{"id":35067,"date":"2024-05-01T09:21:14","date_gmt":"2024-05-01T07:21:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/e9ed9be5-cdbb-4cc7-ba11-3a8f0a305be4"},"modified":"2024-05-01T11:36:10","modified_gmt":"2024-05-01T09:36:10","slug":"the-best-flowers-for-a-beautiful-display-in-the-garden-in-may","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/rss_feed\/the-best-flowers-for-a-beautiful-display-in-the-garden-in-may\/","title":{"rendered":"The best flowers for a beautiful display in the garden in May"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"rssexcerpt\">As the days and soil gets warmer, expert plantsman Keith Wiley\u2019s choice include colour, from a bright-orange lily to a crimson rose, offset by the delicacy of a soft-pink viburnum. Words Keith Wiley, photographs Jason Ingram <\/p><p class=\"rssauthor\">By <\/p><p class=\"rssbyline\">Published: Wednesday, 01 May 2024 at 07:21 AM<\/p><hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\" standalone=\"yes\"?>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><p>May sees spring swing into bloom. Here\u2019s plantsman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/gardens\/country\/wildside-devon-garden-keith-wiley\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Keith Wiley<\/a>\u2018s choices of the best flowers to plant this month.<\/p><p>Don&#8217;t miss our round up of the best <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/gardens\/gardens-to-visit\/may-gardens-to-visit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">gardens to visit this month<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/garden-advice\/what-to-plant-in-may\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">what to plant in May. <\/a> Don&#8217;t miss our round up of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/garden-advice\/may-gardening-jobs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">May&#8217;s gardening jobs. <\/a><\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-best-may-flowers-in-the-uk\">The best May flowers in the UK<\/h2><div class=\"wp-block-group highlight-box is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\"><p><strong>You may also like<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/gardens\/country\/wildside-devon-garden-keith-wiley\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Keith Wiley\u2019s Wildside in Devon works in harmony with nature<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/plants\/pot-plants\/hoya-plant-how-to-care\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hoya plant: how to care for a hoya<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/garden-advice\/may-gardening-jobs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">May gardening jobs<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-rhododendron-muncaster-trumpet\"><em>Rhododendron<\/em> \u2018Muncaster Trumpet\u2019<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-landscape_thumbnail\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Although spoilt for choice in May for rhododendrons, I have always had a soft spot for those cultivars sporting hanging bells, as in \u2018Muncaster Trumpet\u2019. Many of this type are hybrids of <em>Rhododendron cinnabarinum<\/em> and have relatively small, oval, blue-green leaves and a stiff upright growth habit. They need and merit a sheltered, woodland setting with good air movement, as they are not the easiest of plants to grow well, but when covered in flowers they rank among the most beautiful we can grow outside. <strong>Height<\/strong> 2-3m. <strong>Origin<\/strong> Garden origin (species east Himalaya, Nepal, Tibet). <strong>Conditions<\/strong> Neutral or acidic soil; part shade. <strong>Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H4, USDA 5a-8b. <strong>Season of interest<\/strong> Spring.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-acer-palmatum-matsukaze\"><em>Acer palmatum<\/em> \u2018Matsukaze\u2019<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-landscape_thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"799\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2020\/05\/JI_290519_KeithWiley_151-360ff24.jpg?crop=1px,253px,796px,530px\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18181\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>This Japanese maple is truly multi-seasonal in its attributes. Its leaves emerge in spring a rich, bronze to red colour that very gradually fades to green by mid-summer before exiting in the autumn in glorious scarlet before they fall. These colour changes are by their very nature short-lived, so the display of crimson-red seedheads, which appear soon after leaf emergence and can last for months, if frosts haven\u2019t spoilt the flowers, is eye-catching and very welcome. It is very similar to <em>Acer palmatum<\/em> \u2018Chitose-yama\u2019. <strong>Height<\/strong> 2-3m (3-4m wide). <strong>Origin<\/strong> Garden origin (species Japan). <strong>Conditions<\/strong> Well-drained, good soil; full sun to part shade. <strong>Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H5, USDA 5a-9b. <strong>Season of interest<\/strong> Year round; spring to summer for seeds.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-roscoea-ice-maiden\"><em>Roscoea<\/em> \u2018Ice Maiden\u2019<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-landscape_thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"799\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2020\/05\/JI_290519_KeithWiley_033-a08c4c4.jpg?crop=1px,201px,796px,530px\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18176\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Roscoeas, members of the ginger family, are hardy, tuberous-rooted perennials that can be in flower from April right through to September. Pure white ones, such as this, are fairly thin on the ground at any time of the year. This cultivar, one of the earliest of the roscoeas to flower each year, is a seedling selection by Irish plantsman, Gary Dunlop that has pristine pure-white <em>Roscoea humeana<\/em> f. <em>alba<\/em> in its DNA. Unlike the straight species, it is easy to grow, and seems to have very few foibles. The pale yellow in the flower centre is extremely distinctive. <strong>Height<\/strong> 30-45cm. <strong>Origin<\/strong> Garden origin (species China). <strong>Conditions<\/strong> Well-drained, humus-rich soil; full sun to part shade. <strong>Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H4, USDA 8a-10b. <strong>Season of interest<\/strong> Spring.<\/p><p> <\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-viburnum-plicatum-f-plicatum-rosace\"><em>Viburnum plicatum<\/em> f. <em>plicatum<\/em> \u2018Rosace\u2019<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-landscape_thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"799\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2020\/05\/JI_290519_KeithWiley_075-89d39c5.jpg?crop=1px,377px,796px,530px\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18179\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Viburnum plicatum &#8216;Rosace&#8217; &#8211; \u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>I remember the day I first saw this plant in full flower in a garden as clearly as if it were yesterday. The plant I saw was about 2m high with crinkled coppery coloured leaves, and sporting all along the top of its layered branches, rounded heads of soft-pink flowers. I thought it was one of the most beautiful flowering shrubs I had ever seen. Having grown it ever since, familiarity has not dimmed my enthusiasm. After flowering the leaves turn green and best colour is achieved by growing in nearly full sun. <strong>Height<\/strong> 2m. <strong>Origin<\/strong> Garden origin (species Japan). <strong>Conditions<\/strong> Good, humus-rich soil; full sun to light shade. <strong>Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H6, USDA 5a-8b. <strong>Season of interest<\/strong> Early summer.<\/p><p>Here&#8217;s our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/plants\/spring\/viburnum-best-prune-care\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">grow guide for viburnum<\/a><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-lilium-pomponium\"><em>Lilium pomponium<\/em><\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-landscape_thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"945\" height=\"1420\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2020\/05\/JI_290519_KeithWiley_006-06b88a1.jpg?crop=1px,284px,942px,628px\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18175\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lilium pomponium &#8211; \u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>A small lily with a difference that relishes a really warm, sunny spot. Although it originally comes from the limestone mountain ranges of the southern Maritime Alps,<br\/>in cultivation it does not demand a limey soil. In the garden, as in the wild, it usually produces only two or three tightly curled, deep orange-red Turk\u2019s cap flowers. I grow it in a very stony soil, protected from our high rainfall, where in a good year, each stem can produce upwards of 15 flowers. It can be short-lived, but it is easily raised from seed, usually flowering by the third year. <strong>Height<\/strong> 30-60cm. <strong>Origin<\/strong> Southern France, Italy. <strong>Conditions<\/strong> Well-drained, soil; full sun. <strong>Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H4, USDA 4a-8b. <strong>Season of interest<\/strong> Early summer.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-athyrium-ghost\"><em>Athyrium<\/em> \u2018Ghost\u2019<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-landscape_thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"799\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2020\/05\/JI_290519_KeithWiley_209-f306126.jpg?crop=1px,124px,796px,530px\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18184\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>I have been growing the Japanese painted lady fern, <em>Athyrium niponicum<\/em> var. <em>pictum<\/em>, all my gardening life, but have found that it\u2019s low stature and running habit was not sufficiently robust to withstand the general hurly-burly of life in the open garden. So, discovering a silver-leaved fern that was taller with the classic vase shape of wild ferns and robust to boot, was a revelation. It has not disappointed and even though I have now grown many other silver-leaved ferns, this one still remains top of my pile for garden worthiness. AGM*. <strong>Height<\/strong> 60cm. <strong>Origin<\/strong> Garden origin (species Japan). <strong>Conditions<\/strong> Moist, well-drained soil; shade. <strong>Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H5, USDA 4a-8b. <strong>Season of interest<\/strong> Spring and summer.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-euphorbia-blue-haze\"><em>Euphorbia<\/em> \u2018Blue Haze\u2019<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-landscape_thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"799\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2020\/05\/JI_290519_KeithWiley_130-b21b01e.jpg?crop=1px,72px,796px,530px\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18180\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>This compact spurge, bred by Robin White of Blackthorn Nursery, is a wonderful plant for a sunny, well-drained (even poor and stony) soil, looking especially good where the ground is surfaced with gravel or stones. With narrow, blue-grey leaves it is smothered with yellow-green flowerheads in early summer, making a wonderful foil for other rounded shrublets, such as helianthemums. After flowering, cut it back to keep the plant compact and improve flowering the following year, but wear <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/garden-equipment\/what-to-wear\/the-best-gardening-gloves\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">gloves<\/a> as the sap can be harmful. <strong>Height<\/strong> 30cm. <strong>Origin<\/strong> Garden origin (<em>Euphorbia seguieriana<\/em> subsp. <em>niciciana<\/em> x <em>Euphorbia<\/em> <em>nicaeensis<\/em>). <strong>Conditions<\/strong> Well-drained soil; full sun. <strong>Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H5, USDA 6a-10b. <strong>Season of interest<\/strong> Year long; early summer for flowers.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-rosa-de-resht\"><em>Rosa<\/em> \u2018De Resht\u2019<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-landscape_thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"799\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2020\/05\/JI_290519_KeithWiley_039-94c9b73.jpg?crop=1px,322px,796px,530px\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18177\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>I don\u2019t expect any sympathy from those of you gardening on alkaline soils in drier parts of the country, but roses are generally not good in high rainfall areas. However, this shrub rose, an older cultivar, is an exception to this rule and an utter delight. It flowers all summer long and well into early autumn with highly scented, double flowers. It makes a compact, well-shaped bush with lush foliage, remarkably tolerant of blackspot and seems just as happy in a semi-shaded spot as in full sun. It was also my wife\u2019s favourite rose, and so it has now become my favourite too. AGM. <strong>Height<\/strong> 1-1.5m. <strong>Origin<\/strong> Garden origin. <strong>Conditions<\/strong> Well-drained, soil; full sun. <strong>Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H7, USDA 4a-9b. <strong>Season of interest<\/strong> All summer.<\/p><p><strong>Here&#8217;s more on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/plants\/flowers\/single-roses-growing-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lovely roses to grow<\/a><\/strong><\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-wisteria-floribunda-f-alba-shiro-noda\"><em>Wisteria floribunda<\/em> f. <em>alba<\/em> \u2018Shiro-noda\u2019<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-landscape_thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"799\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2020\/05\/JI_290519_KeithWiley_202-211c4eb.jpg?crop=1px,255px,796px,530px\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18183\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>I love <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/plants\/spring\/wisteria-how-to-grow\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">wisterias<\/a> of all sorts and one at least would definitely make my desert island list of plants. I grow many as free-standing shrubs with one or more short trunks, given a strong support in their early years until they can support themselves. Any wisteria can be grown like this, and then pruned in the normal way to make wonderful specimen plants. <em>Wisteria floribunda<\/em> cultivars tend to have longer racemes of flowers, and this highly scented cultivar, flowers slightly later than others, and is simply magnificent. AGM. <strong>Height<\/strong> Climber to 6m. <strong>Origin<\/strong> Japan. <strong>Conditions<\/strong> Well-drained soil; full sun to part shade. <strong>Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H6, USDA 5a-8b. <strong>Season of interest<\/strong> Early summer<br\/>for flowers.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-geranium-sanguineum-var-striatum\"><em>Geranium sanguineum <\/em>var<em>. striatum<\/em><\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-landscape_thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"799\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2020\/05\/JI_290519_KeithWiley_191-d902fcb.jpg?crop=1px,311px,796px,530px\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18182\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Geranium sanguineum var. striatum &#8211; \u00a9 Jason Ingram<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>It is easy to overlook perennials that are almost bomb-proof in their reliability not only to grow but to flower every year. This geranium comes into this category, growing nearly anywhere, immune to pests and diseases, and covering itself for months with intricately veined flowers above gently spreading tidy clumps of attractive foliage. Small and neat enough to consort happily with alpines or bulbs, yet robust enough to be used as an effective groundcover to prevent weed growth, this is a plant that deserves<br\/>even more widespread planting. AGM. <strong>Height<\/strong> 20cm. <strong>Origin<\/strong> UK native. <strong>Conditions<\/strong> Well-drained soil; full sun to part shade. <strong>Hardiness<\/strong> RHS H7, USDA 4a-8b. <strong>Season of interest<\/strong> All summer.<\/p><p>Here&#8217;s more on<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/plants\/best-hardy-geraniums\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> hardy geraniums<\/a><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the days and soil gets warmer, expert plantsman Keith Wiley\u2019s choice include colour, from a bright-orange lily to a crimson rose, offset by the delicacy of a soft-pink viburnum. Words Keith Wiley, photographs Jason Ingram <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":35068,"template":"","categories":[1,51],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"7"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2024\/05\/the-best-flowers-for-a-beautiful-display-in-the-garden-in-may.jpg",1704,2560,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2024\/05\/the-best-flowers-for-a-beautiful-display-in-the-garden-in-may-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2024\/05\/the-best-flowers-for-a-beautiful-display-in-the-garden-in-may-200x300.jpg",200,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2024\/05\/the-best-flowers-for-a-beautiful-display-in-the-garden-in-may-768x1154.jpg",768,1154,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2024\/05\/the-best-flowers-for-a-beautiful-display-in-the-garden-in-may-682x1024.jpg",682,1024,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2024\/05\/the-best-flowers-for-a-beautiful-display-in-the-garden-in-may-1022x1536.jpg",1022,1536,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2024\/05\/the-best-flowers-for-a-beautiful-display-in-the-garden-in-may-1363x2048.jpg",1363,2048,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":"As the days and soil gets warmer, expert plantsman Keith Wiley\u2019s choice include colour, from a bright-orange lily to a crimson rose, offset by the delicacy of a soft-pink viburnum. Words Keith Wiley, photographs Jason Ingram","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/35067"}],"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\/35068"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35067"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35067"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}