Flower Delivery UK 

The Florists Garden

Shrubs for the Spring

Their habit of branching at ground level make shrubs ideal companions for crocuses,
daffodils, tulips and other spring bulbs whose colour will glow against the shrubs' new leaves. 
 The spring shrubs provide a constant parade of blossom throughout the season providing a
major thrust of flower colour in spring.  They are generally plants of cooler temperate climates and
tolerate a whole range of British conditions.

Berberis - there are so many different Berberis to choose from - too many to mention here
 just I've listed a few of the best.  B. darwinii discovered by Charles Darwin in Chile
in 1830 this evergreen shrub grows to 10 feet.  It seems to explode with colourful golden
yellow blossom set against dark glossy leaves. Berries later ripen to dark purple in the
autumn but these are soon gobbled up by the birds. A more arching form of Berberis is
 B.stenophylla which has slightly paler lemon yellow bell shaped blossom which
 has a wonderful scent.

Buddleia globosa - the orange ball tree grows to 10 feet.  The flower trusses are quite
 unlike any other Buddleia - panicles of 8 - 10 scented tangerine globes as opposed
to the longer trumpet shaped clusters of lilac blossom.  This is a fine shrub whose great
advantage is that it flowers when most of the other spring flowers are on the
decline and before the summer perennials have got going.

Ceanonthus 'Delight' - The Californian lilac - The intense blue of the tropical sky
 is captured in the clouds of spring blossom that clothe this shrub.  Glossy small
 leaves are almost lost beneath the panicles of tightly packed tiny flowers.
 Despite the exotic appearance this garden bred Ceanonthus is hardy to
all but the coldest British garden.  A groundcover version of this shrub can be found
with C.thyrsiflorus 'Repens'.  This compact, slightly spreading shrub eventually
 forms a regular dome of tidy, bright green, glossy leaves providing a valuable all season
asset, but in its season of glory the foliage is overwhelmed by a profusion of flower
clusters like soft puffs of cloud.  A sprinkling of flowers can still be seen
 in the early days of autumn.

Chaenemoles superba - the Japanese Quince is best between March and May. 
A flash of brilliant red can be a welcome relief from the dominant blues
and yellows of spring.  It brings a spring-long display of plump buds and cup shaped flowers
vibrantly coloured against bare branches where young leaves tinges with bronze unfurl
as flowering continues.  There will also be a smattering of flowers throughout
 winter if the weather is mild.  In late summer handsome yellow fruit ripens and can be used
 to make quince jelly.  When I was a child, my grandfather had one of these beautiful shrubs.
 Many a day he would encourage me to whack the fruits over the garden fence with a small coal shovel -
this was great fun and how we never broke a greenhouse window never ceases to amaze me!!

Cytisus kewensis - Broom - A mass of tiny, sweet-pea-like flowers swathe the broom in
sheets of deepest cream.  When the flowers are over the shrubs graceful habit and long
slender stems remain an attractive choice for the edge of your patio. 
This shrub is fantastic as a cut flower where its fragrance will enhance any room.
  A larger version displaying yellow flowers is Cytisus praecox whilst other varieties
 are available with gold, white and orange - red striped flowers.
 A truly wonderful specie that should be in every florists garden.

Daphne mezereum - Catching a waft of Daphne's exquisite scent is one of the great
pleasures of early spring.  Then the stout upright little bush erupts into colour,
the tightly packed, purple-pink to reddish-violet waxy flowers all but concealing the fleshy
 stems underneath.  Soft green leaves then develop towards the end of the flowering period
and then in summer the branches are covered in scarlet berries
 - highly poisonous to humans but much enjoyed by the birds.

Forsythia - no spring garden would be complete without Forsythia -
available in several varieties, the glorious sunshine effect of forsythias blossom packed
 along bare stems is intensified by the orange throat of each flower. 
This can be cut and brought indoors.  Fresh green leaves follow the intense flowers
and they sometimes display a purple flush in the autumn.

Hamamelis japonica - The light fragrance of Japanese Witch Hazel blossom carries
 far and mingles seductively with other spring scents.  The flowers, curiously twisted
and crimped on bare twigs have a delicacy long appreciated by Japanese gardeners and even
more by flower painters in that country.  The witch hazel is very nearly as attractive in
summer and in autumn too when its boldly veined leaves turn to a clear yellow before they fall.
There is also a contorted variety 'Contorta' which displays branches twisting and
turning this way and that - a great interest in the winter when the leaves have fallen.

Magnolia stellata - Ravishing star-like flowers and delicacy of form make this
shrubby magnolia suitable for even the smallest of gardens.  Its silky buds open out
into a profusion of white or pink flowers 3-4 inches across over several spring
weeks before deep green narrow leaves develop.

Osmanthus burkwoodii - the contrast between the polished dark green evergreen
 leaves of this shrub and its exquisitely shaped pure white spring flowers
is stunning.  The flowers - clusters of four petalled bells - are deliciously perfumed
and even when they are over the semi glossy compact foliage is pleasing throughout the year.

Paeonia - Peonies - these are the flowers whose grandeur and elegance inspired
Chinese screen painters and which make an astonishing and exotic impact on the
ordinary British Garden.  With so many different varieties with opulent 7 inch flowers,
layer upon layer of soft petals they are a must for the florists garden.
 Try growing these as they are really expensive in the Dutch auction and many a florist
 wont stock them because of their price! We completed a wedding last year where
 the bride's bouquet was white peonies - what a stunner that was!!

Salix lanata - pussy willow - spring wouldn't be right without the furry buds of pussy willow.
 Appearing on bare stems from March onwards the soft buds are later covered
 in yellow pollen.  These stems are great cut and brought indoors. 
Mix with a few simple daffodils and spring will certainly have sprung!

Syringa - lilac - No garden is complete without lilac - I've got about 5 in my garden 
- different colours in different locations - next to windows so the fragrance
can waft into the house and a huge lilac right behind the garden seat.  To sit there taking
in the perfume is pure heaven! The flowers are tiny but they are bourne
 in large clusters and are truly lovely.  Lilac is also great cut and brought indoors.
Lilac like the peonies is also expensive to buy on the Dutch auction
so its best top grow your own!

Viburnum - There are plenty of Viburnum varieties each displaying different
 forms and flowers. V.burkwoodii has flat white flowers, V. plicatum tomentosum
 has pink flowers and V.plicatum has white mophead flowers.  Whilst the flowers are
 quite magnificent between February and June, depending on variety,
 they are also deeply scented and really are a must for the florists garden.  After the flowers
are faded there follows a dazzling display of berries varying in colour from red to black
which are enhanced by the foliage which turn wine red in the autumn.

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