Colourful blooms

Blossom that emerges from bare wood at the start of the growing season is often the most impressive. Shadowy stems are suddenly studded with bright sparks of colour. Sunshine yellow tassels of forsythia burst forth in March. This vigorous shrub forms a hedge of any height from 5-8ft (1.5-2.5m). It is easy to cultivate, tolerating all soil conditions apart from the very waterlogged. It will also grow in shade, although it flowers better in a sunny position. Forsythia is a classic choice for a spring-flowering hedge but there are more unusual alternatives. Two of these are Chaenomeles speciosa and Prunus cerasifera. Both produce large, richly coloured blooms in March, quickly followed by the emergence of new leaves. The prunus creates a two-week flurry of heavy blossom. P. cerasifera is commonly grown as a small garden tree. However, its thick tangle of thorny branches makes it an ideal hedging plant. It can be trimmed to any height from 4ft (1.2m) to over 10ft (3m). The species plant has white blossom followed by green leaves. There are two colourful cultivars also widely available, ‘Pissardii’ and ‘Nigra’. The first has blush white flowers followed by coppery leaves. ‘Nigra’ has even deeper, near black leaves and rich, deep pink blossom. All can be grown on fertile, moist but well-drained soil in a sunny position. Chaenomeles continues to flower until May. The leaves steadily clothe its stems, leaving the peachy orange, red or cream blooms peeking through. Chaenomeles x superba and C. speciosa are suitable varieties for an informal hedge approximately 4ft (1.2m) high. They grow well in both sun and shade, preferring either well-drained, or moist but again well-drained soil.

Red and white

In April the flowering currants smother hedges with blossom. Ribes sanguineum ‘Pulborough Scarlet’ is a good variety to grow as a hedge. Its pendant racemes of cerise flowers emerge just ahead of its green foliage. This tough shrub is suitable for exposed sunny locations, but also tolerates light shade. It grows best on well-drained soils. For dense hedging, it should be kept to 6ft 6in (2m) or under. In late April, the first spiraea comes into bloom, creating a veil of white across a hedge. This is spiraea x cinerea ‘Grefsheim’, a deciduous plant that thrives in full sun. It is at home on well-drained, but moist soil and reaches up to 8ft (2.5m). Flowers come on the previous year’s growth, so any necessary pruning is done in May to June.