Plantswoman Fleur van Zonneveld chooses ten plants that help brighten the lengthening days of March. Photos by Maayke De Ridder <\/p>

March is an exciting time of the garden. The month marks the start of spring<\/a> and new beginnings and there\u2019s nothing quite as special as seeing the first crocus<\/a> poke through the grass after months of brown and grey.<\/div>\n\n

Now is the time to start thinking about plants that will\u00a0 banish the memories of winter and help to brighten the lengthening days of early spring<\/a>.<\/div>\n\n

Here is a recommended list of spring plants to brighten the garden in March, chosen by plant expert Fleur van Zonneveld, who runs plant nursery De Kleine Plantage in the Netherlands.<\/div>\n\n

You may also like<\/strong><\/p>\n

Best gardens to visit in March<\/a><\/li>\n
The best Clematis montana for small gardens and containers<\/a><\/li>\n
Wild-style spring plant display for the container garden<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
<\/p><\/div>

$\""Kristy\"$ <\/div>
\u00a9 Andrew Montgomery<\/figcaption><\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section><\/div>\n\n
1<\/span>
Salix gracilistyla<\/em> \u2018Mount Aso\u2019<\/h3>\n<\/div> $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
This early blooming pussy willow has exquisitely beautiful, red-purple catkins that over time fade to a silky pink. Once flowering has finished the shrub has attractive leaves that have a slight blue shine. It was selected by a Japanese cut flower grower and the cut branches retain their catkins for ages \u2013 even without water. It\u2019s relatively easy to grow and is little troubled by disease, although the flowers are sterile, so you can\u2019t grow it from seed. It flourishes in spring best on young wood, so prune it firmly each year.<\/p>\n
Height<\/strong> 2m. Origin<\/strong> China, Japan, Korea. Growing conditions<\/strong> Well-drained soil, full sun or part shade. Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H7, USDA 4B-8B. Season of interest<\/strong> Late winter to early spring.<\/p>
2<\/span>
Anemone nemorosa<\/em> \u2018Kentish Pink\u2019<\/h3>\n<\/div>
$\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
I\u2019m always amazed that Anemone nemorosa<\/i> <\/a>doesn\u2019t generate the same levels of excitement as snowdrops<\/a>. These wood anemone offer far more variation \u2013 the Austrian breeder Christian Kress has a collection of 140 types \u2013 and naturalise well. This cultivar is almost white but the backs of the petal-like sepals are pink, so in full sun it looks like a typical, white wood anemone, but when light is low, and the spring flowers start to close, its appearance changes completely. In some lights the flowers can appear dark pink.<\/p>\n
Height<\/strong> 20cm. Origin Western Europe.\u00a0Conditions<\/strong> Well-drained, humus-rich soil; part shade.\u00a0 Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H6, USDA 5a-8b. Season<\/strong> Spring.<\/p>\n
3<\/span> Fritillaria raddeana<\/em><\/h3>\n<\/div> $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
Fritillaries<\/a> feel like an unstoppable\u00a0 force of nature. You turn away for a couple of days and then suddenly\u00a0 there are numerous new stems with shiny green foliage. This fritillary\u2019s flowers have a beautifully subtle,\u00a0 lime-green colour, which fits perfectly into spring\u2019s colour palette. They\u2019re also large, making this a very striking plant. It is one of the first fritillaries to flower and prefers well-drained soil\u00a0 and hot dry summers. After flowering,\u00a0it evolves into large, angular seedpods that look wonderful when used in\u00a0 flower arrangements.<\/p>\n
Height<\/strong> 70cm. Origin Central Asia. Conditions<\/strong> Well-drained, humus-rich soil; full sun or part shade. Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H7, USDA 5a-8b. Season<\/strong> Spring.<\/p>\n
4<\/span> Corydalis nobilis<\/em><\/h3>\n<\/div> $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
In his book Garden Myths,<\/i> Robert Pavlis describes how the botanist Carl Linnaeus received some incorrectly labelled seeds that he planted out in his garden. They turned out to be Corydalis nobilis<\/i>, and from his garden in Sweden the plant has now naturalised all over much of northern Europe. I find this a beautiful story for a beautiful plant. It\u2019s one of the largest corydalis with striking yellow-brown flowers. Most plants need some heat to see a real spurt of growth, but this plant benefits from cold to form up\u00a0 a solid plant. If spring is too warm it slows and collapses. Read more about growing corydalis<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Height<\/strong> 50cm. Origin Altai Mountains and central Asia. Conditions<\/strong> Dry to moderately moist\u00a0 soil; full sun. Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H7, USDA 3b-8b. Season<\/strong> Spring.<\/p>\n
5<\/span>
Cardamine trifolia<\/em><\/h3>\n<\/div>
$\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
Most cuckoo flowers are deciduous plants; this is the evergreen exception. It forms whole mats of three-lobed, dark-green leaves, but as leaves age their underside fades to purple due to the presence of water-soluble pigments known as anthocyanins. It is a lovely plant that can be used to mask the transition between a path and a border in March. It is also happy in full shade and completely at home under trees especially forming a carpet with a few ferns, such as Osmunda regalis<\/i> \u2018Purpurascens\u2019, in between, or under a group of polygonatums and disporums.<\/p>\n
Height<\/strong> 20cm. Origin Southern and central Europe. Conditions<\/strong> Moist, humus-rich soil;\u00a0 full or part shade. Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H5, USDA 7b-9b. Season<\/strong> Spring.<\/p>\n
6<\/span>
Cornus mas<\/em> \u2018Jolico\u2019<\/h3>\n<\/div> $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
After the greyness of winter, we often crave a little colour. But spring colour is much more welcome if it appears gradually, which is why the subtle beauty of this yellow Cornus mas<\/i> is\u00a0so much more appealing than the bright yellow of the ubiquitous forsythias. Cornus mas<\/i> \u2018Jolico\u2019 is an older selection from Vienna and has only recently been rediscovered. Its bloom is richer and more intense than the usual Cornus mas<\/i> and its dark-red fruits are much bigger \u2013 and delicious when turned into a jam. It also has fine autumn colour. AGM*.<\/p>\n
Height<\/strong> 4m. Origin Europe, western Asia. Conditions<\/strong> Medium moisture, well-drained soil; full sun or part shade. Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H7, USDA 4a-8b. Season<\/strong> Flowers spring.<\/p>\n
7<\/span>
Physochlaina orientalis<\/em><\/h3>\n<\/div> $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
An unusual plant that can be quite hard to source. Its large, triangular leaves held on long stems look a little like those of the American pokeweed, but this comes from the same family as the potato (Solanaceae<\/i>). It has deep roots so can tolerate quite dry conditions. The plant is also very strong and likes nutritious soil in part shade. Its smoky purple flowers look a little out of place among the fresh colours of most spring plants, and most unusually once the plant has finished blooming, and the bees have taken their fill, the plant disappears. Don\u2019t worry it\u2019s not dead; it is just dormant from summer to spring.<\/p>\n
Height<\/strong> 40cm. Origin<\/strong> Caucasus, Turkey, Iran. Conditions<\/strong> Well-drained soil; part shade. Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H7, USDA 3b-11. Season<\/strong> Spring.<\/p>\n
8<\/span>
Asarum delavayi<\/em> \u2018Giant\u2019<\/h3>\n<\/div>
$\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
A mysterious-looking plant with beautiful, shiny foliage that is slightly marbled. Look beneath these, evergreen leaves and you\u2019ll find velvety, brown-black flowers with a large white centre looking back at you. No surprise then its common name is panda face wild ginger. The rootstocks are used in Chinese medicine<\/a> (even though they\u2019re toxic and also carcinogenic). Although slow growing, it makes a beautiful groundcover. Placing it in a pot on an outdoor table is a good way to discourage slugs and the best way to enjoy its incredible flowers.<\/p>\n
Height<\/strong> 20cm. Origin China. Conditions<\/strong> Moist but well-drained soil; full sun to part shade. Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H6, USDA 8a-9b. Season<\/strong> Spring.<\/p>\n
9<\/span>
Puschkinia scilloides<\/em> var. libanotica<\/em><\/h3>\n<\/div> $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
The watery, pale-blue colour of\u00a0 this tiny little plant looks remarkable when massed plantings are viewed\u00a0 from a distance in early spring. Even when the weather is overcast flowers\u00a0 are wide open. It naturalises easily\u00a0 and doesn\u2019t get in the way of later emerging plants. It\u2019s best grown\u00a0 in drifts under deciduous trees\u00a0 or in a border. Plant en masse alongside Chionodoxa forbesii <\/i>and Primula vulgaris<\/i> and you will have an\u00a0 eye-catching, colourful spring display.<\/p>\n
Height<\/strong> 10cm. Origin<\/strong> Caucasus, Turkey, Iran, Lebanon. Conditions<\/strong> Well-drained soil; full sun\u00a0 or part shade. Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H7, USDA 4a-8b. Season<\/strong> Spring.<\/p>\n
10<\/span>
Trachystemon orientalis<\/em><\/h3>\n<\/div> $\"""\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n
The blue flowers have curled endings on the petals that look like little propellers with a sharp point. Flowers appear before the hairy, heart-shaped, rough leaves that will quickly cover large surfaces making it an excellent groundcover plant and extremely valuable for naturalistic schemes. It needs a moist soil and in drier periods the leaf will quickly hang down. However, it does well in the shade of trees, and can easily be combined with tall plants, such as Polygonatum biflorum<\/i> and Aralia continentalis<\/i>. All parts of the plant are edible and often eaten in its native Turkey. <\/span><\/p>\n
Height<\/strong> 30cm. Origin<\/strong> Eastern Europe, Turkey. Conditions<\/strong> Fresh to moist soil; part\u00a0 to full shade. Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H7, USDA 6a-9b. Season<\/strong> Spring.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
You can find more information on plant hardiness ratings here.<\/a><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n
","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Plantswoman Fleur van Zonneveld chooses ten plants that help brighten the lengthening days of March. Photos by Maayke De Ridder <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":19609,"template":"","categories":[1,51],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"8"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2023\/02\/what-to-plant-in-march-scaled.jpg",1708,2560,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2023\/02\/what-to-plant-in-march-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2023\/02\/what-to-plant-in-march-200x300.jpg",200,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2023\/02\/what-to-plant-in-march-768x1151.jpg",768,1151,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2023\/02\/what-to-plant-in-march-683x1024.jpg",683,1024,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2023\/02\/what-to-plant-in-march-1025x1536.jpg",1025,1536,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2023\/02\/what-to-plant-in-march-1367x2048.jpg",1367,2048,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Plantswoman Fleur van Zonneveld chooses ten plants that help brighten the lengthening days of March. Photos by Maayke De Ridder","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/19608"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19609"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19608"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19608"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}