April Flowers: What To Grow for a Stunning Spring Garden

After a long winter, the garden is alive! Birds sing in the blossoming trees and bees are coming out of hibernation. The subtle hues of winter are being replaced by brighter colours, and the choice of flowering plants for your garden grows by the day.

There's a saying that "April showers bring May flowers", but however temperamental the weather, there are plenty of options for April flowers in your garden. Magnolias and cherry trees often steal the show at this time of year, but the brighter colours of ribes and Kerria japonica are sure to grab your attention on a grey spring day. In beds and borders, bergenias and Tiarella also get their moment in the spotlight.

Of course, we can't talk about flowers in April without mentioning spring bulbs. Tulips and fritillaria are at their prime, and there are still plenty of narcissus around. It's the perfect opportunity to window shop before next year's bulbs go on sale at the end of summer. 

April is a key month for seed sowing, as the soil should be warm enough to sow many annuals directly outside. Find out more about which flowers to plant in April in my round up of monthly gardening jobs.

Magnolia 'George Henry Kern'

April is the peak month for magnolias across most of the country, and it's hard to choose just one variety to feature, but Magnolia 'George Henry Kern' stands out for many reasons. It's a hybrid variety, which gives you the compact size of Magnolia stellata combined with the lily-shaped blooms of Magnolia liliflora. The deep purple buds open up to soft pink petals that darken to purple near the base. I much prefer these shades of magnolia to the white varieties – they add a soft, fairytale look to any garden.

Magnolia 'George Henry Kern' is a fantastic choice for small gardens or front gardens, but you can also grow it in a container on a patio. Magnolias have shallow roots and can provide a lot of shade in summer, which limits the choice of plants you can grow underneath them. Your best bet is to choose groundcover options that grow well in dry shade.

Plant it with…

Alchemilla mollis (Lady's mantle): This undemanding perennial thrives in most soil conditions and is reasonably drought-tolerant once established. Sprays of lime-green flowers rise above the scalloped leaves in summer.

Vinca minor 'Atropurpurea': Vinca minor is an excellent shade-tolerant evergreen perennial which flowers from spring through to the end of summer. The plum purple flowers of this variety complement the purple-tinged blooms of Magnolia 'George Henry Kern'.

Athyrium 'Red Beauty': To create an abundant look when underplanting, you need plants with different textures. Japanese painted ferns pull double duty, as the green leaves tinged with silver and flushed with purple also contrast with the deep green foliage of most shade-loving plants. Like magnolias, it prefers slightly acidic soil. 

Rhododendron 'Percy Wiseman'

Rhododendron 'Percy Wiseman' is a justifiably popular yak hybrid with stunning colour-changing flowers. The buds start out coral pink and bloom into creamy flowers flushed with yellow and soft pink. The pink colour fades from the blooms toward the end of summer. It's a perfect evergreen shrub for people who prefer pastel colours over the vivid pinks and purples more commonly associated with rhododendrons.

Rhododendron 'Percy Wiseman' grows to around two metres in height and spread. It's very hardy and more tolerant of sun than other rhododendrons, making it suitable for a range of gardens. If you don't have acidic soil or you want to restrict its size, you can also grow it in a large pot filled with ericacrous compost.

Plant it with…

Rhododendron impeditum: Rhododendrons look their best when planted in groups. The cool purple flowers of this dwarf rhododendron complement those of 'Percy Wiseman' beautifully, and its compact shape makes it ideal to plant in front of the larger rhododendron.

Hydrangea 'Zorro': When planted in acidic soil, this award-winning lacecap hydrangea produces beautiful blue and violet flowers in late summer. Planted together, Hydrangea 'Zorro' and Rhododenron 'Percy Wiseman' give you spectacular flowers through the growing season.

Hosta 'Halcyon': Hostas are the perfect plant to fill the ground around your rhododendron bushes. Hosta 'Halcyon' is a blue variety with lush, textured foliage and lavender flowers in summer.

Bergenia 'Bressingham Ruby'

I have to admit to not being the biggest fan of bergenias, so I rather surprised myself a couple of weeks ago when a stunning bed of flowering bergenias literally stopped me in my tracks, causing me to almost miss school pickup. Bergenias are often underrated (including, apparently, by me), but they are very useful plants, particularly in tricky gardens, as they'll grow pretty much anywhere.

Bergenia 'Bressingham Ruby' is one of the best bergenias for spring and winter colour. In April and May it will wow you (and the bees) with clusters of bright magenta flowers that perch on tall, red stems. Later in the year, when cooler weather arrives, the leathery green leaves turn a deep ruby red. Bergenias are renowned for being easy to grow, and because they will grow in shade, this is where they often end up being planted, but the beautiful winter foliage will give you the best colour when allowed to shine in the sun.

Plant it with…

Carex 'Bronze Form': For textural contrast and complementary colour, you can't beat this decorative grass. Plant it with 'Bressingham Ruby' in an open site, where the late-autumn sun will make both plants glow.

Liriope 'Moneymaker': Liriope offers contrasting foliage and late summer interest. Liriope 'Moneymaker' blooms from July onwards, with spikes of vibrant purple flowers. A good combination for a partially shaded border.

Tiarella 'Angel Wings': Pair bergenias with Tiarella for a stunning display of spring flowers and contrasting foliage. The deeply dissected leaves have purple central markings that hint at the winter hues of the bergenia leaves.

Kerria 'Golden Guinea'

Another plant that makes me stop in my tracks at this time of year is Kerria japonica, more commonly known as the Japanese rose. The double flowered variety – Kerria 'Pleniflora' – is very popular, but I prefer the large, open buttercup-shaped flowers displayed by Kerria 'Golden Guinea'.

Kerria japonica can start to flower in March in warmer parts of the country, but by April, the deciduous shrubs are covered with sunny yellow flowers. Kerria 'Golden Guinea' likes a partially shaded spot and copes well with poor soils, making it a good choice for new build gardens and other areas where the soil hasn't had much love. It's a pleasingly low-maintenance shrub, but make sure you remove new suckers (new shoots that come up from the roots) if you don't want it spreading.

Plant it with…

Polystichum setiferum: This native evergreen fern thrives in a shady border and, like Kerria 'Golden Guinea', is tolerant of different soil types. Its soft green fronds are a lovely contrast to Kerria's green leaves. 

Ribes 'Pulborough Scarlet': Kerria and ribes together give an unbeatable, vibrant burst of spring colour; a joyful clash of yellow and pink. Both shrubs are adaptable and grow well in similar conditions.

Anemone 'Whirlwind': Japanese anemones are one of the few late-season flowers that bloom well in partial shade. This hybrid cultivar will light up borders with its yellow-centered white flowers when Kerria 'Golden Guinea' fades into the background.

Vinca 'Bowles's Variety'

Periwinkles have a long flowering period and are brilliant at suppressing weeds, but sometimes garner a bad reputation for taking over gardens. As often is the case in gardening, the key is choosing the right plant. Vinca 'Bowles's Variety' is a cultivar of Vinca minor (lesser periwinkle), which is not nearly as invasive as its sibling, Vinca major. Its long, trailing stems give excellent groundcover without getting out of control.

Vinca 'Bowles's Variety' is a star plant for difficult gardens, including dry shade, rockeries, damp ground and steep slopes (its roots help bind the soil and prevent erosion). Its pretty violet flowers bloom from April through to the end of summer, and the dark green, evergreen foliage means you won't be left with bare soil over winter. Avoid choosing companions that compete for space; instead, pair it with taller plants that will add height and structure to your garden.

Plant it with…

Astilbe 'Black Pearls': Like periwinkle, astilbe loves moist soil and shady areas. It's strong enough to grow up through the periwinkle in spring, and adds height and drama to a border in summer, with its feathery plumes of purple flowers.

Hosta 'Wide Brim': Shade-loving hostas are another good companion for Vinca minor. Hosta 'Wide Brim' is a variegated cultivar with blue-green leaves. The small purple flowers in summer complement the darker violet flowers of Vinca 'Bowles's Variety'.

Azalea 'Anouk': This evergreen azalea explodes into colour in May with a profusion of bright pink flowers. As well as providing complement spring colour, the evergreen leaves add a level of structure above the ground-hugging periwinkle.

FAQ

What is April's birth flower?

Daisies and sweet peas are the birth flowers for April. They are both joyful flowers that remind me of summer days, so seem an interesting choice for mid-spring. While you may see a handful of small daisies scattered across your lawn in April, larger varieties, such as the ox-eye daisy and Shasta daisy, flower later in the year – around the same time as sweet peas bloom. If you want to gift flowers to someone for their April birthday, you'd be better off choosing tulips, narcissus or ranunculus or a long-lasting rhododendron shrub.

What flowers can I plant in April in the UK?

April is a perfect month for planting a new garden or filling gaps in your borders for the coming year. You can plant herbaceous perennials, summer-flowering bulbs and spring bedding plants in April. Plant out sweet peas you've grown from seed or bought as plants, and sow hardy annual seeds outside for summer flowers. The weather in April can be variable, so wait until the soil is warm and there's minimal risk of frost.

What are some flowers that bloom in April in the UK?

April is the peak month for daffodils, tulips and fritillaria, but they're not the only flowers blooming in mid-spring. Bergenia and Tiarella offer striking vertical blooms in shades of pink and white. Closer to the ground, periwinkle and forget-me-nots are starting to flower, alongside earlier spring flowers such as primroses and sweet violet. Many trees and shrubs also bloom in April, including magnolias, ribes and Kerria.