April plants

RIBES SANGUINEUM

Flowering currants may be an old-fashioned choice, but as I become better acquainted with the gardens of northern England, I appreciate this deciduous spring-flowering shrub ever more. It is dotted throughout Lowther, reminding us of the garden’s Edwardian past, and is spectacular in full bloom with its drooping clusters of pinkish-red flowers. I am a great fan of the blackcurrant-scented foliage. From an early age, when I was gardening with my grandparents, you would often find me with my nose among the currant bushes.

Height and spread 2.5m x 2m.

Origin North America.

Conditions Moist, well-drained soils; full sun to part shade. Will tolerate some drought.

Hardiness RHS H6, USDA 5a-8a^†.

Season of interest March – April.

PRUNUS SPINOSA

A blackthorn in full bloom, with its clouds of snow-white flowers, always takes my breath away. If you leave a blackthorn whip unclipped, it will become a beautiful, small, spiny, free-standing tree that is extremely valuable to wildlife throughout the year. Its flowers offer early nectar and pollen; the small narrow leaves are a food source for many caterpillars and the impenetrable thicket-like habit provides nesting opportunities and shelter. The damson-like fruits, known as sloes, feed birds and, of course, flavour gin.

Height and spread 5m x 4m.

Origin Europe, including Great Britain, North Africa and Western Asia.

Conditions Moist, well-drained soils of all types; full sun to part shade.

Hardiness RHS H7, USDA 4a-8b.

Season of interest March – April (flowers); September onwards (fruit).

CARDAMINE PENTAPHYLLOS

I enjoy growing this compact, clump-forming perennial in the castle’s ruin, where it catches the eye of visitors with its dense heads of deep pinkish-purple flowers every spring. What makes me slightly chuckle about it here at Lowther, where summer temperatures average around 18^ºC, is that all physical evidence of this plant still disappears below the ground – a clever evolutionary survival s