Some of spring’s most rewarding plants are also the easiest to miss. 

Woodland perennials like Epimedium bloom early in the season, so if you’re not out in the garden during the still chilly days of April and early May, you might miss them. Prized for its wiry stems of small fairy flowers and durable foliage, which in many varieties emerges with bronze or red tones before turning green for summer. It thrives in dry shade once established, making it a Victoria Gardens’ favorite for shade gardens in the Hudson Valley.

As more gardeners become aware of the environmental benefits of native plants, those gardeners sometimes mistakenly associate “native” with “easy.” Native plants do play an important role in supporting pollinators, birds, and local ecosystems. (For instance, Milkweed is where butterflies lay their eggs, and is important for their lifecycle.)  And many are resilient when matched to the right conditions. (Joe-Pye Weed thrives in moist meadows, stream edges, and and rain gardens.)

Plant Spotlight: Bear’s Breeches (Acanthus mollis)

Bear’s Breeches (Acanthus mollis) is a bold, leafy perennial. This plant grows 3–5 feet tall and spreads by rhizomes, forming clumps over time. In early to midsummer, it sends up tall spikes of hooded white or pink flowers with purple bracts that attract pollinators.

Bleeding hearts (Dicentra spectabilis) are graceful perennials known for their arching stems lined with heart-shaped pink and white flowers. Blooming in spring, they thrive in partial shade and moist, well-drained soil, making them ideal for woodland or shade gardens.

After flowering, the foliage often fades in summer heat, so they're best paired with later-blooming companions that fill in when bleeding hearts fade.