What's Looking Good In March 2019

What is a good alternative to crocuses. I only have a few here at the moment dotted around here, there and everywhere. There are not really enough in any one place to have an impact. I want to plant crocuses (or equivalent) interspersed amongst my daffodils as described in another thread. From what I can tell, the crocuses would be dying out as the daffodils were opening

G.

 

Now I like crocus the one plant I don't like is Salvia esp the one called Hot Lips. Don't ask me why...I just can't put my finger on it
My Dad loves Begonias but I have to side with Monty on that one too. Again I don't know why.....it must be down to looks I suppose.

 

@Jack Sparrow what about polyanthus or Cowslip?

 

A few crocus will quickly spread Gary if that is what you want
However, consider this....crocus and daffs together and what they look like after the flowering is over!!! Not a pleasant view....6 weeks of daff foliage interspersed with weedy crocus foliage??? I like to plant daffodils where perennials will grow to disguise their dying foliage. If you want bulbs, lilies would assort well...their foliage now appearing, always looking fresh and green and flowering later??? Snowdrops too with their earlier flowers and foliage looking good without being weedy?? Blue flowering brunneras would look good with daffodils....now flowering here with enough attractive foliage too

You have broken the mould Upsy.....I have always felt women love Hot Lips and men dislike it I don’t like it either

 

As previously mentioned, my bergenias are doing really well. It's pretty impressive for a plant I cut in half. The plant in the middle is hellebores Niger which is doing ok in its first year. I'm hoping that these three plants will eventually spread and fill that bed.

G.

 

Green fingers Gary?

 

Corydalis solida "George Baker" ALL looking good is George early my corydalis is only just coming up now

Spruce

 

Corydalis George Baker is now a must have plant
I grow the blue flexuosa varieties here

 

Fritillaries and anemones

 

Not a very good picture but my Kojo no mai looks amazing

 

@Spruce
George is early this year, but is always the last of my corydalis.
@Verdun
George Baker is reliable and bulks up quickly. There are now quite a lot of C solida hybrids available, many quite similar, Firecracker is another good red one. I haven't tried C flexuosa yet any recommendations?

 

Morning Nigel
I think China Blue is the variety I have grown ....yet to flower but soon. Not ideal soil here for it ....free draining sandy loam...but I grow large patches of it for a friend of mine on the edge of her woodland. I divided and replanted it after flowering to build up a wide clump
Flowers for a long time on mats about 10cm high....it goes dormant rapidly in the summer if allowed to dry out so keep moist Nice ground cover for late daffs, iris, tulips, lilies etc
Looks like George Baker likes it a bit drier....going to order it later

 

Back in the early pages here we discussed plants for my trellis, thanks all for your ideas. I've decided on this Clematis and may add another at a later point. I'll see how it fills out first.

Koreana Amber. Flowers May, June and September and hardy to -20C. Height 6-8ft.