There are thousands of cultivars, and since the bloom time of each cultivar varies widely from one end of the state to the other, it is best to choose them after seeing when they bloom in your area, if timing is important. May. Several flowering trees that bloom very early are members of the plum and cherry family. Although they may lose flowers and expanded buds in a cold snap, the show is spectacular in most winters. They have a strong and spicy-sweet fragrance. Okame' cherry is a hybrid of P. incisa and P. campanulata with rich pink flowers in early spring.
Many deciduous magnolias bloom extremely early in spring.
Because their soft, waxy flowers are easily damaged by sudden freezes, they are best located in an area protected from wind. Avoid planting them in a southern exposure, where flowers will open early. Now that you have planned to plant plenty of early flowering shrubs and trees for next year's winter garden, don't forget to plant some early perennial flowers. Lenten rose flowers vary from white to rose pink to deep purple to white with numerous darker spots, while bearsfoot hellebore has large clusters of small flowers in an oddly appealing green.