This is a fabulous time of year at Rosemoor. Some of our most beautiful acid loving trees and shrubs such as rhododendrons (in a huge variety of colours) and our magnificent magnolias are flowering profusely (although they might be nipped in the bud by a late frost). The vegetable garden is gradually filling with young plants, the Alpine house is near perfection, the woodland banks are full of primroses and celendines and the fresh growth of the herbaceous perennials is rapidly forming a carpet between the shrubs in the borders.
Camassia leichtlinii subsp. leichtlinii AGM is one of our favourite white-flowered camassias, flowering towards the end of the month. We use it in repeating clumps in the Spiral Garden to provide an early flowering statement, on the Long Border, and in the Herb Garden. Camassias originate from the damp fertile meadows of North America so like to be kept moist but never waterlogged. The racemes of star-shaped, creamy white flowers can reach 30cm; emerging from strap-like bright green leaves.
If you love bright colours early in the year, Doronicum 'Miss Mason' AGM is the plant for you. The bright yellow daisies are borne on sturdy stems well above the foliage. They like to grow in moist humus rich soil in partial or dappled shade, and will be happy in a woodland garden or border among trees and shrubs to give them a bit of shade. We have ours in the shade of a wall in the Cottage Garden.
The pure white flowers of Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata) open from silky buds before the appearance of the leaves. This is a wonderful plant for the shrub border, brightening up a spot in partial shade. Again, the acid soil at Rosemoor means that this plant can reach its full potential; one of the most beautiful early flowering shrubs, this can be found in the shrubbery and in the South Arboretum.
The aptly named hoop petticoat daffodil, Narcissus bulbocodium, has become one of our favourites for naturalising in the wildflower meadows. The charming, funnel-shaped yellow flowers dance in the spring breezes, shine in the sun and shake off the April showers. It naturally occurs in damp meadows that dry out in the summer in southern Europe.
The glossy, dark green leaves of the evergreen Osmanthus x burkwoodii are a feature all year round, but in the spring, superbly fragrant white tubular flowers steal the show. This is another plant that will be happy in sun or partial shade but needs protection from cold, drying winds.
Amelanchier laevis is a lovely small but spreading tree reaching a height of up to 8m. At this time of year the young leaves are bronze and a profusion of starry flowers creates a cloud of pale pink. At Rosemoor it enjoys sun and partial shade in acid soil in the Stream Garden Field, the Rock Gully and close to the lake. The flowers are followed by sweet, blue-black fruit. In autumn, this tree continues to delight with fiery orange and red foliage.
Viburnum x burkwoodii 'Fulbrook' is a spring flowering evergreen shrub with the added bonus of beautifully fragrant flowers. Domed clusters of these tubular white flowers adorn the shrub in profusion during spring. As with many of the other early flowerers, this shrub prefers a sheltered site in sun or partial shade and can be found in the shrubbery at Rosemoor.