Spring Begins In A Tropical Bristol Garden
Wednesday, 26th March 2025
Although the official start of spring arrived late in March, it has felt like the season has been slowly stirring for some time in our east-facing garden in Bristol. With mild conditions and a run of unseasonably warm days it's finally felt safe to declare the worst of winter behind us. That said, while the long-range forecast shows no sign of frost, it's always wise to remain cautious in this part of the UK. Tender plants may still need protection if a cold snap rolls in.
This spring, the garden has been a mix of resilience and revival. Many of our evergreen plants have cruised through winter without a hitch, while others are only now beginning to show signs of life. And as ever in a tropical-style garden, there are a few experiments - some rewarding, others a little more uncertain.
One of the first big tasks of spring was planting two new tree ferns (Dicksonia antarctica) to join a third that had gone into the ground in late February. Unfortunately, that first fern suffered some frost damage - likely because the fronds had begun to emerge prematurely in the sheltered environment of the garden centre where we bought it, only to be shocked by the colder outdoor conditions. It lost all its fronds, but since then has started to recover. A new frond has begun pushing up, and several more are now visible in the crown.
The two newly planted ferns look healthier, and although they've been slow to start, they now show signs of frond activity. Their crowns remained protected under fleece until late March, and on unwrapping, the crowns were moist and firm - exactly what you want to see.
The hardier palms, including Trachycarpus fortunei and various cordylines, came through the winter looking as healthy as ever. They've kept the garden feeling green and structured even during the darker months. A particularly striking pink-toned cordyline ('Southern Splendour') was protected during colder spells, as was a red cordyline that had already bounced back from previous dieback.
Elsewhere, two Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island date palms) that had overwintered near the patio doors have now returned to their summer spot on the patio. These towering palms give the area an instant holiday feel and are some of the most impactful plants in the garden. Another two are planted in the borders and have shrugged off winter without issue.
Also newly in place are a pair of Chamaerops humilis palms, including the more compact 'Vulcano' form. They were moved into full sun in late March and are already beginning to establish well.
A Butia capitata, which had been outdoors since December with only minimal fleece protection on frosty nights, has now been planted in the ground. It had already proved itself fairly hardy, and from what others have reported, it should do well planted out even early in the season.
After being heavily fleeced in October, the Musa basjoo bananas were finally unwrapped on March 22. Encouraged by another tropical gardener in South Wales who had done the same, it was reassuring to find both plants had survived intact. Green tips were already emerging from the stumps, which means they should pick up from where they left off last year instead of starting again from the ground. That head start should lead to even bigger plants this summer - an exciting prospect.
The echiums were one of the biggest gambles over winter. Originally three plants, they had multiplied into five, and all were wrapped up for protection. When we finally unwrapped them in mid to late March, it was clear that the protection had done its job - although caterpillars had caused some leaf damage under the covers. Of the five, four survived, and two in particular are looking strong, already sending up new growth. There's hope they may flower this year, which would be a real win given their size and visual impact. We're continuing to check them regularly for pests, and temporary covers are on standby if the temperature unexpectedly dips.
Eryngium and Canna lilies, as expected, died back over winter. There's already some green growth in the Eryngium patch, which means they've had a big head start compared to last year growing from bulbs when they were only planted out in May. Cannas often don't survive UK winters unless lifted or heavily mulched, but Bristol's milder climate means there's always a chance. So far, there's no definite sign of return, but it's still early.
The spring bulbs are progressing nicely. Crocuses have already flowered, while daffodils are in full show and tulips are emerging with promising speed. Acers are just beginning to leaf up - on March 20, the first tiny leaves began to unfurl. It's always a special moment in the tropical garden calendar, seeing these delicate leaves contrast against bold palms and architectural foliage.
By the final week of March, the majority of the plants had been moved out from sheltered positions into the garden proper. Only a few tender aeoniums and yuccas remain under observation, but the weather is looking promising. The garden feels like it's teetering on the edge of exploding into full growth. There's been plenty of hands-on work too - new borders are being shaped, the lawn is being expanded, and the entire garden seems to be gearing up for what we hope will be a lush and vibrant tropical summer.
This spring, the garden has been a mix of resilience and revival. Many of our evergreen plants have cruised through winter without a hitch, while others are only now beginning to show signs of life. And as ever in a tropical-style garden, there are a few experiments - some rewarding, others a little more uncertain.
Tree Ferns
One of the first big tasks of spring was planting two new tree ferns (Dicksonia antarctica) to join a third that had gone into the ground in late February. Unfortunately, that first fern suffered some frost damage - likely because the fronds had begun to emerge prematurely in the sheltered environment of the garden centre where we bought it, only to be shocked by the colder outdoor conditions. It lost all its fronds, but since then has started to recover. A new frond has begun pushing up, and several more are now visible in the crown.
The two newly planted ferns look healthier, and although they've been slow to start, they now show signs of frond activity. Their crowns remained protected under fleece until late March, and on unwrapping, the crowns were moist and firm - exactly what you want to see.
Palms
The hardier palms, including Trachycarpus fortunei and various cordylines, came through the winter looking as healthy as ever. They've kept the garden feeling green and structured even during the darker months. A particularly striking pink-toned cordyline ('Southern Splendour') was protected during colder spells, as was a red cordyline that had already bounced back from previous dieback.
Elsewhere, two Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island date palms) that had overwintered near the patio doors have now returned to their summer spot on the patio. These towering palms give the area an instant holiday feel and are some of the most impactful plants in the garden. Another two are planted in the borders and have shrugged off winter without issue.
Also newly in place are a pair of Chamaerops humilis palms, including the more compact 'Vulcano' form. They were moved into full sun in late March and are already beginning to establish well.
A Butia capitata, which had been outdoors since December with only minimal fleece protection on frosty nights, has now been planted in the ground. It had already proved itself fairly hardy, and from what others have reported, it should do well planted out even early in the season.
Bananas
After being heavily fleeced in October, the Musa basjoo bananas were finally unwrapped on March 22. Encouraged by another tropical gardener in South Wales who had done the same, it was reassuring to find both plants had survived intact. Green tips were already emerging from the stumps, which means they should pick up from where they left off last year instead of starting again from the ground. That head start should lead to even bigger plants this summer - an exciting prospect.
Echiums
The echiums were one of the biggest gambles over winter. Originally three plants, they had multiplied into five, and all were wrapped up for protection. When we finally unwrapped them in mid to late March, it was clear that the protection had done its job - although caterpillars had caused some leaf damage under the covers. Of the five, four survived, and two in particular are looking strong, already sending up new growth. There's hope they may flower this year, which would be a real win given their size and visual impact. We're continuing to check them regularly for pests, and temporary covers are on standby if the temperature unexpectedly dips.
Other Perennials and Spring Bulbs
Eryngium and Canna lilies, as expected, died back over winter. There's already some green growth in the Eryngium patch, which means they've had a big head start compared to last year growing from bulbs when they were only planted out in May. Cannas often don't survive UK winters unless lifted or heavily mulched, but Bristol's milder climate means there's always a chance. So far, there's no definite sign of return, but it's still early.
The spring bulbs are progressing nicely. Crocuses have already flowered, while daffodils are in full show and tulips are emerging with promising speed. Acers are just beginning to leaf up - on March 20, the first tiny leaves began to unfurl. It's always a special moment in the tropical garden calendar, seeing these delicate leaves contrast against bold palms and architectural foliage.
By the final week of March, the majority of the plants had been moved out from sheltered positions into the garden proper. Only a few tender aeoniums and yuccas remain under observation, but the weather is looking promising. The garden feels like it's teetering on the edge of exploding into full growth. There's been plenty of hands-on work too - new borders are being shaped, the lawn is being expanded, and the entire garden seems to be gearing up for what we hope will be a lush and vibrant tropical summer.