Flowers for March

[alistb]

I wonder if anyone can help I need to know of flowers that I can plant now or later to flower in March. I am in central Scotland this year the tulips and daffys came out in April and May. Main colour purple is what I am looking for.

I leave tulips and daffys in year on year. I prefrer to grow fruit and veg biggest failure this year blackcurrents must have over pruned them,last year from Alistair

[Two_Sheds]

There's not much of anything in flower here in March, let alone in Scotland ...?

[alistb]

what if I used an unheated greenhouse / to costly to heat

[Jeanied]

How about some of the blue / purple primulas - they could be brought on in a cold greenhouse. Primula wanda has some lovely little ones.
Is this for a special occasion?

[elsie-scot]

You could look at purple foliage and/or indoor plants. Guessing for a wedding, and they would work well for display.

Dried flowers?

Crocus - but are quite small.

I am no flower/plant expert so not sure when these grow but violets, can get purple amaryllis - but know they often past it by March, you can get a purple leafed shamrock (should be out for March 17th)

[Fernw]

Viola odorata has bluey purple scented flowers late winter to early spring and there are purple flowered Hellebore. Also Primula auricula 'Adrian'. If you have well drained soil you could try some spring bulbs such as Scilla - there are some which are violet-blue; Muscari can be a very dark purply blue and also some of the small Iris.

Despite a really hard winter in the central belt here in Scotand the Pulsatilla did really well on well drained soil and you can get purple ones, but may be more for late spring.

[Two_Sheds]

Narcissus February Gold, Tete a Tete and Iris Purple Gem all flower in March, but they are teeny tiny flowers.

[weekendwellies]

daffs, crocuses, snowdrops, bluebells

[Two_Sheds]

Bluebells don't come till late May round here, I dunno about Scotland

[Alison]

I went to wedding in N Yorks last March and the bride and her bridesmaids had beautiful bouquets of spring bulbs. Not sure if they were locally grown but there were definitely similar flowers in the borders as I can see them on the photos. Whilst you're futher north you would be able to bring them on a bit earlier in even an unheated greenhouse, especially if you pick your varities and go for early ones. However, you do run the risk of strangely warm / cold weather mucking up all your timings so you need a plan B and possibly a Plan C if it's for something very special. If just for general garden display then not so much of a worry.

[alistb]

Yes this is for an occasion and its a wedding so I was looking for some plants to put in the front garden to suprise my daughter I will see what I can pick up and plant bulbs from about SEPT onwards I can plant them out at the last minute many thanks for the help.

[quark1]

March is an early call especially in your part of the world.

I'd be tempted to investigate what can be 'forced' and perhaps grown indoors or undercover.

Move out to the required spot for the big event - if only they last the day or so.

Perhaps the 'gift' of living plants of the occasion (post event) might be a lasting legacy of the growing event as well as the family occasion? Even if they cannot be tamed to flower to order in future years. Lovely idea - best of luck in this project - and lots of love and luck to your daughter and future SIL et al.