A new season is almost on our doorstep, with 1st March heralding the start of meteorological spring.

Along with the lengthening days, with the arrival of spring, we can finally say goodbye to the steel greys and dreary browns of late winter for another year, and welcome in bold bursts of colour and cheer. It’s time for the springtime showstoppers!

There’s no better time than the turning of the season to refresh your borders, and revitalise your plant containers. Spring pots can be packed full of bulbs and hardy annuals that will last for weeks, whatever the changeable spring weather throws at them – from warm sunshine to sharp frosts, hail and even snow. This time of year can also serve as great inspiration for what can be achieved in your garden in just little over 12 months.

We asked some GardenTags members for their ultimate springtime showstopper flowers – and here’s what they had to say:

 Pat Havers – Waterperry Gardens

Reticulate Iris Katharine Hodgkin – shared by @pathavers

Hellebores (Helleborus orientalis)

“Any Hellebores are my springtime showstoppers, as they flower for so long, and I love that every flower is different,” says GardenTags member @pathavers, Head Gardener at Waterperry Gardens.

Reticulate Iris (Iris reticulata)

For her second springtime showstopper, Pat has opted for Iris reticulata. “I recommend any Iris reticulata, but particularly ‘Katharine Hodgkin’”, Pat explains. “Also, my new favourite is ‘ Eye Catcher’. They suddenly appear from nowhere to remind you how wonderful nature is.”

Snakes head fritillary (Fritillaries meleagris)

For her third and final springtime showstopper flower, Pat has chosen the snakes head fritillary. “At Waterperry, we plant 2000 every year into our meadow, and again they are such interesting flowers when you look closely at them,” she says. “Also they just happen to be the county flower of Oxfordshire [the home county of Waterperry Gardens]!”

Karen – The Garden Smallholder

Grow your own enthusiast Karen of The Garden Smallholder aka GardenTags member @thegardensmallholder has a few suggestions to add to the list.

Viola Heartsease

This small and humble springtime flower is the first on Karen’s list. “I love viola heartsease because they’re pretty, dainty and best of all edible!” Karen says. “Not strictly spring flowers, they can be sown all year round into containers or borders. I sow early autumn under cover to ensure a display in time for spring, the delightful little flowers add colour and interest to salads and cake toppings.”

 Forget-Me-Not (Myosotis)

Forget-me-not shared by @thegardensmallholder

Karen’s second pick is well-known to many gardeners. “Myosotis or Forget-Me-Not are my favourite spring flowers. We’re incredibly lucky to have them growing wild in areas of our garden, mainly around the ponds,” Karen explains. “They self-seed easily to create a wild-feel, in sun or shade. Great ground cover for frogs and other wildlife,” she adds.

Narcissus Tete-a-Tete

Karen’s last favourite springtime showstopper is bright and bold. “Narcissus Tete-a-Tete grows happily in our garden borders and containers, its small size makes an ideal front of border spring flower,” she says. “Unlike taller daffodil varieties, these cheerful little blooms escape battering high winds, making them perfect for exposed locations. They’re bombproof little daffodils.. even enthusiastic chicken feet can’t destroy them!”.

If you’ve got any inspiring springtime showstopper flowers blooming in your containers or garden borders, why not share on the GardenTags app!

Here’s the official disclaimer bit…The views, opinions and positions expressed within these guest posts are those of the author alone and do not represent those of GardenTags. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this guest blog post are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations.