To light up shade, choose Erythroniums

SPRING brings us a wealth of attractive shade-loving flowers, and mingling them into a dappled tapestry is one of the most fascinating ways to spark up the garden after winter. Erythroniums are amongst the most valuable threads in the weave because they bring us so much more than just flowers.

These prolific members of the lily family boast upright stems up to 15in (40cm) tall, from which hang up to a dozen attractive blooms, each with six swept-back petals – a little like a cyclamen. In colour, they range from purple, through the pink and lilac shades, to white and yellow. But that’s not all.

Fantastic foliage

At their best from February to June, erythroniums also feature, it’s the rich dark markings – set against a green background – that extend the interest beyond flowering time. In others, such as the justly popular , it’s the bright and glossy green that catches the eye. Either way, foliage colour is a valuable secondary feature.