Spring can be a season of vibrant blooms if you plant spring-flowering bulbs in the fall. These bulbs will bring a spectrum of colors to your garden, complementing other spring-flowering trees, shrubs, and plants.
Begin the season with early-blooming snowdrops. As winter gives way, look for their white flowers hanging from 6- to 10-inch-tall stems. Snowdrops are ideal for rock gardens, mixed borders, and informal landscapes, thriving in sunny and partially shaded spots.
Consider a variety of crocuses for a colorful display. The Large Flowering Pickwick crocus features striking white flowers with purple stripes, surrounding vivid red-orange stamens. Since crocuses are popular with both gardeners and wildlife, you might want to use a repellent to protect them as they start to grow in spring.
For a continuous display of color throughout spring, choose tulips and daffodils that bloom at different times. Review catalog descriptions and package labels to select bulbs with staggered bloom periods. Longfield Gardens’ “Bloom Times Guide to Spring and Summer Bulbs” can help you plan for a vibrant garden across three months.
For early spring blooms, consider Emperor, Kaufmanniana, and Greigii tulips. Add fragrance and charm with the Double Early Foxtrot tulip, known for its pink, peony-like flowers and sturdy, weather-resistant stems.
Mid-spring color can be achieved with Darwin Hybrid and Triumph tulips. The Apricot Impression tulip’s two-toned flowers are particularly eye-catching and durable. As spring ends, enjoy the diverse shapes of ruffled parrot tulips, fringed tulips, and other late bloomers for an extended floral display.
Daffodils are another great choice. They come in various forms, including long, short, large, and split trumpets, with different colors for the trumpet and petals. The Cyclamineus Tete-a-Tete daffodil, though only 7 inches tall, stands out with its bright yellow flowers and multiple blooms per stem.
Enhance your garden by adding Armenian grape hyacinths to mid-spring tulips, daffodils, and perennials. Their small, cobalt-blue, fragrant flowers last for weeks and look great wherever they are planted.
Transition from spring to summer with Purple Sensation alliums. These late-blooming bulbs produce 4-inch round purple flowers on 24- to 30-inch stems. Like daffodils and grape hyacinths, they are resistant to pests and can be enjoyed in gardens, fresh bouquets, and dried arrangements.
This fall, choose a mix of early, mid, and late spring-flowering bulbs. You’ll be rewarded with a burst of early color and ongoing beauty throughout the spring season.
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