There are many early blooming trees and shrubs in our area but to many folks Eastern Redbud, Flowering Dogwood and Wisteria are what they look for in spring. Of the big three, redbud typically comes into flower first, followed by dogwood and then wisteria.
This year the big three are all in bloom at the same time!
It seems as though the cold of February and much of March held back the redbud, and the atypically warm April (although today the high is predicted to be 66 degrees) spurred the others into an early bloom.
Get out and enjoy the blossoms while they last!
Oh how I love Spring! Great photos, Greg. I’m going to bring you some Wisteria to smell.
Ranger Greg, how do I tell if it’s a native Wisteria?
Beck,
If it’s blooming now and you’re spellbound by its lovely fragrance then it’s probably one of the Asian species. The native wisteria doesn’t have a fragrance. I’ve read somewhere that a native cultivar is rather fragrant, although one person described it as smelling like a male cat, whatever that means. I haven’t sniffed it so I can’t speak from experience.
The native American Wisteria is a coastal plain plant although it’s often planted elsewhere in gardens.
The asian species bloom earlier and before leafing, the native later after leafing.
The asian species grows rampant in some areas (invasive) while the native is less intrusive and more in control of itself.
Erin,
I hope you bring me the Asian variety to smell.