Plants for May

In May, we recommend you plant:

Outstanding evergreen shrubs available in all shapes & sizes
Flowers profusely throughout May with a few varieties flowering even earlier
Must have acidic soils and will always benefit from regular feeds of sequestered iron
Flower heads are truly magnificent and come in a huge array of colours
If you have acid soil conditions, you should always make room for a Rhododendron or two
Favourites include the Hardy Hybrid Elizabeth, Percy Wiseman, Surrey Heath and Silver Edge
For smaller gardens or container growing the Yakushimanum hybrids create superb colour in this month too

The Mock Orange, in its many forms, produces masses of sweetly scented near pure white single or double flowers
It grows into a medium to large deciduous shrub and is ideal for the back of a border
Some forms have yellow foliage and variegation
It is tolerant of most positions but does best in neutral to slightly alkaline soils in full sun
For best results, prune out the older wood after flowering to encourage fresh young growth the following year
Popular varieties include Belle Etoile (single fragrant flowers), Virginal (double scented flowers) and Manteau d’Hermione (a dwarf, more compact variety (double creamy white flowers)

Mexican Orange Blossom, as it’s commonly known, makes a striking, medium to large mounded evergreen shrub
It produces masses of sweetly scented white flowers, that are pleasantly set off against its dark green glossy foliage
It grows quite happily in sun or shade, although the yellow leaf form ‘Sundance’ retains its best foliage colour in full sun
It will often flower through into June depending on the climatic conditions
It is tolerant of most positions and prefers neutral to slightly alkaline soils

The Warminster Broom makes a popular small shrub in most gardens with its tumbling mass of creamy white flowers in May
The Brooms in their many forms and varieties makes a spectacular splash of colour with its pea like flowers
They are generally lime tolerant but really do best on neutral to slightly acidic soils
They all prefer bright sunlight and the more vigorous varieties will benefit from a trim of the current seasons growth after flowering
Some, like Cytisus battandieri, flower later and make a stunning, vigorous wall shrub with yellow cone-like flower clusters.

The ever-popular Blue Blossom or Californian Lilacs are a must for most gardens and make attractive wall shrubs as well as prominent mounds
In the main, they are evergreen and produce dark glossy foliage although one variety, ‘Gloire de Versailles’, is one of the popular deciduous forms
They prefer full sun and are lime tolerant but are best in neutral soils
Most evergreen forms need little pruning however, if this needs to be done, always carry out after flowering
It is also tolerant of seaside conditions and, although reasonably hardy, it is sometimes best to give some frost protection during very severe weather

This umbrella term refers to a wide range of delightful often heavily scented roses that produce masses of single, double or multi petal flowers throughout summer
One of the greatest exponents of these popular varieties is David Austin Roses and the range on offer, if selected well, will give real depth to any garden, as many varieties produce flowers repeatedly
Old English Roses generally thrive in heavy clay soils and are, in the main, deciduous
Most grow to around 1metre high and frequently broad, and are generally tough and reliable
Popular varieties include Gertrude Jekyll, Glamis Castle, Graham Thomas and Winchester Cathedral

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