Beyond Tulips and Daffodils: Interesting Bulb Options to Plant Now
Here is some inspiration to help you to get creative with your bulb choices this fall!
Snowdrops flower in very early spring and are a great option for part shade. They are also squirrel resistant. Snowdrops will naturalize in moist, well drained soil.To increase their number, simply lift, divide and re-plant established clumps after they flower in spring. (Hardy zones 3-9)
Scilla also herald the arrival of spring. Siberian Squill or Scilla siberica will naturalize to form an amazing carpet of blue flowers. (Hardy in zone 3 with mulch, 4-8 hardy)
Chionodoxa resemble low growing Scilla, but have larger, star-shaped flowers that are pink, blue or soft mauve. They are perfect at the front of a flower border or in a rockery. You can also naturalize Chionodoxa in lawns. (Hardy Zones 3-9)
Lilies can be planted in the spring or fall. (Hardy in zone 3 with mulch, 4-8 hardy).
Trumpets and Asiatic hybrids lilies (Oriental lily 'Salmon Star' shown at the top of this post) bloom in early summer and are often intoxicatingly fragrant. They requite a sunny, well-drained site. Plant at least three lily bulbs together for a more impressive show.
Martagon Lilies are tall woodland lilies that tolerate part shade.Once established they can have dozens of flowers per stalk. (Martagon Hybrid Lily 'Guinea Gold' shown here.)
Spanish bluebells or Hyacinthoides love a woodland environment with well drained soil that is rich in organic matter. Each plant can have as many as 100 bell-shaped flowers. Plant them under trees where they will naturalize well. (Hardy Zones 4-9)
Fritillaria meleagris have bell-like flowers with a unique checkerboard pattern. They like cool, shady conditions and moist soil that is free draining. (Note: good drainage is absolutely key to their success). They are also deer resistant. (Hardy Zones 3-8)
Camassia, which bloom late in spring, are a great way to extend the blooms you get from bulbs. They are native to North America and like sunny, somewhat wet conditions. Camassia are also deer resistant. (Hardy zones 4-10)
After tulips fade, Alliums step onto the stage and carry on the display of flowering bulbs until early perennials begin to bloom.
Alliums are members of the onion family.They come in a range of heights, colors and flower sizes and shapes. They like sun and are hardy to Zones 3.
One great bonus is that the seed heads of Alliums have a beautiful starry appearance.
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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4 comments
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Gorgeous colors!
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Oh, I do miss the lilies. The only kind we can really grow in Florida are the longiflorum-asiatic hybrids.
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@Douglas Hunt Longiflorum-asiatic hybrid are still nice, but I would miss some of the other options too if I were you. At least you have wonderful gardening weather year round. Here it is about to get pretty cold!
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