Spring is in the air. In these march flowering plants you can almost see the seasons in colour – as the freshness of spring in the cool whites and pastels turns to summer with the deeper shaded hues.
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Magnolia Stellata (Star magnolia) is a beautiful small tree or large shrub (maximum height around 3m) possessing mid-green leaves until winter. In common with other winter or early-spring flowering trees and shrubs its flowers appear before the leaves. Although the white, star-shaped flowers are rather ephemeral, the tree is smothered with them during March and April.
Another tree or shrub bearing March flowers is the ubiquitous cherry tree. It is not hard to see why these are so popular, coming in a variety of sizes but always smothered in blossom for a few weeks in spring. The blossoms are usually in the pure white to pale pink spectrum. However, Prunus mume ‘Beni-Chidori’ (Japanese Apricot) produces deep pink, strong-scented flowers, making it slightly more unusual. Its diminutive height and spread of 2.5m should lend itself to even the smallest of gardens.
Euphorbias (Wood spurge) are a great addition to any garden and there are so many varieties to choose from that there are bound to be one or two that will fit into your scheme. ‘Whistleberry Garnet’ has a height and spread of 60cm. Its clusters of bright green-yellow spring flowers marked with a ruby red ‘eye’ rise about masses of glaucous evergreen leaves from March to May. The flower buds are red in winter, creating a lovely contrast and some extra interest in any border. ‘Wulfenii’ is a much taller, shrub-like spurge of 1-1.5m in height and diameter. Its stems bear fleshy leaves topped with enormous heads of green flowers with bronze ‘eyes’ which flower from March to May.
Clematis ‘Fragrant oberon’ and ‘Apple blossom’ are prolific flowerers in March and April. ‘Oberon’ is quite a recent introduction and its pretty lemon-white flowers flushed with green are very noticeable against its evergreen foliage. This variety is said to be one of the most fragrant clematis and its height and width of 1.5m x 1m would make it perfect to fit beside a doorway where it can be enjoyed at close quarter. ‘Apple blossom’ is also an evergreen but with blush-pink flowers emerging from bronze-tinted leaves. This is a sun-loving vigorous climber and will reach up to 8m x 3m in the right spot.
As well as the daffodils, snowdrops, crocus and bluebells emerging now some of the most beautiful coloured March flowers are Anemone coronaria. These flowers come in whites, pinks, reds and lilacs but of particular prominence is ‘Mr. Fokker’, a deep-hued ultramarine which stands out against the other pastel and pale colours usually found this month.
As spring turns into summer there will be an abundance of flowers to choose from. For further inspiration these articles Plants with February Flowers: A Gardening Guide and Plants with April Flowers: A Gardening Guide may be useful.
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