Forsythia

 Forsythia forsythia

Forsythia’s bright yellow flowers are among the first to herald the arrival of spring. The flowers bloom on  leafless branches before light green leaves emerge. Cut branches make a beautiful spring bouquet. This bushy, deciduous shrub is fountain like in shape. Allow plenty of room for an easy-to-care-for hedge or specimen shrub.

Sun: full                                       Height: 8-15 feet

Blooms: early spring                    Zones: 6-9

Lilac

 Syringa vulgaris

The Lilac is beloved for its unforgettable fragrance and large graceful conical flower clusters. Handsome bluish green foliage graces this upright, long-lived shrub that tolerates most conditions. Beautiful alone, or as a hedge.

Sun: full                                        Height:  6-12 feet

Blooms: spring                             Zones: 3 through 7