Here we are at the start of March and according to the calendar Spring has sprung but looking out of the window here at the moment, you’d be forgiven for thinking oh no it hasn’t! It’s grey, it’s cold and there’s an arctic blast on the way. Thankfully, I’ve got my own little rays of sunshine to lift my spirits and remind me that once again our gardens are slowly waking up, yes, my crocuses are in flower! Often underrated, I totally love the humble spring crocus. An uninspiring, small, shrivelled up bulb (well technically it’s a corm rather than a bulb) that I planted last autumn and forgotten about, has come up, unhindered by the weather, and is now a magical sight. Out of the darkness you appear, flowering your little socks off in silky, bright colours of yellows and purples. Hello crocus, my old friend, its truly great to see you again! Only lasting a few weeks, crocuses are one of the first spring bulbs to bloom in our gardens (only proceeded by snowdrops) and come in a wonderful array of colours . This splash of colour is so, so welcome at the start of the year (especially this year when winter seems to have gone on forever) and heralds the arrival of daffodils and hints that tulips aren’t far behind. Soon the flood gates will open as our gardens spring into life and burst forth with beautiful blooms to lure us back into the garden once again.
Bulbs are such a wonderful addition to any garden, not just crocuses, and something we always recommend when we design and plant gardens. Whether you have a large garden with deep borders or a smaller garden or courtyard with just room for a few pots, try to include some bulbs if you can. They can be inexpensive but certainly do pack a punch. What’s more, is that there is a bulb in flower every month of the year.
I won’t get too much into the terminology of what exactly a bulb is but technically, the term ‘flower bulb’ is used to describe plants that have a bulb, tuber, radical tuber, rhizome or network of fleshy roots under the ground.
Everybody knows the crocus, daffodil, tulip and hyacinth, but there are so many other bulbs that you can grow. I’ve listed a few here for reference under the month that they are in flower.
If you are going to buy any bulbs this year, put a note in your diary or write on the calendar for next autumn ‘PLANT CROCUSES’ and underline it in red. You won’t regret it.
JANUARY:
Winter aconites – (Eranthis hyemalis) – Cheerful, yellow flowering bulbs that flower early, mainly flowering from the end of January. Like snowdrops they do best and root better when planted ‘in the green’ so if you want some buy them from the garden centre in pots.
Cyclamen – (Cyclamen coum)- pink, purple and white. Plant in the autumn
Amaryllis – indoor amaryllis, the kind we get at Christmas. A fabulous array of colours. Can be in flower from December through to February.
FEBRUARY:
Snowdrops – (Galanthus nivalis) – There are so many varieties but Galanthus nivalis is the most common in our gardens. The botanical name ‘Galanthus’ is derived from the Greek word ‘gale’ which means ‘milk’ and ‘anthos’ which means ‘flower. A nod to the milky white colour of the flowers – like aconites, snowdrops are best planted ‘in the green’ as plants rather than dry bulbs. Happiest grown in good,fertile soil under trees and shrubs.
Crocus – (Crocus spp.) Especially the large-flowered crocus such as cultivars of Crocus vernus, white, yellow, purple or striped in colour. The small-flowered crocus include Crocus chrysanthus and Crocus biflorus. One of the first to bloom in January is Crocus tommasinianus which are lavender blue in colour.
Cyclamen – (Cyclamen coum)- pink, purple and white. Plant in the autumn.
Iris reticulata – early variety, slender solitary flowers in dark purple with a splash of yellow
MARCH:
Crocus – (Crocus spp.) Especially the large-flowered crocus such as cultivars of Crocus vernus, white, yellow, purple or striped in colour. The small-flowered crocus include Crocus chrysanthus and Crocus biflorus. One of the first to bloom in January is Crocus tommasinianus which are lavender blue in colour.
Glory of the snow – Chionodoxa forbesii – starry blue flowers with white centres. like sunshine.
Iris ‘Katherine Hodgin’ – of the reticulata group but flowers a week or two later. Pale blue with yellow markings. Quite unusual.
Miniature daffodils – (Narcissus ‘Tete-a-tete’, ‘Jet fire’ etc) – ‘Tete-a-tete’, introduced in 1949, is a very popular little daffodil, excellent for pots and borders. Plant dafodils in the early autumn, September is perfect, they like their roots to get established before the winter.
Common daffodil – Narcissus pseudonarcissus – grows wild in western Europe. Creme coloured petals with a yellow trumpet. Flowers in March.
Scilla siberica – introduced from Southeastern Europe and Asia in 1796, they have small, delicate violet blue flowers. Flower in March and April and naturalise wonderfully.
APRIL:
Most other daffodils – (Narcissus ) – A couple of favourites ‘Pheasant’s Eye’ and the white flowering miniature daffodil ‘Thalia’.
Scilla siberica – introduced from Southeastern Europe and Asia in 1796, they have small, delicate violet blue flowers. Flower in March and April and naturalise wonderfully.
Crown Imperials – Fritillaria imperialis – introduced from Turkey in 1580. Impressive plants with stalks up to a metre tall with flowers hanging down in oranges or yellows. Flowering about the same time as Scillas. April into May.
Hyacinths – varieties of Hyacinthus orientalis – brought over from turkey in as early as 1562, the original blue hyacinth. From this was cultivated pink, white, red and even yellow varieties.
Tulips – most tulips reach their peak flowering period in late April and May and there are so many varieties and colours, theres something for everyone. Planting time for tulips is autumn and winter, best though in December.
Double early tulips – short sturdy stems, with fully double ‘paeony-like’ flowers.
Single early tulips – normally, short and strong stemmed so good for pots. E.g. ‘Purple Prince’, ‘Princess Irene’ (Orange).
Triumph tulips – One of the most popular and by far the largest group of tulip types with that classical tulip shape carried on strong stems, perfect for borders. ‘Attila’ (Purple), ‘Annie Schilder’ (Orange), ‘Negrita’ (Purple), ‘White Flag’ (White).
Miniature tulips – Tulipa praetans ‘Fusilier’ (Classic red tulip, perfect for pots). Flowers April / May.
MAY:
Single late tulips – E.g. ‘Maureen’ (white), ‘Queen of the night’ (dark purple)’
Lily /Flowering Fluted Tulip – My absolute favourite tulip ‘Ballerina’ (orange and unusually fragrant). A standout beauty on long stems. Flowers between April and May.
Bluebells – Hyacinthoides non-scripta – Beautiful pendulous blue flowers from late April into May, a fabulous sight in our native woodlands. You can buy the English bluebells from licensed breeders and are perfect for naturalising in shaded woodlands.
Crown Imperials – Fritillaria imperialis – introduced from Turkey in 1580. Impressive plants with stalks up to a metre tall in orange or yellow. Flowering about the same time as Scillas. April into May.
Snakes head fritillery – Fritillaria meleagris – the flowers have checkerboard markings. Prefer a shady spot and a moist environment.
Gladiolus byzantinus – attractive cerise-purple flower.
Allium ‘Gladiator‘ – this ornamental onion flowers from May into June. Can have a stalk of 5ft and a globe flowering cluster of light purple. (See Alliums below).
JUNE:
Alliums – Ornamental onions – Allium atropurpureum is a well known June-blooming allium with wine-red flowers. Allium ‘Globe Master’ has a violet flowering cluster can be quite large on a stalk of about 3ft. Allium christophii is perhaps one of the most impressive with a large flowering head with lots of little star-shaped violet flowers. Flowers into July. My personal favourite is Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ which has the classic lilac-purple flowers and works well planted en mass. Plant in the autumn in a sunny free draining position.
Allium ‘Mount Everest’ is a lovely white allium with stalks up to 5ft tall (The foliage of most alliums start to die and go yellow before the flowers have fully developed so often it’s worth planting alliums between other things so that the ugly foliage can be hidden).
Dutch iris – Hollandica group – better known as a cut flower than a border plant as the foliage can turn messy as it dies off. Best used as an annual.
Nectarosporum spp – Closely related to alliums, happiest in well-drained humus rich soil in sun or shade. They have bell-shaped pendulous flowers on quite tall stems but are not as impressive as alliums.
Freesia hybrids – not hardy, treat as annual. The corms should not be planted until the middle of April.
Star of Bethlehem / Chinkerinchee – Ornithogalum – wonderful white flowers – plant March to April.
Harlequin Flower – Sparaxis tricolor -Rich colourful flowers in oranges, reds and yellows. in June and July. Love a sunny position and perfect for pots as need to be protected in the winter.
Lilies – various types of lilium, asiatic lilies from late June into July
JULY:
Drumstick Alliums – Allium sphaerocephalon – I only ever call this drumstick allium as I can never pronounce the latin name. A beautiful little allium on thin stalks but with red-purple flowers from green buds from late June into July. Looks great put between other plants especially grasses. Also sometimes known as ‘bullet garlic’.
Freesia hybrids – not hardy, treat as an annual.
Lilies – various types of lilium.
Harlequin Flower – Sparaxis tricolor -Rich colourful flowers in oranges, reds and yellows. in June and July. Love a sunny position and perfect for pots as need to be protected in the winter.
Star of Bethlehem / Chinkerinchee – Ornithogalum – wonderful white flowers – plant March to April.
AUGUST:
Allium senescens – a late flowering allium, only up to 30cm high with grass-like leaves and pink -lilac flowers in late summer.
Gladioli – Gladiolus – loads of colours, planting can be done from mid march to end of May. Technically a corm.
Lilies – various types of lilium, especially the later oriental lilies such as ‘Stargazer’
Hardy outdoor amaryllis – Hippeastrum – Amaryllis sonatini – Plant from March onwards – flower late summer. Red ‘Balentino’, White ‘White Rascal’.
SEPTEMBER:
Autumn crocus – Colchichum autumnale – also known as meadow saffron . The flowers are similar to the spring crocus (but not identical) and are mainly pink in colour, although there are some lovely white ones available. Happiest in moist grasslands. Flower in September and October.
Hardy cyclamen – Cyclamen hederifolium / Cyclamen cilicium (useful for rock gardens) – an autumn flowering cyclamen with pink flowers.
Flag lily – Schizostylus coccinea (Now Hesperantha coccinea) – technically a rhizome but have put in here. Lovely pink one is ‘Sunrise’ – ‘Major’ is a crimson red flag lily.
OCTOBER:
Hardy cyclamen – Cyclamen hederifolium / Cyclamen cilicium (useful for rock gardens) – pink flowers.
Autumn crocus – Colchichum autumnale – also known as meadow saffron . The flowers are similar to the spring crocus (but not identical) and are mainly pink in colour, although there are some lovely white ones available. Happiest in moist grasslands. Flower in September and October.
Guernsey lily – Nerine bowdeni – a long flower stalk with funnel-shaped pink flowers clustered together in September-early November.
NOVEMBER:
Guernsey lily – Nerine bowdeni – a long flower stalk with funnel-shaped pink flowers clustered together in September-early November.
DECEMBER:
Hardy cyclamen – Cyclamen coum – one of the easiest of the cyclamen that flowers in winter and spring from December into March.
Amaryllis – indoor amaryllis, the kind we get at Christmas. A fabulous array of colours. Can be in flower from December through to February.
Grey Gardeners 