It is only just April and the colour is showing in the early shrubs. These are some of my favourites.

Flowering Currant ( Ribes Sanguineum)

The small currant leaves can’t hide the large amount of red or pink flowers hanging from all the leaf joints in tassel like profusion. On one tassel I have just picked there are 11 star like flowers open and at least as many buds to still open. A great show of pink and red at this early stage of the season when these colours are harder to find. They don’t last very long but are a worthwhile plant to grow. The leaves have a strong and pleasant currant smell

• Cuttings are easy to root and I just cut a 10″ length and push it into a patch of garden where I want a new plant.
• They often grow wild on patches of land or a friendly neighbour would give you several cuttings. Look for a colour that you like and ask after it has finished flowering or at the backend of the season.
• Plants can grow to 5 feet and more so keep pruning out some of the old wood and trim the plant to a manageable size.
• Pruning should be done shortly after flowering – cutting back to a new bud.
• I grow them in sun and shade at they both perform.
• You often see them at coastal areas so they do OK by the sea

Pieris Japonica

Pieris japoninca

These shrubs are usually grown for the new bright red leaves that start emerging during April. This does them a disservice as the mature bushes are now covered in clusters of white flowers shaped like lily of the valley. This shape of flower gives the plant a common nick name of ‘Lily of the Valley Bush’.

• Pieris Forest Flame has red leaves that eventually turn pink then green. They grow slowly but robustly.
• Pieris Mountain Fire is another variety whose name implies where it came from and what to expect. Whilst ‘Flaming Silver’s new leaves are pinkish and the remaining foliage is variegated with white edges
• The new Katsura range have darker leaves, red or pinkish flower tassels but I have found it less vigourous.
• Pieris like a moist acidic soil
• Cuttings can be taken in June or July when flowering has finished. They are more difficult to root than Ribes but the plants are worth the effort

Mid April and the Flowering currants are giving way to the Pieris japonica exchanging pink for red in floral terms and berries for small clusters of bell shaped flowers.

Spirea Magic Carpet.

Spirea leaf just bursting on this orange leafed variety. The white blossoming Spireas flower at the end of the month