Flowering Trees & Shrubs

Waking Up the Garden After a Maritime Winter

March. 6th 2026

If you’ve gardened in New Brunswick for any length of time, you know the feeling — winter seems to hang on forever, and by the time March rolls around, most of us are more than ready for a bit of colour.

 

That’s where spring-flowering trees and shrubs really shine.

 

The right mix of plants can take your yard from bare and sleepy to full of life in just a few short weeks. Even better, by choosing varieties that bloom at different times, you can stretch that spring colour from the very first thaw well into early summer.

 

Whether you’re starting from scratch or just looking to add something new, there are plenty of hardy, reliable options that thrive right here in New Brunswick — and a lot of them are easier to grow than you might think.

The Earliest Signs of Spring

When everything else is still just waking up, these are the plants that kick off the season. They’re tough, dependable, and often the first real sign that spring has finally arrived.

Pussy Willow 

A True Early Classic

Pussy willows are about as early as it gets. Their soft, silvery catkins show up before most leaves even think about emerging, making them a subtle but welcome change after a long winter.

 

Why gardeners love them:

  • One of the earliest signs of spring
  • Extremely cold hardy and low maintenance
  • Great for cut branches and indoor arrangements

Where they work best:

  • Naturalized areas
  • Along property edges
  • Mixed into informal landscapes

Forsythia 

Bright, Bold, and Impossible to Miss

If you want something that really announces spring, forsythia is hard to beat. Its bright yellow flowers cover the branches before the leaves appear, creating a bold splash of colour when most yards are still fairly muted.

 

At Scott’s Nursery, you’ll find great hardy options like:

  • Northern Gold (a reliable favourite for colder climates)
  • Goldrausch and Magical Gold (strong colour and performance)
  • Show Off Starlet and Weekend (more compact, great for smaller spaces)

Why it’s a great choice:

  • Very hardy and dependable in NB conditions
  • Fast-growing and easy to care for
  • Excellent for hedges, borders, or standalone features

Tips for success:

  • Plant in full sun for best flowering
  • Give it space — it can spread over time
  • Prune after flowering to keep shape

These early bloomers may not last forever, but they do something just as important — they get the season started. And once they fade, the next wave of spring colour is already on the way.

Native Beauty & Early Elegance

Once those first pops of yellow fade, this next group steps in with a softer, more natural look. These are the plants that feel right at home in the Maritimes — hardy, low-maintenance, and great for supporting local wildlife.

Serviceberry (Amelanchier)

Nice, Native & Multi-Season

Serviceberries (also known as Saskatoons) are one of those plants that quietly do it all. They bloom early, handle our climate with ease, and offer interest well beyond spring.

 

At Scott’s Nursery, you’ll typically find:

  • Canadian Serviceberry
  • Saskatoon
  • Saskatoon ‘Regent’ (a more compact option)

Why they’re worth planting:

  • Early white blooms that light up the landscape
  • Edible berries in summer (great for people and birds)
  • Excellent fall colour to extend seasonal interest

Where they shine:

  • Naturalized or woodland-style gardens
  • As a small feature tree
  • Mixed into shelterbelts or property edges

Dogwood 

Colour That Lasts Beyond Spring

Dogwoods are often overlooked for their flowers, but they’re one of the most versatile shrubs you can plant — especially in New Brunswick.

 

Available varieties include:

  • Ivory Halo (variegated foliage, compact shape)
  • Bud’s Yellow (bright yellow stems)
  • Neon Burst (bold foliage colour)
  • Red Osier (classic red stems)
  • Sgt. Pepper
  • Pagoda Dogwood (a beautiful layered small tree form)

What makes dogwood stand out:

  • Spring flowers, followed by lush foliage
  • Bright, colourful stems that add winter interest
  • Extremely hardy and adaptable

Best uses in the yard:

  • Mass planting for a bold effect
  • Along fences or property lines
  • Adding colour to wet or tricky areas

Why These Plants Work So Well in NB

These aren’t just pretty — they’re practical.

  • Built for cold winters and unpredictable springs
  • Handle wet soil conditions better than many shrubs
  • Support pollinators and birds, adding life to your yard
  • Require minimal maintenance once established

If you’re looking for plants that give you a lot back without a lot of effort, this is a great place to start.

Showstopper Trees for Spring Impact

If you’re looking to make a statement in your yard, this is where to do it. These trees might need a little more thought when it comes to placement, but the payoff in spring is absolutely worth it.

Magnolia 

Elegant and Eye-Catching

Magnolias bring a level of elegance that’s hard to match. Those large, tulip-shaped blooms show up before or just as the leaves emerge, creating a soft, almost cloud-like effect in the landscape.

 

Varieties you’ll find at Scott’s Nursery include:

  • Royal Star (compact, white blooms, very hardy)
  • Susan (deep pink-purple flowers, later blooming)
  • Elizabeth (unique soft yellow tones)
  • Leonard Messel (graceful, star-shaped pink blooms)
  • Rose Marie

Things to keep in mind:

  • Best planted in sheltered locations (away from strong wind)
  • Late frosts can affect blooms, so placement matters
  • Ideal as a feature tree near patios or windows

Eastern Redbud 

A Unique Spring Favourite

Eastern Redbud is a bit different — and that’s exactly why people love it. Its small, vibrant pink flowers bloom right along the branches, giving it a striking, architectural look in early spring.

Why it stands out:

  • Unusual blooming habit (flowers on bare branches)
  • Compact size — great for smaller yards
  • Adds something a little unexpected to the landscape

Best placement:

  • Sheltered areas (similar to magnolia)
  • As a conversation piece in the front yard
  • Near walkways where details can be appreciated up close

Flowering Cherry 

Classic Spring Beauty

Flowering cherries are what many people picture when they think of spring in full swing. Their soft pink double blooms create that classic, romantic spring look.

Available varieties include:

  • Kwanzan (full, double pink blooms — very showy)
  • Double Rosebud (compact and flowering, great for smaller spaces)

Why they’re popular:

  • Abundant, eye-catching blooms
  • Great for feature planting or lining driveways
  • Instantly adds curb appeal

A quick tip:

  • Like magnolias, they benefit from a bit of protection from strong winds
  • Plant where you can enjoy the blooms — they’re worth being front and centre

Choosing the Right Spot Matters

These feature trees all have one thing in common: 

They perform best when given a bit of extra thought.

  • Choose a location with full sun
  • Avoid low, wet areas
  • Provide some wind protection when possible
  • Think about sightlines — plant them where they’ll be noticed

These are the plants that create those “wow” moments in spring — but they don’t have to stand alone. Pair them with the next group, and you’ll carry that colour right into late spring.

Classic Spring Favourites

By the time late spring rolls around, the garden is in full swing — and this is where some of the most loved and reliable plants really shine. These are the classics for a reason: they’re hardy, beautiful, and in many cases, incredibly fragrant.

Lilacs

A True Maritime Tradition

For many people, lilacs are the scent of spring. They’ve been a staple in Maritime gardens for generations, and once they bloom, you’ll understand why.

 

At Scott’s Nursery, there’s a wide selection to choose from, including:

  • Beauty of Moscow (soft pink to white, very elegant)
  • Charles Joly & Ludwig Spaeth (rich, deep purples)
  • Mme Lemoine (classic white, highly fragrant)
  • President Grevy (large, double blue-toned blooms)
  • Sensation (distinct purple with white edging)
  • Dwarf Korean & Miss Kim (more compact, great for smaller spaces)
  • Bloomarang Dark Purple & Josee (reblooming varieties)

Why lilacs are so popular:

  • Incredible fragrance (a major draw)
  • Extremely cold-hardy and long-lived
  • Available in both large and compact forms

Tips for success:

  • Plant in full sun for best flowering
  • Good air circulation helps prevent mildew
  • Prune after flowering, not before

Flowering Crabapple 

Colour That Keeps Giving

Crabapples are one of the most versatile and rewarding flowering trees you can plant. In spring, they’re covered in blooms — and many varieties continue to add interest with small decorative fruit later in the season.

 

Some standout varieties available include:

  • Prairifire & Profusion (vibrant pink-red blooms)
  • Royal Raindrops & Royal Mist (unique foliage + flowers)
  • Thunderchild (deep colour and strong presence)
  • Indian Magic & Makamik (excellent cold hardiness)
  • Red Jade (weeping form for added interest)
  • Sargent Tina (compact — great for smaller yards)
  • Robinson (classic pink blooms)

What makes crabapples a great choice:

  • Extremely reliable bloomers in NB
  • Wide range of sizes, shapes, and colours
  • Many newer varieties offer improved disease resistance

How to use them:

  • As a feature tree in the front yard
  • Planted in pairs or rows for visual impact
  • Combined with shrubs for a layered spring display

Why These Plants Stick Around

There’s a reason you see these in so many established yards across New Brunswick:

  • They’re proven performers in our climate
  • Require relatively low maintenance
  • Deliver consistent results year after year
  • Bring both beauty and familiarity to the landscape

If you’re ever unsure where to start, you really can’t go wrong with these classics.

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Designing for Continuous Spring Blooms

One of the most common things we hear is: “I wish my yard had more colour in the spring.”

The good news? It’s usually not about adding more plants — it’s about choosing the right combination of plants that bloom at different times.

With a bit of planning, you can go from a couple of weeks of colour to a full season of blooms.

The Simple Formula for Spring Colour

Think of your yard in three stages:

Early Spring

  • Pussy Willow
  • Forsythia

Mid-Spring

  • Serviceberry
  • Dogwood
  • Magnolia
  • Eastern Redbud

Late Spring

  • Lilac
  • Flowering Crabapple
  • Flowering Cherry

By combining at least one from each group, you’ll create a natural progression where something is always in bloom.

Layering Your Landscape

To make it feel full and intentional, try layering different plant types:

  • 1 Feature Tree
    (Example: Magnolia, Crabapple, or Flowering Cherry)
  • 2–3 Flowering Shrubs
    (Forsythia, Dogwood, Lilac)
  • Optional Accent Plants
    (Smaller shrubs or repeat plantings for consistency)

This creates depth and keeps your yard visually interesting from every angle.

A Simple Example Layout

  • A Crabapple or Magnolia as your focal point
  • Forsythia off to one side for early colour
  • Dogwood to add structure and winter interest
  • Lilacs toward the back or along a fence line

This kind of setup gives you:

  • Early colour
  • Mid-season interest
  • Late-season blooms
  • Structure that lasts all year

Small Changes, Big Impact

You don’t need a full landscape overhaul to make a difference.

Even adding:

  • One feature tree, or
  • A couple of well-placed shrubs

…can completely change how your yard looks and feels in the spring.

Designing with bloom timing in mind is one of those small shifts that makes a huge difference — and once you see it in action, it’s hard to go back.

Tips for Success in New Brunswick

Spring in the Maritimes can be a bit unpredictable — warm one week, frosty the next — but with the right approach, your flowering trees and shrubs will settle in and thrive for years to come.

Timing Matters

One of the biggest questions is when to plant.

  • Aim to plant once the risk of hard frost has passed
  • Cool spring temperatures are actually great for root development
  • Avoid planting in overly wet soil — give it time to drain a bit

Sunlight is Key

Most spring-flowering trees and shrubs perform best with:

  • Full sun (at least 6 hours per day)
  • Some will tolerate partial shade, but flowering may be reduced

If a plant isn’t blooming well, sunlight is often the reason.

Protect from Wind

New Brunswick properties can be more exposed than people realize, especially in newer developments or rural areas.

  • Plant more delicate trees (like Magnolia or Cherry) in sheltered spots
  • Use buildings, fences, or other trees as natural windbreaks

Watch Your Drainage

Spring often means wet ground, and not all plants love that.

  • Avoid low spots where water tends to collect
  • If needed, plant slightly raised beds or mounds
  • Dogwoods are a great option for moist areas

Give Plants Room to Grow

It’s easy to underestimate how big things will get.

  • Check the mature size before planting
  • Space shrubs so they won’t overcrowd each other
  • Trees need room for both roots and canopy

A little planning now saves a lot of pruning later.

Choose Hardy, Proven Varieties

This is where sticking with plants suited for our region really pays off.

  • Look for varieties rated for Zone 3–5
  • Many of the selections at Scott’s Nursery are chosen specifically for Maritime conditions
  • When in doubt, go with tried-and-true performers

Start Your Spring Story

After a long New Brunswick winter, there’s nothing quite like those first blooms to signal that the season has finally turned.

 

Whether it’s the bright yellow of forsythia, the soft elegance of magnolia, or the unmistakable scent of lilac in the air, spring flowering trees and shrubs bring a yard to life in a way nothing else quite can.

 

And the best part? You don’t need a complete redesign to enjoy it. A few well-chosen plants can make all the difference — adding colour, structure, and something to look forward to year after year.

 

If you’re thinking about trying something new this season, it’s a great time to explore what’s possible and find the plants that fit your space and style.