We have many weeks and months to go before the arrival of spring. It seems far away now, but time seems to have a way of going by so quickly! Now is the time to think about planting bulbs for a colorful and fragrant spring show! There are many kinds of spring bulbs to consider, from large to very small flowers.
I have always loved daffodils. There are so many varieties available, from tiny miniatures to huge trumpet type daffodils. I enjoy the many petaled, double blooming daffodils that resemble cheerleader’s pom poms! This past spring as I was walking through town, I passed a yard planted with big clusters of yellow double daffodils flecked with orange. When I got home, I poured through my catalogs and discovered they were called ‘Tahiti.’ They received the prestigious Award of Garden Merit and a highly coveted Wister Award from the American Daffodil Society! After I saw them and read about their awards, I purchased 100 Tahiti bulbs! In attention, I read one of the largest Daffodils is a variety called British Gamble, a huge trumpet flower up to six inches across. So, I had to add a few of these giant daffodils to my order!
The most fragrant bulbs are Hyacinths. The flowers with their thick clusters of florets of are available in many colors. They are often forced into bloom for winter blooms in the house. While they are considered perennials, returning every spring, but with time they will become slenderer, and not as full, with fewer florets.
For many, Tulips screams spring! There are many different kinds of tulips in a variety of shapes and colors. Specie or wild tulips tend to be small but will return and multiply over time. Many varieties of Tulips become smaller and with time, stop blooming. Darwin Hybrids are a variety of Tulip that acts like a true perennial returning and looking good for several years. I have a planting of red Darwin Tulips that have looked great for a decade or longer.
In addition to the well-known larger spring bulbs, there are several smaller flowering bulbs that in mass are just as spectacular. Scilla is small blue flowers that bloom on 6-inch stems. Scilla can be planted in lawns, blooming in early spring and the grass like foliage disappears before it is time to mow the grass. A smaller variety of Scilla, often referred to as Siberian Squill, over time will self-seed and spread, creating a beautiful carpet of blue.
Muscari, often called Grape Hyacinths are small clusters of fragrant flowers resembling tiny clusters of grapes. Grape Hyacinths are often blue in color, but are also available in white, and bi-color blue and white. These tiny flowers also self-seed and spread rapidly. Like many small bulbs they look best planted in mass.
Chionodoxa, or Glory of the Snow are tiny blue or pink flowers with a white eye. They are extremely hardy and bloom in early spring. Often, they are seen planted along with Scilla and Muscari. They too will spread vigorously.
A favorite of mine is are the Spanish Bluebells. They bloom later in the spring producing bell like flowers on a taller 7 to 16-inch stem. To me they resemble a Hyacinth on a diet. The flowers can be blue, white or pink. Some gardeners complain the flowers spread too quickly and are invasive. In my garden this has not been the case.
There are many spring bulbs to choose from. I’ve only listed a few. With most spring bulbs, fall is the time to plant them, so they can develop a good root system and reward you with much anticipated color in the spring!
