Spring Garden Gems by Martin Blow

Spring in the garden is a time renowned for flowering bulbs and blossom, but there are also some lovely early flowering perennials to enjoy.

Erythroniums go under a number of descriptive common names including fawn lily, trout lily, adder's tongue and dog’s tooth violet. In early spring they bear downward facing flowers with swept back petals. They mainly come from North America and prefer to grow in moist soil under deciduous trees. If you don’t have woodland, then a place in a border that is shaded by the leaves of shrubs in summer will work as they don’t like to dry out.

Their leaves appear in February, followed by flowers in March and April. The leaves die back in summer. Left undisturbed they will spread by multiplying bulbs and seed. A yearly mulch with leaf mould or well-rotted garden compost will help them succeed.

The pink dog’s tooth violet (E. dens canis) with its attractive marbled leaves was traditionally grown in gardens, but now a wider range of species and varieties is available from specialist growers. The striking variety “Pagoda” has large lemony yellow flowers. “White Beauty” has an orange-yellow throat to set off the purity of the white petals. Erythronium revolutum has lovely pink flowers.

Lesser Celandine is a lovely spring wildflower with their starry yellow flowers opening on roadside verges and woodland edges in March and April. Formerly called Ranunculus ficaria, they have recently been renamed Ficaria verna; you may find them under either name at a Plant Fair. These are low-growing plants forming neat mounds of leaves. It’s good to be aware that they increase by underground shoots (stolons) that spread to form larger clumps and by seedlings that spring up in new places. They like free drainage and can withstand wet spells but not waterlogging.

The wild species has marbled green leaves and yellow flowers, but over the years more showy varieties have been introduced. Perhaps the most famous is Christopher Lloyd’s “Brazen Hussey”, which has deeper golden flowers beautifully set off by its deep bronze leaves. Its offspring “Coppernob” (or “Copper Knob”) has darker leaves and orange flowers. The variety “Jacqueline” shares the same leaf and flower colour but has stunning fully double flowers. Also, double-flowered is “Crimson Damson” with white petals curled upwards to show a brownish red underside.

Spring is the time of rapid change in the garden, but it’s lovely to stop a while and enjoy the beauty of these two garden gems.

Janet & I organise Plant Hunters’ Fairs, specialist plant fairs at wonderful locations. Please see www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk for a full list of our 2026 plant fairs. Please check website for all the latest updates before travelling.

Plant Fair Dates for your 2026 diary: Sunday 12^th April, Middleton Hall, Nr Tamworth, B78 2AE (ticket required). Sunday 3^rd May, 1620s House and Garden, Nr Coalville, LE67 2FW (ticket required). Monday 4^th May, Chasewater Country Park, WS8 7NL. Monday 25^th May, Arley Arboretum, DY12 1SQ.