March is a green light for gardeners. The soil is warming, the days are lengthening, and right now you have one of the most important planting windows of the entire year. Whether you are sowing from seed or picking up pot-grown plants already in bloom, there is no better time to act.
At Charles & Ivy, we believe a truly beautiful garden is the result of confident decisions made at the right time. These are the six flowers we would put in the ground this spring without hesitation.
Hyacinths
Best for: Instant scent, containers, front door displays
Blooms: March to April
Where to plant: Containers, window boxes, front borders in full sun.
Few flowers match the hyacinth for sheer, unapologetic scent. Rich and heady, it carries on the spring air in a way that immediately signals the season has changed. Buy pot-grown hyacinths already in bloom this March and plant them directly into a border or container for instant impact and requires no waiting whatsoever.
Daffodils
Best for: Cheerful early colour, naturalising, cut flowers
Blooms: February to April
Where to plant: Borders, containers, grass, woodland edges
Nothing announces spring quite like a daffodil. Joyful, reliable and unmistakable British, they are one of the most rewarding flowers you can grow. Pick up pot-grown daffodils now and get them into the ground this weekend for an immediate burst of golden colour that will last for weeks.
They are equally at home in formal borders, relaxed cottage gardens, containers or naturalised through grass. Cut them freely for the house and they will brighten every room.
Tip: Never tie or know the leaves after flowering. Allow them to die back naturally to ensure a strong display again the following spring.
Tulips
Best for: Bold colour, architectural impact, containers
Blooms: April to May
Where to plant: Sunny borders, large containers, mixed spring displays
Elegant, architectural and available in an extraordinary range of colours and forms, the tulip is the most versatile bulb in the spring garden. But pot-grown tulips in bud or early bloom this March and use them to fill gaps in borders, add instant height to containers, or create dramatic displays that would otherwise have required planning months in advance.
Paired with daffodils and hyacinths, pot-grown tulips allow you to build a layered, sophisticated spring display in a matter of hours. Choose complementary or contrasting colours deliberately and the result will look entirely intentional.
Tip: For the best results in containers, choose a deep pot and ensure good drainage. Tulips will not tolerate waterlogged soil.
Oriental Poppies
Best for: Drama, perennial reliability, pollinators
Blooms: May to June (returns every year)
Where to plant: Full sun, well-drained border
If you want the most spectacular flower in the summer border, look no further. Oriental poppies produce enormous, papery blooms in shades of scarlet, coral, white and deepest burgundy, each one a fleeting masterpiece that lasts just a few weeks but makes an unforgettable impression.
As perennials, they return year after year, growing more impressive each season. They die back gracefully after flowering, which makes them ideal partners for later-emerging plants that will fill the gap they leave behind.
Tip: Plant hardy geraniums or catmint nearby to cover the gap when poppies die back in midsummer.
Sweet Peas
Best for: Scent, cut flowers, cottage garden charm
Blooms: June to September
Where to plant: Sunny position with support (trellis, wigwam or fence)
Few plants deliver as much reward for as little effort as the sweet pea. Sow seeds directly outside in March, or start them off in pots on a cool windowsill, and they will climb, tumble and fill your garden with one of the most beautiful fragrances in the plant world.
The key to a long display is deadhead regularly. Remove spent blooms before they set seed and the plant will keep producing flowers well into September. Sweet peas also make exceptional cut flowers, so grow generously and bring them inside as often as possible.
Tip: Soak seeds overnight before sowing to speed up germination and give them the strongest possible start.
Cornflowers
Best for: Cut flowers, cottage gardens, wildlife
Blooms: June to September
Where to plant: Full sun, directly in the ground where you want them to flower
The cornflower is proof that the most beautiful things are often the simplest. Scatter seeds directly where you want them to grow in March, and they will reward you with vibrant, jewel-blue blooms from June through to September. No fussing, no transplanting, no fertiliser required.
They thrive on poor soil and produce stems that are perfect for cutting, making them one of the most useful flowers in the garden. Their vivid blue is also a colour that is genuinely rare in the summer border, making cornflowers an invaluable addition to any planting scheme.
Tip: Sow in succession every three to four weeks from March until May for continuous blooms all summer.
Before You Plant
Before anything goes in the ground this March, take a moment to prepare. Clear away any winter debris, remove weeds while the soil is workable, and keep a roll of horticultural fleece to hand for any late frosts. Give your plants the best possible start and they will give you the best possible summer.
The most beautiful gardens are not the result of chance. They are the result of the right decisions, made at the right time. This is your moment.
