March plants
As March welcomes longer, warmer days Keith takes pleasure in fragrant f lowering shrubs and the delicate, small f lowers that push their way through cold earth
TRILLIUM KURABAYASHII
Trilliums are the wakerobins of North America and two are the state flowers of Ohio and Ontario in Canada. This species masqueraded for many years in older plant collections as either T. sessile or else T. chloropetalum. But, with its handsome mottled leaves T. kurabayashii is easier to grow than either of those two species, tolerating a more exposed position in my experience than any other trillium, although it will obviously prefer a more sheltered spot. Very happy to self-seed itself at Wildside, especially if annually mulched with leaf mould in the winter.
Height 30-60cm depending on strain. Origin Oregon and California, USA. Conditions Fertile, well-drained soil; part shade.
Hardiness RHS H4, USDA 7a-9b.
Season of interest Spring (flowers); early summer (foliage).
ERYTHRONIUM OREGONUM SUBSP. LEUCANDRUM
The first of the North American erythronium species to flower. Beautiful mottled leaves with a slightly jade base colour in the forms I have seen. Creamywhite flowers shading towards yellow at the base of the outside of the petals. Most references say this subspecies has white anthers but they are really more cream than white. The filaments, which support the anthers, are distinctly broader at their base, a characteristic shared only among North American species, the whiteflowered E. oregonum and pink-flowered E. revolutum. Both will happily self-seed.
Height 30cm in flower.
Origin Oregon, USA.
Conditions Well-drained, preferably leafy soil; part shade.
Hardiness RHS H5, USDA 3a-9b. Season of interest Late winter to spring.
CYCLAMEN LIBANOTICUM
A hardy cyclamen species that has a reputation for not being so and, as a result, is rarely seen growing in the open garden. A very showy species with handsomely marbled foliage and large flowers that have a peppery smell. Despite coming from a very sunny climate, it prefers a shaded spot if grown under cover (beneath a greenhouse bench is good) as it resents strong sunlight, which will cause premature leaf-drop. Keep moist in growth but allow to become almost dry in the summer when the leaves drop. Easy from seed.
Height 15cm.
Origin Mountains in Lebanon. Conditions Acidic, well-drained soil; dappled shade.
Hardiness RHS H3, USDA 7a-11. Season of interest Winter to spring for foliage, late winter to spring for flowers.