After the wild winter we experienced, we can lift our spirits by thinking of the plants waiting for early spring. Some of these jewels show their colors surprisingly early.
Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrops) are eagerly awaited as a symbol of the coming spring. They emerged in January with the melting of the Snowpocalypse. These little ones grow into lovely patches. The best way to get them started is to plant them in the green in the early spring, which means obtain plants actively growing. Dry snowdrop bulbs planted in the fall are more difficult to get going. Stop by a neighbor who has a patch, beg a few, and plant them right away.
Eranthis hyemalis (Winter Aconite) bulbs have bright yellow cup-shaped blossoms with a jester’s collar of green bracts surrounding the base of the flower. They bloom at the same time as snowdrops, a very nice combination. The genus name comes from the Greek er (spring) and anthos (bloom). Plant these under deciduous trees where you can see them from a window.
Early snow crocuses are some of my favorites. In my rock garden they started blooming as soon as the snow melted. Despite their delicate appearance, they are tough little plants. Walk around our neighborhood and you may see them naturalized in rock gardens and lawns.
These bulbs need well-drained soil. If you have heavy clay soil, add some organic material, sand, and ¼-10 gravel. Plan ahead for these bulbous charmers. Plant them in the fall (except the snowdrops) when they are available at nurseries or from online sources.
On my walks in late January I delighted in seeing Arctostaphylos (Manzanita) shrubs in bloom. These plants are Pacific coast natives, from British Columbia to Baja. Beloved by birds and pollinators, their clusters of small urn-shaped flowers are very welcome early and persist for weeks. The species range from ground covers to 6-foot hedges. They thrive in sun and well-drained soil.
Helleborus niger and H. orientalis (Lenten Rose) are also welcome early bloomers. My H. niger Jacob has been blooming since the beginning of December, and by mid-January my H. orientalis buds were showing color in a range from white and yellow to dark red. They need a partial shade environment, but not deep shade, and are fully hardy in our area. These plants are available at nurseries beginning in winter and into early spring. (Watch out! Buying hellebores in early spring is habit forming.)
Sarcococca (Fragrant Sweet Box) are evergreen shrubs treasured for their sweet scent in early spring. The flowers are very small but pack a lovely fragrance wallop. They grow slowly to moderate size in dry, light shade areas where other plants might be difficult to grow. Plant them where you can walk close to enjoy their scent.
Sources for these plants are Garden Fever, Portland Nursery, Cistus, Joy Creek, and Xera nurseries. Wild Ginger Farm, located outside of Oregon City, has an especially interesting website (wildgingerfarm.com), and Brent and Becky’s bulbs (brentandbeckysbulbs.com) is a quality online source as well. Last but not least, check out the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon sale in April at the Expo Center.