Early Spring Garden Surprises

As drifts of pristine white snowdrops begin to reach their dramatic peak at Easton Walled Gardens during February, other plants are also adding colour and interest. Hellebores are the most famous of the snowdrop companions but there are others to consider. Early flowers such as the little pink-tinted bells of early flowering cherry Prunus subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’, or the rosy stars of ground-covering evergreen Vinca difformis ‘Jenny Pym’.  Foliage is also important; evergreen Mahonia aquifolium is yet to bloom, but its foliage has flushed an impressive bronze-red.

Many of the plants visitors most admire at this time of year have been chosen to form attractive associations with our snowdrops, complementing or contrasting with them.

Here are seven of the best spring-interest plants:

The native arum marmoratum looks pretty in a woodland setting with snowdrops

Italian arum (Arum italicum subsp. italicum ‘Marmoratum’)

During late autumn and early winter, the superbly glossy foliage of this refined perennial emerges from below ground, sporting flashes of silver. It is an easy-to-grow, clump-forming plant usually reaching no more than 30cm tall, thriving beside snowdrops in sun or shade. The leaves make a perfect foil for the little white flowers, both in the ground or picked and popped in a vase. Another plant we find has foliage perfect for mixing beside snowdrops is golden feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium ‘Aureum’), a short-lived perennial which, at this stage in the year, forms low mounds of divided, yellow-green leaves.

Cyclamen coum will self seed around, here a plant has appeared under an old wall

Eastern cyclamen (Cyclamen coum)

Growing from underground tubers that slowly increase in size over the years, this cyclamen is a classic partner for snowdrops. Its small, heart-shaped leaves are held close to the ground (10cm) and may be green or silver-variegated; they emerge in winter after summer dormancy. The little flowers are mauve-pink, pale pink or white and appear just as the snowdrops are in full bloom, injecting colour and contrast. Plants spread freely by seed (which is distributed by ants) and in time a carpet of growth may form. It likes similar sites to snowdrops, in sun or dappled shade with good drainage. Grow in turf below trees or at the front or borders; they are very happy in our Winter Walk

Snowdrops and Aconites combine under deciduous trees in the cedar meadow at Easton

Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis)

Often flowering even earlier than many snowdrops, winter aconites also make charming companions, the upward-facing golden-yellow cup-shaped flowers adding a touch of warmth to the scene. They are low-growing perennials with tuberous roots, reaching at the most 15cm tall, the flower appearing above a ruff-like collar of three small green leaf-like bracts. These expand once the flower has faded but the plant dies off by late spring. They are probably best grown in rough grass or below trees and again thrive in situations where snowdrops grow – we have many in our Woodland Walk with hellebores and snowflakes (Leucojum).

Snowdrops thrive beneath deliciously scented Lonicera fragrantissima

Winter-flowering honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima)

At the top of the Snowdrop Bank, this deciduous shrub attracts visitors with the delicious, sweet perfume produced by its profuse white flowers, which appear from January until the end of March. It is a vigorous and easy-to-grow shrub, thriving in sun or light shade, making a multi-stemmed, vase-shaped plant to around 2.5m; its flowers often attracting early pollinating insects. Hard frosts can kill off the flowers but more buds soon open to ensure the display continues. Prune it after flowering, thinning out the oldest stems – this opens its canopy up allowing snowdrops to thrive below.

Narcissus ‘New Dawn’ flowering with snowdrops on the Snowdrop Bank

Daffodils (Narcissus ‘New Dawn’)

This charming daffodil is a great favourite, producing from February nodding flowers which have pale-lemon-yellow outer petals (actually perianth segments) around a creamy central trumpet. The flowers lift their heads and age to near white in a few days and will cope with hard weather. One of the first daffodils to flower, they are perfect for combining with snowdrops in semi wild situations. We have other daffodils at Easton growing with snowdrops, such as N. ‘W.P. Milner’ and N. ‘Eystettensis’ (Queen Anne’s double) at the foot of the snowdrop bank.

Pulmonia ‘Redstart’ is a great choice for early flowers on chalky and limestone soils

Lungwort (Pulmonaria rubra ‘Redstart’)

This early-flowering herbaceous perennial grows in the Woodland Walk, alongside snowdrops and other early treasures, forming leafy ground cover for much of the year with broad, green leaves forming dense mounds to around 4cm high. From February clusters of funnel-shaped, brick-red flowers appear, lasting well into spring and thriving in the partial shade in soil that does not get too dry in summer. The flowers often attract early pollinators including bumblebees. The old leaves can get a little tatty in winter so do trim them away as the snowdrops emerge and new growth develops.

Skimmia ‘Kew Green’ is nothing special to look at until the scent is released on a sunny day and then it more than earns its place in the garden

Skimmia x confusa ‘Kew Green’

Some evergreen shrubs are useful for growing besides snowdrops. In the White Space Garden thrives this low-growing, spreading plant which develops panicles of greenish, deliciously-fragrant flowers that open in spring, but which are attractive for weeks before in bud. This is a male plant and so does not produce red berries. Its glossy, lance-shaped leaves make a good background to the flowers of several special sorts of snowdrop that grow here. Another evergreen to consider with snowdrops is winter box (Sarcococca). There are several species, many of which produce flowers in winter, with scent that travels well on the air; it’s another we have in the Woodland Walk.

To see these plants and more flowering in the gardens see our winter and spring opening times.