Bulbs overviewBulbs can be classified as tender or hardy. Hardy bulbs will tolerate, and often require, periods of cold temperature to produce reliable flowers. Tender bulbs will not tolerate cold temperatures and need to be lifted and stored before cold weather damages them.
When peple hear the word bulb, they immediately think about spring blooming bulbs like narcissus and tulips. However, a wide variety of bulbs produce a display in the garden from very early spring until late fall. Bulbs generally bloom in a predictable sequence, although a cool spring may delay bloom for two or more weeks; likewise, an unusually warm spring may induce early flowering.
Hardy bulbs| Flower Name | Color | Height | Season | Pests | Uses | Propagation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allium giganteum Giant Allium |
blue | 48" | spring | few | background, border, cut | offsets |
| Produces large showy blooms on long stems. Bulbs tend to decline after three or more years and the display is reduced. Check our Allium page. | ||||||
| Allium molly Lily Leek |
yellow | 12-14" | spring, early summer | few | border | offsets, seed |
| Bulbs will increase quickly. New plants produced from seeds will bloom next year. Check our Allium page. | ||||||
| Allium sphaerocephalum Drumstick Allium |
purple | 14-18" | early summer | few | borde, cut | offsets, seed |
| Green flower buds turn purple and produce an attractive two tone effect. Declines after a few years. Excellent cut flower. Check our Allium page. | ||||||
| Anemone blanda Greek anemone |
white, pink, blue | 4-6" | spring | few | bedding, edging | tuber, seed |
| Produces flowering carpets that will last up to three weeks. Does very well also under trees. | ||||||
| Camassia sp. Camassia |
blue | 18-24" | late spring | few | bedding, naturalised | division |
| Prefers moist, sunny or light shade location. | ||||||
| Chinodoxa lucilliae Glory of the Snow |
blue w. white eye | 6-8" | early spring | few | border, bedding, container | offsets, seed |
| Produces large showy blooms on long stems. Bulbs tend to decline after three or more years and the display is reduced. | ||||||
| Colchicum autumnale Fall Crocus |
lavender | 6-8" | late summer, fall | few | border | offsets. seed |
| Corms produce foliage in the spring. In early summer foliage dies back. Flower appear from the bare ground. | ||||||
| Convallaria majalis Lily of the Valley |
white | 8-10" | spring | few | border, ground cover | division after flowering |
| In dry areas foliage dies after the bloom. | ||||||
| Crocus Crocus |
white, yellow, blue, bicolor | 3-5" | early spring or fall | few | border | offsets |
| Very good for naturalisation in the lawn. Some species (ex. C. sativus) bloom in fall. | ||||||
| Endymion hispanicus Spanish Bluebells |
white, pink, blue | 12-15" | spring | few | border | offsets |
| Increases readily. Good for naturalisation under decidious trees. | ||||||
| Endymion non-scriptus Bluebells |
blue | 8-12" | spring | few | mass planting | offsets |
| Very good for naturalisation under shrubs and trees. Best displayed in large numbers. | ||||||
| Erythronium albidum White Fawn-lily |
white | 4-6" | spring | few | mass planting | offsets |
| Very good for naturalisation under shrubs and trees. Best displayed in large numbers. | ||||||
| Erythronium dens-canis Dog Tooth |
violet, rose, white | 6-8" | spring | few | border | offsets |
| Very good for naturalisation under shrubs and trees. | ||||||
| Eranthis hyemalis Winter Aconite |
yellow | 3-5" | early spring | few | border | division, seed |
| Attractive naturalised in large number. New plants require a couple of years to bloom. | ||||||
| Fritillaria imperialis Crown Imperial |
orange, yellow | 24-36" | spring | few | border | offsets |
| Bulbs may recline in few years. | ||||||
| Galanthus nivalis Snowdrop |
white | 6-8" | spring | few | border | offsets |
| Best naturalised in large numbers | ||||||
| Hyacinthus orientalis Hyacinth |
white, pink, blue, yellow | 10-14" | spring | few | border, container | offsets |
| Bulbs decline in a few years. Blooms are fragnant and my require staking. | ||||||
| Iris x hybrida Bearded Iris |
various | 24-18" | late spring | iris borer | border | division |
| Silvery sword like folliage adds interest to the border after the bloom has ceased. | ||||||
| Iris kaempferi Japanese Iris |
various | 24-36" | early summer | few | border, cut | division |
| Many cultivars available. Prefers full sun or partial shade. | ||||||
| Iris reticulata Netted Iris |
blue | 4-6" | early spring | few | border | offsets |
| Can be naturalised in the lawn. | ||||||
| Iris sibirica Siberian Iris |
white, blue | 18-24" | spring | few | border | division |
| Can tolerate wet conditions. | ||||||
| Leucojum vernum Snowflake |
white | 4-6" | spring | few | border | offsets |
| Useful for rock gardens. | ||||||
| Lilium sp. Lily |
various | 2-6' | summer | few | border, cut | offsets |
| Many species and hybrids availbale. Check our lily page. | ||||||
| Lycoris squamigera Magic Lily |
pink | 24-36" | late summer, early fall | few | border, cut | offsets |
| Foliage appears in spring and then dies back. | ||||||
| Muscari armeniacum Grape Hyacinth |
white, blue | 4-8" | spring | few | border, cut | offsets |
| Foliage appears in fall and persist through the winter. | ||||||
| Narcissus Narcissus, Daffodil |
yellow, white, pink | 3-18" | spring | few | border, cut, container | offsets |
| Foliage should be allowed to remain undisturbed until it dies down naturally. | ||||||
| Puschkinia scilloides Striped Squill |
blue | 4-6" | early spring | few | mass | offsets |
| For best appearance plant in large numbers. | ||||||
| Scilla siberica Siberian Scilla |
white, blue | 4" | spring | few | border, cut | offsets, seed |
| Very cold hardy. | ||||||
| Tulipa Tulip |
various | 8-36" | spring | few | border, cut, container | offsets |
| Many species and hybrids availbale. Check our tulips page | ||||||