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The Garden
March 2005

Shrubs for a vibrant spring

Among the most valuable of garden plants, spring-flowering shrubs provide some of the year’s most spectacular displays. Matthew Wilson enthuses about his favourites

A selection of spring-flowering shrubs

Red numbers in the text refer to the following spring-flowering shrubs:
1 Cytisus x praecox ‘Allgold’
2 Ribes speciosum
3 Chaenomeles x superba ‘Coral Sea’
4 Stachyurus ‘Magpie’
5 Abutilon x suntense ‘Ralph Gould’
6 Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Moerloosei’
7 Berberis x ottawensisf. purpurea ‘Superba’
8 Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Sissinghurst Blue’
9 Berberis x stenophylla
10 Lonicera involucratavar. ledebourii
11 Lonicera tatarica ‘Rosea’
12 Exochorda x macrantha ‘The Bride’
13 Spiraea ‘Arguta’
14 Viburnum x juddii
15 Ribes sanguineum ‘King Edward VII'
16 Ribes odoratum
17 Poncirus trifoliata
18 Erica arborea var. alpina
19 Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Simonii’
20 Mahonia aquifolium ‘Apollo’

The onset of spring is exciting, especially for gardeners. As the cloak of winter gradually lifts, our pulses quicken as shoots swell and burst. Along with the excitement can come a sense of foreboding; will a
late frost turn the buds of long-anticipated flowers to mush, or heavy rain damage the seemingly robust but actually rather delicate blossom of fruit trees, before the pollinators have done their work? Despite this potential for inclement weather, spring endures as the season of regeneration and is a time when some of the most beautiful and interesting shrubs come into their own.

The value of spring-flowering shrubs is obvious; they bring colour and form to the garden when many other plants are simply girding their loins ready for summer. Once their spring flowers have faded, these shrubs provide a backdrop or framework against which plants with later interest can perform.

Pendent flowers

Many spring-flowering shrubs produce flowers held in racemes that dangle from the branches and, often, flowers borne on naked stems before foliage appears: the specific epithet praecox indicates the latter feature. In Stachyurus praecox both features are brought together. This large deciduous shrub, ideal for woodland conditions, produces long racemes of pale yellow flowers that resemble catkins in late winter and spring. Stachyurus ‘Magpie’ 4 has creamy-white variegation.

A more recent introduction is S. chinensis ‘Joy Forever’ with golden-edged leaves tinged bronze. Both will reach 2m (6.5ft) high. Wall training or a sheltered spot are vital as drying winds soon cause their foliage to scorch.

Another shrub with pendent flowers is Japanese Corylopsis glabrescens var. gotoana, a near relative of witch hazel that makes a handsome open shrub with a height and spread of 3m (10ft). The slender, arching branches are decked in exquisite catkin- like flower tassels, each comprising primrose-yellow flowers that on closer inspection resemble miniature cowslips. This fine shrub associates well with a ground covering of dark foliage or flowers, such as purple or burgundy hellebores, and also looks good planted by water. Its foliage is an attractive bluish-green.

Quinces and currants

Japanese quinces have long been valued for their early-spring blossom and are best on a wall. There are many desirable selections. Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Moerloosei’ 6 has large, pink-flushed, white flowers that resemble apple blossom while C. speciosa ‘Simonii’ 19 has rich blood-red flowers. Chaenomeles x superba ‘Coral Sea’ 3 has fine coral-pink flowers. Another shrub that is often seen as a wall-trained specimen is Ribes speciosum 2. This Californian native is often referred to as fuchsia-flowered currant and with good reason, as it is quite unlike other currants in having slender, deep red flowers with protruding stamens. The flowers dangle from bristly stems, coloured red when young, which are attractive enough alone to warrant growing the plant. The foliage is good too, small and glossy with three to five lobes per leaf. Although most often seen against a wall where a height and spread of 2m (6.5ft) can be achieved, R. speciosum would be ideal for a dry gravel garden, given its ability to cope with free-draining soil.

Ribes are not generally known for their fragrance; indeed their ‘perfume’ is often described as positively malodorous and cat-like. There is, however, a delightfully scented currant, appropriately named Ribes odoratum 16. This is a shrub that fades into the background for most of the year, but when it produces its cheerful, fragrant yellow flowers - which are followed by small black fruit - it is worth growing, especially in an informal planting. Of the more common Ribes, I find Ribes sanguineum ‘Albescens’ to be a good choice with flowers that open to shell pink from darker pink buds. Perhaps the most dramatic of flowering currants are the white selections such as R. sanguineum White Icicle (‘Ubric’). The purity of their flower colour on a crisp spring morning seems just right, and a good form will make a beautiful, bold addition to the spring garden.

Resembling Ribes to some extent is northwest American Oemleria cerasiformis. This open, suckering shrub bears nodding racemes of white flowers in early spring as its grey-green foliage appears, giving an attractive, fresh composition. It needs reasonably fertile soil and an open site, not too dry as plants can defoliate under stress. Oemleria cerasiformis is relatively new in cultivation and quite uncommon, but Poncirus trifoliata 17 has been around for ages yet is still fairly unusual. This lovely, but spiny, plant excels in well-drained soils where it will slowly form a shrub around 2.5m (8ft) high. Its white flowers resemble orange blossom and are among the most fragrant found on any spring-flowering shrub, followed by fruits that look similar to small oranges, albeit yellow ones.

The numerous species of Berberis also have spiny stems. Evergreen B. darwinii is popular for its orange flowers; deciduous B. x ottawensis f. purpurea ‘Superba’ 7 has yellow blooms and purple foliage. Graceful B. x stenophylla 9 has arching branches decked with gold blooms. All are easy and are good in a front garden, helping to deter intruders. Perhaps the sweetest-smelling of small spring-flowering shrubs are viburnums. Viburnum x burkwoodii and its cultivars are perhaps the most widely grown, with pale pink or white flowers, opening from pinkish buds, and bags of fragrance. They are fairly easily grown, preferring an open site and moderately fertile, well-drained soil, yet survive clay soil; at RHS Garden Hyde Hall V. x burkwoodii ‘Park Farm Hybrid’ proves ‘Essex proof’. Larger V. x carlcephalum has similar fragrant blooms,while V. x juddii 14 is suitable for smaller spaces, growing to 1.2m (4ft) tall and producing pink-tinged white flowers.

Longer-lasting flowers

Many spring-flowering shrubs have rather brief periods in bloom, but perhaps we should forgive them this because all too soon a host of summer plants will enter the fray and fill the garden with flower. However, some spring flowerers have the will to linger for longer. I am particularly fond of Staphylea x elegans, a shrub I know best from Beth Chatto’s compact but wonderful woodland at her garden near Colchester in Essex. This erect, almost tree-like shrub bears waxy, ivory white flowers that fade to pink, often lasting through until May.

Another shrub with staying power is Weigela middendorffiana, a less-hardy member of a popular genus. It has interesting bark that peels away in flakes, broad ovate leaves and zingy, sulphur-yellow bell-shaped flowers that are marked dark orange at the base. A larger plant is Dipelta ventricosa, from Japan with lilac-rose bell flowers with white lips and a splash of yellow inside.

Some shrubby Lonicera begin to bloom in spring. Quietly attractive L. involucrata var. ledebourii is a vigorous deciduous shrub with orange-yellow tubular flowers held in red bracts, produced intermittently from late spring. The leafy foliage is hairy and not without appeal. Larger L. tatarica will reach 3m (10ft) and produces masses of open pink flowers from May.

The most valuable spring-flowering shrubs offer interest throughout the year. Wonderful Lindera obtusiloba frames the growing season neatly with mustard-yellow flowers in spring and lovely buttery autumn foliage tinged with pink, although it needs lime free, fertile soil to thrive. I am fond of Australian native Drimys lanceolata. The flowers may be small but are numerous, their creamy-white colour set off well by copper-tinged young foliage.

Far showier is Abutilon x suntense ‘Ralph Gould’ 5. It is a fast-growing shrub with an upright habit and bearing masses of large violet blooms that are flat rather than bell-shaped as with other abutilons. Although
not fully hardy - a hard frost cuts it down - it usually regenerates from the roots. It needs a well-drained, even poor soil and at Hyde Hall a large A. x suntense cultivar survives outdoors, putting up with the wettest autumn on record and the hottest summer.

I find rosemary difficult to grow, but I persevere because apart from their culinary uses the flowers of rosemary are many and early. Rosmarinus officinalis Prostratus Group is ideal for cascading over a wall, but the blue flowers of R. officinalis ‘Sissinghurst Blue’ 8 make a marvellous sight, flowering in spring and sometimes in autumn.

Now that there is such a wide range of interesting and attractive spring-flowering shrubs available and many less-common cultivars worth seeking out, the gardener is increasingly spoiled for choice.

Ten first-rate spring-flowering shrubs

Exochorda x macrantha ‘The Bride’ 12 is a classic, smothered in pure white flowers from late spring to early summer. The arching habit adds to its wedding-dress appeal, as does its trouble-free nature.

Buddleja officinalis, unusually, produces blooms from winter through to early spring, rather than in late summer as with most other buddleias. Given a sheltered spot it will freely produce its fragrant, lilac-pink
flowers and reach a height of 2.5m (8ft).

Viburnum x burkwoodii hybrids are tough, attractive and fragrant, suitable for most gardens and soil types.

Cytisus x praecox ‘Allgold’ 1 is hard to beat for sheer flower power in dry, sunny locations. It is an easily grown, compact plant that is covered in delightful pale yellow flowers in spring.

Ribes sanguineum ‘King Edward VII’ 15, despite its musky aroma, is hard to fault in flower, although the colour is not always to everyone’s taste.

Spiraea ‘Arguta’ 13 has rightly become a real garden favourite, producing masses of flowers on arching, slender stems, making it perhaps the best of all the early-flowering spiraeas.

Poncirus trifoliata (Japanese bitter orange) 17 is uncommon in gardens but is a slow-growing shrub of medium size needing well-drained soil; it bears large, sweetly scented white flowers.

Osmanthus delavayi can reach 5m (16.5ft) in suitable conditions, but is worth growing for its white, highly scented flowers and glossy foliage.

Erica arborea var. alpina 18 is a compact tree heather suitable for a wide range of gardens, and in spring is covered in fragrant white flowers set against bright green young foliage.

Mahonia aquifolium ‘Apollo’ 20 flowers early in spring and the combination of drought and shade tolerance allied to scented, bright yellow flowers and architectural foliage makes it useful for a tricky spot.

Matthew Wilson is Curator of RHS Garden Harlow Carr

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