As shrubs begin to show colour, spring is becoming more obvious and this alters from when we enter the month with a few shy blooms, to crossing into April with the “now in flower” list ever increasing. Over the first two weeks of March, the plants in flower are scattered and you need to know where to look, during the third and fourth weeks the selection grows with colour cropping up on roadsides, pastures, rocky slopes and river valleys. March – Plants of the month
Southwest broom (Cytisus baeticus)
A shrubby, yellow flowering broom which grows to 4 metres. The flowers are in clusters distributed along the branches. The leaves are three lobed, held on short stalks along the many fine branches which are ridged and green. The short, straight seed pods are densely covered in silvery hairs. Prefers shady areas such as stream sides, also seen on mountain slopes and in cork woods. Distribution: South West Spain, southern Portugal.
Narcissus cerrolazae
(Also known as Narcissus fernandesii, possibly to be separated but not all are in accordance)
This scented, bright yellow narcissus can grow to 40 cm tall. The central cup (corona) is flared and fluted with 1 to 5 flowers per stem (most frequently 2), supported on a long tube. The erect leaves are around the same height as the flowers; they are smoothly curved on one side and indented with a groove on the other. They prefer fields that are undisturbed and very humid during the winter. Distribution: Rare and very localised, South West Spain.
Bridal Broom (Retama monosperma)
Multiple fine branches drape from this elegant shrub, during March it is smothered in small white, strongly scented flowers. Each pea type flower has a red calyx. It can reach 3 metres in height, spreading to double that in width. The few leaves soon fall from the slender green stems. More frequent in coastal dunes nearer to the Atlantic area, here it is planted to decorate the roadsides. Distribution: South Western Spain, Southern Portugal and Northern Morocco.
Three-cornered Leek (Allium triquetrum)
This small plant has 5 to 15 white flowers with a green midvein, they hang noticeably to one side. The common name comes from the odour when a leaf is crushed and the shape of the flowering stem really is three sided. Dense tufts form from tightly packed bulbs; the green leaves are smooth on the upper side with a keel (central ridge) on the reverse. They generally prefer damp, shady areas such as stream sides, ditches and woodlands. Distribution: Iberia eastwards to Italy.
White Asphodel (Asphodelus albus)
Tall flower spikes to around 1m in height adorned by white flowers. Each star shaped flower has a brown stripe on the reverse of the 6 petals. It differs from the Branched asphodel in only occasionally forming branches, its papery bracts are a conspicuous dark brown and it is more frequent at higher altitudes. The leaves are grey-green, sword shaped and in lax clumps. Seen amidst limestone outcrops and in high pastures, it is unpalatable. Distribution: Mediterranean area.
Violet Cabbage (Moricandia moricandiodes)
Small violet flowers, of four petals with a darker centre, decorate this finely branched plant. The leaves are grey / green and thickened. It can grow to around one metre tall and create large colonies, although it is often more scattered. It grows mainly in clay soils on roadside banks, field edges and uncultivated ground. Distribution: Eastern and southern Spain.
Some of the March – Plants of the month in the Sierra de Grazalema
Orchids
- Sombre bee orchid (Ophrys fusca)
- Bee orchid (Ophrys bombiliflora)
- Sawfly orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera)
- Giant orchid (Himantoglossum robertianum)
- Conical orchid (Orchis conica)
- Mirror orchid (Ophrys speculum)
- Southern early purple orchid (Ophrys olbiensis)
Yellow
- Narcissus baeticus (Also known as Narcissus assoanus subsp praelongus)
- Narcissus cuatrecasasii
- Hoop Petticoat Narcissus (Narcissus bulbocodium)
- Bean trefoil (Anagyris foetida)
- Western gorse (Ulex parviflorus)
- Field marigold (Calendula arvensis)
- Bermuda buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae)
- Yellow anemone (Anemone palmate)
- Hairy thorny broom (Calicotome villosa)
- Spanish broom (Spartium junceum)
- Jersey buttercup (Ranunculus paludosus)
- Bay Tree (Laurus nobilis)
Green, Brown
- Stinking Hellebore (Helleborus foetidus)
- Large Mediterranean Spurge (Euphorbia characias)
- Friars Cowl (Arisarum simorrhinum)
- Spurge laurel (Daphne laureola)
- Spanish fritillary (Fritillaria hispanica)
Pink, Blue, Purple
- Pink catchfly (Silene colorata)
- Periwinkle (Vinca difformis)
- Tree germander (Teucrium fruticans)
- Romulea (Romulea bulbocodium)
- Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
- Southern Knapweed (Centaurea pullata)
- Fedia (Fedia cornucopiae)
- Common mallow (Malva sylvestris)
- Andaluz storksbill (Erodium primulaceum)
- Cut-leaved dame’s violet (Hesperis laciniata)
- Hound’s tongue (Cynoglossum cheirifolium)
- Hound’s tongue (Cynoglossum clandestinum)
- Merendera (Merendera androcymbioides)
- Shiny crane’s-bill (Geranium lucidum)
- Cut-leaved crane’s-bill (Geranium dissectum)
- Barbary nut iris (Gynandriris Sisyrinchium)
- Butcher’s broom (Ruscus aculeatus)
- Grape hyacinth (Muscari neglectum)
- Spanish bluebells (Scilla hispanica)
- Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas)
White
Branched asphodel (Asphodelus ramosus)
Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum orthophyllum)
Meadow saxifrage (Saxifraga granulata)
Common daisy (Bellis sylvestris)
Marsh chamomile (Chamaemelum fuscatum)
Shepherds purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)
Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritime)
Tree heather (Erica arborea)
Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus)
Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)
White Watercress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum)
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