Head gardener Andrea Brunsendorf takes pleasure in the drifts of luminous flowers, lacy umbellifers and fragrant woodlanders that grace the garden in late spring
PHOTOGRAPHS ANDREW MAYBURY
MECONOPSIS ‘LINGHOLM’
With large, sky-blue flowers, this fertile hybrid was discovered on the Lingholm estate in the Lake District. It is a longer-lived perennial than other cultivars and grows well from seed. Best sown with freshly gathered seeds in late summer; don’t sow too thickly, as it is notorious for damping off, and overwinter it in a cold frame. These blue poppies grow only in the cooler parts of Britain, and so thrive at Lowther with its damp summers and average temperatures of 18°C. A truly magical plant. AGM*.
Height and spread 75cm x 50cm.
Origin M. betonicifolia x M. grandis (species Himalaya and western China).
Conditions Moist, well-drained, organically rich soil, preferably slightly acidic; part shade.
Hardiness RHS H5, USDA 5a-7b†.
Season of interest May through June.
EPIMEDIUM X PERRALCHICUM ‘FRÖHNLEITEN’
This hybrid was found in the alpine garden of Fröhnleiten, Austria, and was propagated by breeder Ernst Pagels. It is a rhizomatous perennial with airy clusters of distinct, bright-yellow flowers held just above the mounding foliage. The new leaves on wiry stems are marbled with bronze edges in spring, which reappear in the autumn. Cut back only if significant winter damage occurs to its foliage. It is very versatile and will even tolerate dry shade once established. AGM.
Height and spread 40cm x 60cm.
Origin Garden (species Caucasus, Algeria).
Conditions Moist, well-drained, organically rich soil, preferably slightly acidic; part to full shade and sheltered from cold winds.
Hardiness RHS H6, USDA 5a-9b.
Season of interest April to May for flowers; evergreen foliage year round.
NARCISSUS ‘ACTAEA’
This enchanting pheasant’s eye has a tall, delightfully fragrant white flower with a small, yellow cup edged in orange-red. It extends the daffodil season deep into May and is a good cut flower. This cultivar is often chosen to naturalise in damp, grassy meadows thanks to its unique tolerance for wet conditions. I like to see it in great swathes beneat
