After a five-month Minnesota winter, nothing reads like spring quite like a yard full of flowering shrubs. The right plants give you color from late April straight through June, and the best of them keep performing summer and fall too. Here's what we recommend for Twin Cities yards.
Early spring (late April–early May)
Forsythia
The first big yellow burst in any Minnesota yard. Plant in a sunny spot and you'll have eye-popping color before tulips even open. Hardy through zone 4 and bulletproof once established.
Pussy Willow
Soft silver catkins in late March/early April — earliest spring shrub. Native, loves wet sites, perfect for that low spot in the yard.
Mid-spring (May)
Lilac (Common, Korean Spice, Bloomerang)
The unofficial state flower. Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) is iconic but only blooms 2–3 weeks. Bloomerang varieties rebloom through summer. Korean Spice has the strongest fragrance — plant near windows.
Magnolia (Star, Royal Star, Leonard Messel)
The hardy Magnolias bloom in early-to-mid May with showy white or pink flowers before leaves emerge. Star Magnolia is the most reliable for zone 4 Twin Cities yards.
Red Twig Dogwood
Small white flower clusters in May, then attractive foliage all summer, then brilliant red stems for the entire winter. The most four-season shrub we sell.
Late spring–early summer (June)
Annabelle Hydrangea
Massive white flower heads start opening in late June. Reliable in part shade. The default hydrangea for Minnesota yards.
Spirea (Goldflame, Magic Carpet, Anthony Waterer)
Pink flower clusters in June, then sporadic rebloom through fall. Foliage often has gold or red tints — interesting even when not blooming.
Weigela (Wine and Roses, Sonic Bloom)
Trumpet-shaped pink/red flowers in June. Many varieties have burgundy foliage that adds color all season.
Pollinator favorites that flower spring through fall
Potentilla "Goldfinger"
Bright yellow flowers from June straight through September. Drought tolerant, deer-resistant, completely bulletproof.
Bluebeard (Caryopteris)
Lavender-blue flowers in late summer when little else is blooming. Bee magnet. Cut to the ground each spring for best display.
How to plan for color all spring
The trick is layering bloom times: pair early bloomers (Forsythia, Pussy Willow) with mid-season bloomers (Lilac, Magnolia), then late bloomers (Hydrangea, Weigela). A simple 3-shrub mix gives you 6–8 weeks of continuous color.
Browse our full Shrubs collection for everything currently in stock.
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