Are you looking for an early-blooming perennial for full sun and well-drained soil? Here's a great candidate, Pulsatilla vulgaris, the pasque flower.
The 4-inch blooms are jewel toned, in purple or dark red, perfect for pairing with the pastels of tulips.
Pulsatilla vulgaris forms well-behaved clumps with attractive, silky foliage, which is not preferred by deer and rabbits.
After the April to May blooms fade, it forms attractive seed heads.
Unlike many early blooming perennials, it is not ephemeral, so there's no worry about an unsightly gap in the border. Pulsatilla requires no special feeding, is not plagued by pests, and is an easy care, no worry plant for Zones 4 to 8. Give it a try. I bet you can grow it.
This post is part of Garden Bloggers' You Can Grow That! day started by C. L. Fornari at Whole Life Gardening.