Blooming marvellous
Gardening writer Marc Rosenberg recommends petite magnolias and cherries to bring the average-sized plot some early season cheer
For green-fingered folk, it’s impossible to walk or jog around the block without having a nosey at neighbouring gardens, and the breathtaking sight of statuesque magnolias in bloom and cherries laden with blossom are guaranteed to stop passers-by in their tracks. Accommodating these springtime icons wasn’t an issue a century ago, when back gardens commonly exceeded 100ft (30m) long and front gardens benefitted from the luxury of space. Now that the average British garden is said to be just 49ft (15m) long, and little more than a patio at some new builds, choosing a variety that won’t take over is crucial. If you crave springtime cheer but only have a pint-size plot, choose one of the wow-factor magnolias (most prefer acidic to neutral soil) and flowering cherries shown here that promise not to run riot in your garden!
Magnificent magnolias Stellata
M. stellata packs a punch with its show-stopping star-shaped flowers. The spectacle is even more dramatic because the blooms, occasionally flushed with faint pink, open well before foliage emerges, smothering branches in blossom from March into April and the lightly fragrant blooms offer good frost resistance. Slowgrowing plants reach a height and spread of no more than 3x3m (10x10ft), perfect for sheltered, sunny spot.
Liliiflora ‘Nigra’
The black lily magnolia has beautiful, upright, tulipshaped, dark purple-red flowers, often culminating in a floral fanfare in June. However, blooms can appear intermittently until autumn, keeping the show going. Inside the large, lightly fragrant flowers you’ll notice they’re flushed with cream and pink. A brilliant small tree for sun or partshade, reaching a height and spread of no more than 3x2.5m (10x8ft).
‘Caerhays Surprise’
Breeders at Caerhays Castle Gardens in Cornwall conjured up a treat for gardeners: a compact, deciduous magnolia that can start to flower in late March and keep the show going into May. It bears gorgeous waterlily-shaped flowers that open in shades of purple and mature to pink. It’s unlikely to exceed a height and spread of 5x5m (16x16ft and it’s tough too, shrugging off chills as low as -15°C (5°F).
‘Susan’
Here’s a harbinger of spring that’s earned its awards, with a bold display of fragrant, gobletshaped burgundy flowers that are borne from mid-spring to June. With a mature height and spread of 4x3m (13x10ft), this deciduous shrub won’t take over small gardens and, as blooms mature, the petals begin to twist, revealing paler tones of delicate burgundy on their insides.
Charming cherries Prunus ‘Kursar’
The spectacle of vivid, deep-pink blooms basking in spring warmth is a sight to behold, with flowers luring bees in their droves. It’s one of the earlier flowering cherries to burst into bloom, at its peak from March to April. Reddish-bronze young foliage adds to the spectacle, before maturing to green then displaying dramatic orange tones as the nights draw in. A great choice for a small specimen tree in a smaller plot, it’s unlikely to exceed a height and spread of 4x4m (13x13ft) after 20 years.
Prunus ‘Spire’
The distinctive vase-shaped canopy hosts an abundance of dark-pink buds that give rise to lightpink flowers, swirled with creamywhite. It tolerates most soil types (apart from waterlogging) and remains unfazed by polluted urban environments, ‘Spire’ is a top choice for front gardens in urban situations, taking 25 years to reach a height and spread of 6x3m (20x10ft).
Prunus incisa ‘Kojo-no-mai’
A deciduous flowering cherry, it’ll put on a show that belies its tiny frame. Single white flowers with pink centres are plentiful, borne before foliage emerges, while leaves display fiery orange hues in autumn. This hardy sun-lover is a magnet for pollinators and a slow grower, culminating in a height and spread of little more than 2.5x2.5m (8x8ft) after 20 years.
Prunus ‘Shirotae’
‘Shirotae’ has a distinctive flat-topped canopy smothered with icewhite, semidouble flowers from April to May – get up close to savour its honey-scented blooms. Because of a flat, spreading crown, it requires a little more space than some compact varieties, but will only reach a height and spread of around 5x5m (16x16ft) after 20 years.