It’s bulb-planting season if you want a riot of colour in spring, from the vivid yellows and subtle creams of daffodils, to the rich purples of crocus and the soft blues of camassias.
But there are so many bulbs on offer, it’s often difficult to choose – and you need to be aware that some might be more suitable for pots, others will provide drifts in borders and there are varieties which are ideal for shady spots, even under trees.
While tulips remain among the most popular of spring-flowering bulbs, they are best left to plant a little later, in November, to reduce the risk of diseases like tulip fire and to allow the bulbs a period of cold dormancy, which is vital for their development.
But if you’re looking for bulbs to plant earlier, here are a few of the top performers, plus some more unusual varieties if you’re feeling adventurous.
For variety
Most of us recognise the rich purple hue of this early-flowering pint-sized bulb, but if you want a change, have a look at the only orange crocus on the market, Crocus ‘Orange Monarch’, which is perfect for pollinators, flowering in February to March and growing to just 10cm.
There’s also the unusual Narcissus ‘Orangery’, with its creamy white outer petals framing a vibrant vivid orange-yellow corona. Growing to 45cm, it’s ideal for planting in borders and will naturalise well. It’s also great for cutting, so you can have colour indoors and out in spring.
For scent
If you want scent in spring, the hyacinth is the bulb to go for and they come in every shade, from white and yellow, to cream, pink and purple. For wow factor, go for the carmine red ‘Jan Bos’, a highly fragrant type flowering in March and April, which has the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Of course, there are also plenty of scented daffodils which are ideal for planting in pots or near a window, where you can inhale their sweet aroma.
Among the prettiest is Narcissus ‘Bridal Crown’, a ruffle of long-lasting small double flowers with creamy petals, enhanced with small segments of deep yellow and a heady perfume. It’s ideal for positioning in patio pots or in beds close to where you can step out and breathe in the rich scent.
For shade
Bulbs which do well in light or dappled shade, such as under deciduous trees that leaf out late, include snowdrops, which flower early, before the tree canopy fills in, bluebells, wood anemones and chionodoxa (Glory of the snow).
Like snowdrops and crocuses, you’ll need to plant a lot of chionodoxa bulbs to make an impact, but these early-flowering candidates naturalise brilliantly in lawns and under trees before they are in leaf, so give them a go. If you’re big on flowers, good varieties include ‘Blue Giant’, which has vivid blue blooms with a white centre.
For pots
For something which looks delicate but is pretty tough, Iris reticulata ‘Blue Planet’ is perfect to plant in containers, in all its soft blue glory.
Grape hyacinths (muscari) are also brilliant for pots, especially if one variety fills the whole container, whether blue, white or graduating in colour. Muscari armeniacum ‘Valerie Finnis’ is a lighter shade than the classic deep blue and less invasive, bursting into life in spring, producing densely packed spikes of light lavender-blue flowers.
If you want real drama in a pot, you could go for crown imperials (Fritillaria imperialis), whose stems can grow up to 1m, producing a crown of yellow, vibrant orange or deep orange-red blooms. For best effect, put three bulbs in a large deep pot, with at least 12cm of compost on top of the bulbs.
For borders
Also known as wild hyacinth, camassias are classically known for their tall spires of blue flowers, although you can also get white and pink varieties.
They don’t start flowering until late April and can last throughout May and into early June, when many other spring blooms are past their best.
They will also grow in heavy, damp soil unlike many other bulbs. Best planted en masse as you would bluebells, they will also naturalise well. A reliable variety is Camassia leichtlinii Caerulea, which grows to 75cm.
Top tips
Kris Collins of Thompson & Morgan says: "Most spring-flowering bulbs thrive in any light level from full sun to partial shade, avoiding only the extremes of deep shade and intense, dry heat.
"Ideally, choose a spot where bulbs get at least half a day’s sun in spring. Plant in free-draining soil and feed after flowering to store energy for next year’s display. For containers there are specialist bulb composts and additives like Empathy Bulb Starter for pots and borders."
Good to know
Collins suggests:
1. Always try a new variety – add to your spring collection each year.
2. Perhaps plant in pots the first year – once you fall in love with a particular variety you can add to borders.
3. For a naturalistic look to planting displays, throw your bulbs by the handful, gently into the air and plant them where they land.
4. For a more formal look, draw out a border plan and mark each planting space with a thin line of sand. Plant the bulbs at equal spacing as recommended by variety.
