Spring perennials, shrubs
More spring-flowering plants for The Chronicle Garden Competition gardeners, or for those who simply want a stunning spring display.
As part of my liaison role in The Chronicle Garden Competition, I’m reprinting a revised list of spring-flowering shrubs and perennial plants that should be at their best from early spring onwards.
Autumn is a great time for planting as the soil is still warm, encouraging good root establishment.
Many of these plants will be suitable to plant now and contribute admirably to a spring display for this year.
SPRING FLOWERING SHRUBS
Diosma (Coleonema) – Dainty pink flowers on a green or golden fine-leaved bush
White May bush (Spiraea) – Classic carnival plant (don’t prune later than December for best flowering)
Goldfussia (Strobilanthes) – Dark leaves with light blue flowers. Good for part shade
Bridal broom (Retama monosperma) – beautiful and fragrant white blooms on cascading branches
Leptospermum ‘Cardwell’ – One of the best Australian natives, white-flowering spring shrubs. (also a pink form)
Azaleas – The heralds of spring and most floriferous of carnival shrubs. Try the dwarf varieties too (Kurumes). Need acid soils. Look for the “Encore” range e.g. ‘Autumn Twist’, ‘Autumn Royalty’– Heat and cold tolerant, with some varieties resistant to lacebug and petal blight
Nandina (Dwarf Japanese bamboo) – If following a cold winter, the spring foliage colours can be stunning (reds, oranges, yellows). Tough as old boots. (‘Obsession’, ‘Blush’, ‘Flirt’, ‘Lemlim’)
Banksia rose – climber/scrambler for arbours, fences. White or yellow flowers
Dwarf bougainvilleas – Best in pots so they can be protected from frost before flowering
Loropetalum – ‘China Pink’, ‘Plum Gorgeous’, best reddish-purple foliage with pink flowers Hebe – sometimes cantankerous small shrubs but beautifully floriferous
Pride of Madeira (Echium) – E. candicans best known for stunning spires of blue flowers at carnival time. Other species worth looking at too, but some are short-lived
Thryptomene ‘Paynes Hybrid’ – Aussie dwarf shrub to 50cm. Great spring flowerer for the dryish spot
Brunfelsia (Yesterday, today and tomorrow) – Flowers open purple then fade to white over a few days
Justicia rizzinii ‘Firefly’ – a great small shrub for shady spots. Tubular yellow and scarlet flowers light up a dark spot
Psoralea pinnata – Beautiful shrub to 3m. Hard to find in nurseries however most carnival gardeners who grow them have seedlings for sale at carnival time
Abutilon (Chinese lanterns) – great for full sun or shady spots. Pendant flowers. The variegated Abutilon looks great all year round too
Grevillea – a wide range of grevilleas have their main flush of flowers in late winter to spring. There are many grafted varieties that will do well in heavier soils as well. Trick is to lightly tip prune to encourage branching, bushiness and longevity
Rhaphiolepis (Indian Hawthorns) – Great, tough shrubs from 3m down to beaut dwarf varieties such as ‘Apple Blossom’, Snow Maiden’, ‘Cosmic Pink’, and ‘Rajah’. White through to deep pink flowers
Coprosma (Mirror bush) – Grown for their shiny foliage rather than flowers. Beautiful dwarf varieties available (‘Karo Red’, ‘Evening Glow’, ‘Tequila Sunrise’) SPRING FLOWERING PERENNIALS
Arctotis – Great rockery / ground cover plant
Alyssum (Alyssum saxatile) – Grey foliage with yellow flowers
Alyssum (Lobularia) – perennial varieties include ‘Snow Princess’ Begonia – Leaves can be decorative too – ideal pot specimens
Convolvulus – Silvery foliage with white or bluish flowers
Clivia – Best dry shade plant ever Dianthus – Great varieties now available, scented
African Daisy (Dimorphotheca) – Older varieties rather ordinary, newer varieties more colourful
Erigeron (Seaside Daisy) – Great for edges, spilling over walls. New varieties have larger, more colourful flowers
Felicia (Kingfisher daisy)- Pretty tough plant, blue flowers with yellow centres
Gaura (Butterfly flower) – Flowers borne on tall, graceful stems from 60cm to 1m
Daylily (Hemerocallis) – ‘Stella d’Oro’ blooms for up to 10 months of the year
Iris – Bearded iris – great strap-leaved plant, spreads slowly via rhizomes
Lychnis – Can become untidy in shady spots. Newer varieties are more compact
Marguerite daisies – Classic daisy bush in great range of colours
Catmint (Nepeta) – Nice “misting” effect with flower spikes
Osteospermum – Some newer varieties have great colours and flower shapes
Pelargonium (Geranium) – Look for compact, disease-resistant ‘Calliope’ and ‘Caliente’ varieties
Penstemon – Great range of tall, spike borne flowers
Scabiosa (pincushion flower) – Great border, rockery plants Scaevola (Fan flower) – Aussie plant worth trying. Blues through to pinks. Good rockery subject
Statice – Perennial statice (Limonium perezii) also makes a great cut flower
Wallflower – Can be short lived but beautiful small shrub. ‘Bowles Mauve’ is a long-lasting perennial variety
Viola – Perennial varieties are ideal for shady spots. Some can be a bit invasive
GARDEN CUTTINGS
Say g’day on my Facebook page: Mike Wells – Wellsley Horticulture or email your gardening questions (or article suggestions) to: wellsleyhorticultural@gmail.com.