, so why not start this off with a plant story? I used to scorn this perennial because I thought it was boring and there were few colour choices. Due to my incessant perennial experimenting, I discovered I was wrong. Baptisias are one of the toughest, most reliable perennials because of their deep tap roots, and they now come in a plethora of colours. Baptisias sport Lupine-like flowers along tall racemes above the foliage in later spring that bees love. Many Baptisias are rated as zone 3-9 perennials, but some start at zone 4 or 5, so confirm zones before purchasing.

Check out the Decadence series 

Old-Fashioned Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis)

This garden classic's pink and white version has been loved for generations, but now a new, fun variety called 'Valentine' is available. 'Valentine' produces eye-catching, deep red flowers in late spring that add colour and life to a shady garden. This variety is quickly becoming a favourite with perennial gardeners. 

Check out the all the colours available

Creeping Phlox (Phlox subdulata)

This mounding, low-growing, low-maintenance sunny garden perennial often shows up unnoticed in early spring until it suddenly comes alive with flowers in shades of pink or purple. There are numerous Proven Winner choices that will delight gardeners across this vast land of Canada.

The Spring Bling series 'Rose Quartz', 'Ruby Riot', 'Pink Sparkles') and Sprite series ('Magenta Sprite', 'Purple Sprite', 'Rose Sprite') are hardy in zones 3-8. For those in more temperate climates, the Mountainside series (Majestic Magenta', 'Crater Lake') is hardy from zones 4-8.

Check out the all the colours available

Heartleaf Brunnera

Also known as Siberian bugloss and False Forget-Me-Not, this shade-loving zone 3-8 perennial sports heart-shaped leaves with silver overlays and produces clusters of uncomplicated, 5-petaled, beautiful blue (as in real blue, not purple) flowers on scapes that rise above their foliage in spring.

Proven Winners offers four excellent Brunnera options with varying heights and widths for your garden needs.

Foamflower (Tiarella)

Tiarella is a lovely zone 4-8 spring flowering perennial option for a part shade to shade garden.

'Cutting Edge' Foamflower produces long-lasting, lightly fragrant spires resembling bottle brushes composed of simple, star-shaped flowers above well-defined lobed leaves with attractive red veins that add colour and texture throughout the growing season.

Other Spring Flowering Perennials to Explore Include:
Allium ('Serendipity'), Rockfoil (Marto series 'Red', 'Hot Rose', Red 'Picotee'), and Solomon's Seal ('Variegatum', 'Ruby Slippers')