For the best, cheerful start to springtime
Scilla (hyacinthaceae/liliaceae) belong to a genus of mainly spring and summer flowering bulbs, fully to half-hardy that produce dainty flowers and strap-like leaves. 'Atrocoerulea' is a beauty with bell-shaped, deep rich blue flowers. What about the delightful Muscari or Grape hyacinths, these little gems grace some of my own borders in spring, and always get an admiring group of onlookers. They produce dense spikes of small flowers that for all the world look like little beads clinging to the stems.
Both M. Armeniacum and M. neglectum have rich, deep blue flowers and are certainly well worth their position in the garden especially when planted in groups. If you are looking for something a bit special you cannot better Erythronium (Liliaceae) the Dogtooth fawn lily, a genus of spring-flowering, tuberous perennials with pendent flowers and in some cases attractive mottled leaves.
Suited to a range of garden situations, from rock garden or mixed border to woodland planting. They require partial shade and humus-rich, well-drained soil and ideal for the cooler climates. 'White Beauty' is a clump-forming plant with mottled leaves and in spring spikes up to 12inch (30cm) tower above the foliage. They have white flowers, with reflexed petals. E. hendersonii has lavender-pink flowers with deep purple central eyes. E. 'Pagoda' is gorgeous, so named because of the shape of the pale yellow flowers. One I wouldn't be without is E. californicum with its mottled leaves, white or creamy-white flowers that are red-brown externally.
One species which immediately comes to mind offering variety of colour and shapes and just a touch of the unusual to fascinate even the most adventurous gardener. Fritillaries are a bulbous genus of about 100 species, one of which is a native to Britain. This particular one is the Snakeshead (Fritillaria meleagris) with its chequered purple bell-shaped flowers that hang their heads from 12inch (30cm) tall stems. Fritillaria imperialis is perhaps one of the most impressive, with pale green leaves carried in whorls on leafy stems. Each plant can produce up to 5 widely bell-shaped flowers with a top tuft of leaf-like bracts. These plants are wonderful to the rear of a border; they will attain a height of 5ft (150cm). More striking examples of Fritillaries are- F. persica, with spikes of 10-20 narrow, bell-shaped blackish-or brownish purple flowers. Others with handsome dark flowers are F. pyrenaica, with bell-shaped, flared-tipped petals; F. camschatcensis (Black sarana) bears up to 8 deep blackish-purple flowers. Less in your face types are F. acmopetala, F. pontica and the robust F. pallidiflora all have greenish-yellow flowers often suffused with brown. Many catalogues offer collections so that the purchase includes most of the best varieties available. Corydalis (papaveraceae) has fern-like leaves and interestingly shaped flowers. C. wilsonii is an evergreen perennial with a fleshy rootstock. The loose racemes of spurred, green-tipped, elongated, yellow flowers are exquisitely pretty and look especially lovely grouped under trees or shrubs where they will eventually form a carpet of colour. C. solida, pale lilac, C. diphylla, purple lipped flowers with white spurs. Chionodoxa, Glory-of-the snow, are amongst the earliest flowering bulbs. Suitable for rock gardens and for naturalizing and under-planting, they require sun or partial shade. C. forbesii has rich blue-lilac flowers with white eyes. Others to choose from are:- C. luciliae, lavender blue, white eyes, C. 'Alba', white, C. 'Blue Giant', blue, C. 'Pink Giant', pink, C. 'Zwanenburg' bright blue with white eyes.
Happy Gardening, Patrick
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