For March we’d like to highlight two trees/shrubs that are suitable for smaller gardens, both of which bloom in March. They are Magnolia stellata (Star Magnolia) and Amelanchier lamarckii.(Snowy Mespilus).

Magnolia stellata is a relatively slow growing deciduous shrub/small multi-stemmed tree. With a maximum height of about 2.5 metres and a slightly larger spread it can fit into the smallest of gardens. It has attractive and quite dense foliage, making it a good plant for providing cover for birds, but its main ornamental feature is the profusion of white star-shaped flowers that burst in early spring, often before the leaf buds open.

A young Magnolia stellata in full bloom

The picture below shows the flowers in close-up and illustrates why the name stellata was coined.

Stellata Flowers

Amelanchier lamarckii is a taller, but more slender option. Like the magnolia it has white flowers in early spring, but they are smaller and more delicate on the Amelanchier. Changing leaf tones mean that although the Amelanchier may be the less showy of the two in March, it continues to work hard throughout the year. The new leaves are a bronze colour, opening to green, but then turning an orange-red to give an autumn display. The flowers are followed by small dark berries that will soon be eaten by birds. The picture below shows the “snowy” flowers and the bronze new foliage.

Amelanchier in late March

So, two compact trees flowering in March, if you want one to work harder all year, the Amelanchier is the choice, but for the more striking display in March, plump for the Magnolia.

A serious contender for this month’s choices was the Narcissus, given St. David’s Day, Mothers’ Day and the first day of spring, but we’ve held off until April (Easter).