Bulbs: Continuing the Bloom

The art of having a bulb garden is learning to design with them. What this boils down to is considering when each variety blooms.

  • Topic: Bulbs
  • Author: Cindy Bellinger
  • Keywords: Designing with Bulbs, Planting Bulbs
  • Date: November 2006

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Now is the time to get those bulbs in the ground. We’ve had some lovely weather lately, but it won’t stay that way for long. The art of having a bulb garden is learning to design with them. What this boils down to is considering when each variety blooms. The goal is to keep drifts of bulbs showy and bright throughout the season.

When choosing bulbs, keep their bloom time in mind and plan where you want them to come up. Following is a guide for bulb blooms.

Early bloomers

  • Crocus
  • Galanthus elwesii (Snow Drop)
  • Tulipa batalinii (Bright Gem)
  • Muscari, more commonly known as Grape Hyacinth
  • Tulipa pulchella (Persian Pearl)
  • Daffodils

Mid-spring bloomers

  • Daffodils, regular and miniature

Late spring bloomers

  • Daffodils
  • Wildflower Daffodils
  • Iris

Summer bloomers

  • Hemerocallis hyperion (Hyperion Daylily)
  • Allium sphaerocephalon (Drumstick Onion)

Be sure to use enough of a single color and variety to make a definite impact. One bulb won’t give a very strong presence on its own. Bulbs usually look best placed in clumps of 5 to 7 of a single variety. For bigger areas consider planting a blooming carpet. To achieve this plant groups of bulbs close together. This is referred to as ‘drift.’

And don’t forget to get some bulbs to force indoors over the winter. More on that next week.