It’s Bulb season. This year, shake things up and try planting some of the more unusual varieties out there now, in the fall, for stunning spring blooms. Some of the toughest bulbs available are also the most dazzling, like:
Ornamental Onion. This mid-spring to early summer bloomer grows from 6 inches to 4 feet, depending on the type (make sure you check before you buy), and typical colors are purple, blue, maroon, and white. Ornamental Onion is great as a focal point in the garden or planted in large swaths, grow well in rock gardens or amongst ornamental grasses, and make great cut flowers.
Belladonna Lily. This late summer bloomer grows to 3 feet tall, and is typically found in white or pink. the Belladonna Lily has a beautiful fragrance, so plant it where it can be seen and smelled. These bulbs have long life spans and grow well in warm climates with dry summers.
Reticulated Iris. This late winter to early spring bloomer grows just 4 to 8 inches tall, and comes in some fantastic colors like purple, yellow, white, blue and variegated white. The Reticulated Iris is wonderful planted in masses or large swaths, and do well almost anywhere, including rock gardens, along walkways, and even in planters so you can move them around to create pops of color.
Camas. This spring bloomer grows up to 15 inches tall and is generally found in lavender or shades of purple. This bulb multiplies, so best to put it in places where you will want large swaths of color, such as a meadow-like setting.
Daffodil. This early spring bloomer grows from 6 to 18 inches, depending on the type, and gravitates towards a yellow-orange spectrum of color, as well as peach, white, and pink. The daffodil is a hearty bulb that adapts and multiplies easily, can take cold or heat, and doesn’t really need much summer water. They’re great as a border flower in planters, near walkways, or around the base of trees.
Squill. This spring bloomer grows from 4 to 13 inches, depending on the type, and can typically be found in white, purple, blue, or pink. Squill bulbs are fantastic as accents in your both garden and meadow settings.
Wild Turnips. This early spring to early summer bloomer grows 6 to 12 inches, depending on the type, and is often bicolored, combining shades of yellow, purple, white, pink, red, and orange. Wild Turnips are tough, and will come back year after year, creating drifts of vibrant color among boulders, rock gardens, walkways, and containers.
Keep in mind that bulbs look better when planted in clusters, masses, or rivers, so instead of just buying a few, get them in bulk. There are many websites out there, like vanengelen.com, brentandbeckys.com, and easytogrowbulbs.com, who sell quality bulbs in mass quantities. Bulbs also work wonderfully well in containers, planted in a well-draining planting mix. You can mix them up in container gardens, or plop the containers down wherever you want the bulbs to add a splash of color to your yard.
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