Spring colour in March
The timing of when trees and shrubs burst into flower in the Spring depends on how cold or mild it is... Snowdrops can flower as early as January or as late as March. This is the month for tough and reliable shrubs like flowering currant (Ribes) and golden Forsythia. The buds of Magnolias are swelling, usually opening in April. Glendoick's early rhododendrons like 'Ptarmigan' are starting to show colour now.
Early perennials are flowering now: look out for patterned leaved pulmonaria, helleboures with dark purple, pink or white flowers, are excellent for planting under trees and shrubs. The original 'wild' primroses with creamy yellow flowers are out now. As are the elephant-eared Bergenia with pink or white flowers, ideal for a path edge.
Plant summer flowering bulbs, corms and tubers:
- Begonias for hanging baskets. These need to be kept indoors till May. They'll flower all summer.
- Lillies you can plant them in the garden or in containers. In heavy soil plant with sand or grit at the base.
- Dahlias for late summer colour. They are frost tender so plant them deep and mulch them to protect the early shoots.
- Crocosmia 3 different colours, for long lasting late summer colour. The orange red ones are the hardiest: varieties like 'Lucifer'.
