Flower Delivery UK 

The Florist's Garden

Perennials for the the Spring

Just as spring shrubs tend to be denizens of woodland in nature, so spring-flowering
perennials show a preference for similar habitats. In the wild they hasten to flower and seen
before the summer canopy close4s over them.  In the garden therefore, glade-like spaces
between the shrubs made ideal spaced for perennials.

Anemone narcissifolia - grows to a height of 18 inches and is best in May to June.
It has sprays of cup shaped flowers whose pure white interiors
and petal backs are flushed with pale bluish-pink - reminiscent of apple blossom. 
The dark green foliage with deep cleft lobes, stays well below the flower spikes, which
 appear in late spring.  The root system is fibrous but does not run and so the plants are
slow to increase.  Placed amongst shrubs and set at the front of the border
the anemone makes a lovely statement.

Aquilegia vulgaris - Columbine- is a cottage garden style perennial of great charm.  
 It has spurred flowers like a cluster of doves.  The specie is blue but garden forms
come in  arrange of shades from white to pale pink through to mauves and grubby
violets through to clear blue.  The foliage is grey green with attractively shapes lobes. 
A prolific hybridiser the Columbine has given way to may hybrids some more striking
than others. Some of the best are 'Gertrude Jeckyll' in white and 'Norah Barlow' whose
double flowers are pink with white tufts. No spring border would be complete without
the Columbines.  Though less spectacular than the summer perennials , if planted in small
 groups they play a vital linking role bringing together its larger shrubby neighbours. 
Combine these with tulips to bring together the first flush of spring colour. Columbines will
often spread where there is dappled shade or full light and look natural
in an informal woodland setting.

Bellis perennis - the cultivated Daisy - growing to 6 inches they make a fine
carpet or edging that will provide a display from March to October.
'Goliath' whose first flush of flowers may be as much as 4 inches across appears
 in various colour from white through to pink and red. The quilted foliage enhances
the pom-pom like shape of these pretty flowers

Brunnera macrophylla - In spring, Brunneras produce a profusion of airy sprays
of mid-blue flowers, rather like forget-me-nots, that last for weeks.  By high summer,
the heart shaped matt green leaves have grown to become a valuable foliage background.
The Variegated variety has bright elegantly pattered creamy white edges to its leaves and
provides great interest all year around making this one of the loveliest spring perennials. 
 As woodland plants Brunneras look well amongst other spring perennials such as
primrose-colours oxlips or white honesty.  They associate perfectly with bulbs such
as daffodils and make excellent companions to classic shrubs contrasting their blue
flowers with the yellows of forsythia or pinks of Prunus.

Dicentra formosa - Growing to 18 inches it provides the Spring garden with interest
from April to July. The mauve-pink flowers of this North American native hang like wild
hyacinths above ferny leaves.  The foliage forms dense mats on underground stems
 and stays decorative to late summer. Dicentras make great companions to plants
with bold foliage - especially Hostas which enjoy the same growing conditions.
The flowers go well with primroses and with tulips.  In mixed borders their foliage
makes a great foreground to shrubs with gold or purple leaves.

Dicentra spectabilis is one of the show stoppers of spring! Commonly known as
 'Bleeding Heart' it first bears graceful, lobed foliage that emerges reddish flushed
 but turns green as the stems lengthen.  The heart shaped rose-red flowers open to
 allow the creamy-white, drop shaped central petals to protrude.  Turned upside down,
 the flowers resembles a figure sitting in a bath - this gave rise to its second common
name of 'Lady in Bath'! Plants so distinctive they are a feature in themselves.
 So despite their height of 18 inches plant them near the front of your spring border,
as summer approaches they will die away to make room for summer perennials or annuals.

Doronicum orientale - Leopards Bane - the bright  yellow daisy flowers of this perennial
 are chiefly valued for their contribution to spring for the way they bridge the gap when
the daffodils have faded. Saw-toothed leaves, wavy edges like scallop shells, grow into
neat mounds of green foliage.  The plants respond to the first warmth of the spring sun
 by pushing yellow flowers well above the leaves.  By April if planted in proximity to
each other the mounds will unites to create a carpet of gold.

Epimedium - Bishops Hat- The various Epimediums are valuable foliage plants for
 much of the year.  In the spring the fresh green of the emerging leaves is often
tinged copper, pink or red although they turn to a deeper green in the summer.
The early spring flowers vary from deep-coral flowers through to red, orange
and yellow from pure white.  Though not in full flight as flowering perennials
they still have a certain charm and deserve a place in the garden.

Euphorbia griffithii - rusty red proliferates on this specie making them great
for warming up a border. The young stems become suffused with shades of red
at their tips, while the flowers that emerge in late spring are fiery orange.
The frost touched foliage also gives a good display in the autumn. 
The plants look well against yellows and golds and provide highlights that relieve green foliage.

Meconopsis cambica - the Welsh Poppy - growing to a height of 5 ft and best
from May to October.  The charms of the Welsh poppy are hard to resist even when
it colonises a shady area at the expense of its neighbours.  Its fresh green foliage
develops into thick masses from which slender stems topped with nodding green
flower buds arise in May. When the crinkled petals open out they are clear lemon-yellow.
 A bright orange form is available which mixes well with the yellow and there are double
forms in both shades.  Welsh poppies are invasive and need careful siting
but they will always thrive where little else will grow.

Primula / Polyanthus - beside the daffodil the primula heralds spring in a blaze of colour -
red, white, yellow, orange, purple, burgundy, pink and lilac as well as striped varieties -
no one plant displays more colour variations.  An absolute must for the garden border,
the patio pots, the hanging baskets and indoor baskets - the primula is truly lovely. 
They are delicate and modest in form and will flower for week upon week,
to return with increased vigour the following year.  Some favour boggy conditions
whilst others thrive on drier alpine soils.

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