{"id":31546,"date":"2024-01-31T15:11:32","date_gmt":"2024-01-31T14:11:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/6df0527c-9e82-4efa-8337-4707f6dfa818"},"modified":"2024-01-31T15:36:11","modified_gmt":"2024-01-31T14:36:11","slug":"february-flowers-the-best-flowers-for-the-month","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/rss_feed\/february-flowers-the-best-flowers-for-the-month\/","title":{"rendered":"February flowers: the best flowers for the month"},"content":{"rendered":"

Keith Wiley of Wildside in Devon and Jimi Blake of Huntingbrook Gardens choose some early flowering bulbs and sweetly scented shrubs for February, to help welcome the return of spring. Photographs Jason Ingram <\/p>

By Keith Wiley\n <\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 31 January 2024 at 14:11 PM<\/p>

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February is here. Why not peruse our list of the month’s gardening jobs,<\/a> check out the best gardens to visit in February<\/a> and here’s what to plant this month. <\/a><\/p>

Best February flowers to plant<\/h2>

February doesn’t have to be bare in the garden. If you’re unsure about what to enjoy in the garden in February, here plantsmen Keith Wiley<\/a> and Jimi Blake<\/a> choose flowers for February which are worth planting to ensure colour, structure.<\/p>

There’s lots to get on top of in the garden too, from pruning<\/a>, to sowing. Head to our pieces on the best places to buy seeds<\/a>, to our guides on pruning roses<\/a> and the general principles of pruning<\/a>.<\/p>

Epimedium<\/em> \u2018Black Sea\u2019<\/h3>

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\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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One of the first in my large collection of epimediums to flower, with pale, orange-veined yellow, blooms that emerge in February alongside the snowdrops<\/a>. The wonderful foliage<\/a> turns nearly black as the temperatures fall in autumn, extending the season of interest in the woodland<\/a> bed where it\u2019s planted. I\u2019ve experimented growing epimediums in different areas in the garden and find full sun and rich soil that does not dry out is the best for them. I propagate by division at the end of August and cut back all the leaves in early January before they start putting up flower stems. Jimi Blake<\/strong><\/p>

Height<\/strong> 30cm.Origin<\/strong> Garden (species Transcaucasus and Black Sea coast).Conditions<\/strong> Rich soil that does not dry out; full sun.Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H6, USDA 5a-8b\u2020.Season of interest<\/strong> February to March.<\/p>

Galanthus <\/em>‘Veronica Cross’<\/h3>
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\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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In recent years there have emerged a lot of new snowdrops<\/a> that have interesting green markings but for me \u2018Veronica Cross\u2019 stands out from the rest. It was a chance cross from the Hertfordshire garden of the wonderful plantswoman and galanthophile Veronica Cross, whom I was lucky enough to visit a few times. If you can\u2019t get your hands on Galanthus<\/em> \u2018Veronica Cross\u2019 you must try its parent Galanthus plicatus<\/em> \u2018Trymlet\u2019, which has similar markings and bulks up really fast for me. JB<\/strong><\/p>

Height<\/strong> 20cm.Origin<\/strong> Garden.Conditions<\/strong> Moist but well-drained soil; dappled shade with some direct sunshine.Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H5.Season of interest<\/strong> January to February.<\/p>

Here’s our guide on how to grow snowdrops<\/a><\/strong><\/p>

Cordyline indivisa<\/em><\/h3>
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\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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Cordyline indivisa<\/em> can be tricky to grow but they are as happy as Larry here in the valley at Hunting Brook<\/a>. I have them repeated throughout the valley giving it an exotic look and evergreen structure all year around. This exotic look is created by their sword-shaped foliage and orange<\/a> defined midrib in the leaf. They are surprisingly hardy, surviving to -15\u00b0C with me in 2010. I propagate them from seeds and keep potting them up to get rapid growth before planting out. I unfortunately never got to see these in the wild when I was in New Zealand, but I dream of being able to do so one day. JB<\/strong><\/p>

Height<\/strong> 3m.Origin<\/strong> New Zealand.Conditions<\/strong> Moist but well-drained soil; dappled shade.Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H3, USDA 9a-11.Season of interest<\/strong> Year round for foliage.<\/p>

Schefflera delavayi<\/em><\/h3>
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\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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The Araliaceae<\/em> family is one of my main passions in the plant world and I particularly love the scheffleras, which are among the main plants repeated through the valley here at Hunting Brook. If I had to leave the garden tomorrow and I could take only one plant with me it would be this one. It has a dramatic umbrella-like canopy and has terminal panicles of flowers in autumn. It seems to be totally hardy with me but I did bring it into the glasshouse<\/a> for the first two winters. I then let it grow and mature before planting out. I adore this plant for its spectacular foliage. JB<\/strong><\/p>

Height<\/strong> 3m.Origin<\/strong> China and Vietnam.Conditions<\/strong> Well-drained soil and sheltered from cold winds; full sun.Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H4.Season of interest<\/strong> Year round.<\/p>

Cannomois grandis<\/em><\/h3>
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\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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This restio has survived here at Hunting Brook at temperatures as low as -15\u00b0C, so I can see its huge potential as a good garden plant. I have it planted in full sun where it has excellent drainage and that has definitely helped it survive. The older the plant the tougher it becomes. I cut untidy stems at the base in spring to keep the plant looking fresh. Restios prefer a neutral to acid soil but if you can\u2019t provide this, grow them in pots of acidic compost. I have just planted a collection of different restios to see which will be the most hardy and also to use them as cut foliage in my flower arrangements. AGM. JB<\/strong><\/p>

Height<\/strong> 2.5m.Origin<\/strong> South Africa.Conditions<\/strong> Neutral to acid soil with good drainage but not too dry; full sun.Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H4.Season of interest<\/strong> Year round.<\/p>

Daphne bholua <\/em>‘Mary Rose’<\/h3>
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\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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I always make a yearly pilgrimage to Pan-Global Plants in Gloucestershire where I found this absolute gem of a daphne<\/a>. The deep-purple buds form in December to January and then open to deep-pink flowers in February and March. The flowers have a delicious scent, which I adore on my early morning walks at this time of year. This daphne has an upright growth habit that makes it easy to fit into most gardens. When you\u2019re planting any daphne please remember to plant it where it will stay as all daphnes resent transplanting. JB<\/strong><\/p>

Height<\/strong> 2-3m.Origin<\/strong> Garden (species eastern Himalaya).Conditions<\/strong> Well-drained soil; sun or semi shade.Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H4.Season of interest<\/strong> Winter to early spring.<\/p>

Here’s how to grow daphne<\/a><\/strong><\/p>

Helonias thibetica<\/em><\/h3>
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\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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Previously known as Ypsilandra thibetica<\/em>, this evergreen perennial<\/a> has fabulously fragrant white flowers with blue anthers growing out of a rosette of foliage. It always flowers around snowdrop<\/a> time in February and it\u2019s normally when I\u2019m lying on the ground looking at my snowdrops that I really get a good look at this extraordinary flower and take in its beautiful fragrance<\/a>. It can be propagated by fresh seed surface sown through a layer of grit when seed is ripe in late spring. The early spring plant fairs can be a good place to look for this woodland gem. JB<\/strong><\/p>

Height<\/strong> 33cm.Origin<\/strong> Central and southern China.Conditions<\/strong> Good woodland soil; dappled shade.Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H7.Season of interest<\/strong> Early spring.<\/p>

Cardamine enneaphyllos<\/em><\/h3>
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\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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This rather lovely plant with its delicate, nodding yellow flowers is one I originally acquired from the great plantswoman and garden designer Helen Dillon. It now grows in my woodland<\/a> garden where it has grown extremely slowly but flowers with the snowdrops in the worst of winter weather. When its foliage appears in late January it has a deep reddish-black colour followed by ivory\/yellow-coloured pendulous flowers. It\u2019s not a plant that is widely available but I believe any plant that flowers at this time of year is worth sourcing and growing. JB<\/strong><\/p>

Height<\/strong> 30cm.Origin<\/strong> Central Europe.Conditions<\/strong> Moist but well-drained soil; dappled shade.Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H7.Season of interest<\/strong> February to March.<\/p>

Eranthis hyemalis<\/em> \u2018No\u00ebl Ayres\u2019<\/h3>
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\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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I would collect anything that flowers this early, but I especially love Eranthis<\/em> for their vibrant yellow flowers at a time when there is so little colour in the garden. This particular cultivar flowers a little later than most others. It bursts into bloom mid to late February with double flowers and outer petals that are more green than yellow. I propagate these by division when the leaves start to turn yellow (after flowering) or from seed sown once ripe. They look good combined with the less vigorous snowdrops and early flowering crocuses. JB<\/strong><\/p>

Here’s how to grow winter aconites<\/a><\/p>

Height<\/strong> 10cm.Origin<\/strong> Garden (species western Europe).Conditions<\/strong> Moisture-retentive soil with good drainage; light shade.Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H6.Season of interest<\/strong> Spring.<\/p>

Chionochloa rubra<\/em><\/h3>
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\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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This tufted, evergreen grass, known as red tussock grass has to be beyond any doubt my favourite ornamental grass<\/a>. I was lucky enough to see Chionochloa rubra<\/em> growing wild in its native New Zealand where it covered hillsides grazed by sheep. It\u2019s a large grass with a tawny-orange colour and a spray of seedheads in the autumn. This Chionochloa rubra<\/em> is an extremely low-maintenance grass only needing its old flowering stems removed in spring. I have never been successful propagating it from division but seed propagation is possible in spring. AGM. JB<\/strong><\/p>

Height<\/strong> 1.5m.Origin<\/strong> New Zealand.Conditions<\/strong> Moist but well-drained, fertile soil; full sun.Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H7.Season of interest<\/strong> Year round.<\/p>

Here’s how to grow ornamental grass<\/a><\/p>

Iris unguicularis<\/em> \u2018Peloponnese Snow\u2019<\/h3>

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\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Hardy or near hardy, winter-flowering iris are not thick on the ground, and this one is the standout selection of a species that has filled this gap. The more-often seen cultivars are various shades of lilac-blue, which may or may not have much scent and can be reluctant to produce many flowers. By contrast the beautifully marked white flowers of \u2018Peloponnese Snow\u2019 are not only strongly scented but are also produced prolifically for several months. Worth watching out for slugs eating the soft flower stems and flowers. Keith Wiley<\/strong><\/p>

Here’s more on growing Siberian irises<\/a><\/p>

Height<\/strong> 30-45cm.Origin<\/strong> Greece.Conditions<\/strong> Well-drained soil; sun in preferably a sheltered spot.Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H5, USDA 7a-9b.Season of interest<\/strong> Evergreen clump flowering winter through spring.<\/p>

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