2.3 Spring, summer, autumn bulbs Flashcards
Uses of bulbs
Naturalising in grass
Naturalising in mixed or herbaceous borders
Naturalising in woodland planting
Naturalising in rock gardens, sinks etc
Bedding displays
Outdoor pots, window boxes, hanging baskets
Indoor pots
Factors influencing choice
- Intended use (eg. naturalising)
- Site conditions
- Flowering period
- Flower colour
- size of area to be covered (cost consideration)
Soil requirements
Well drained (add grit to base of planting hole)
Avoid cold, waterlogged soil (add OM, coarse sand or grit to heavy soils)
Most prefer sunny position, although some are suited to woodland setting
Planting depth and spacing
Bulbs should be planted with twice their height of soil above them (hole should be three times height of bulb)
If planted too shallowly they may freeze and flower bud will be destroyed
Spacing: small bulbs - plant 2.5-5cm apart
Larger bulbs - 5-10cm apart
Naturalising and methods of planting in grass
Foliage should be left for at least 6 weeks after flowering, so most suitable bulbs are early flowering before regular mowing is necessary
Bulbs should be thrown on the ground and planted in groups where they fall (space approx bulb-width apart) Avoid planting too densely, as they increase naturally. Plant different species or cultivars in separate drifts - best effect from a broad sweep of one variety.
- Using a bulb planter, remove a plug of turf and soil to required depth, insert bulb nose up and replace plug on top of the bulb
- Cut and area of turf and roll back. Prepare soil, fork over soil (add OM or coarse sand is soil is heavy) and plant bulbs with a trowel before replacing and firming the turf.
Annual maintenance
If soil is poor, top dress with sulphate of potash at 70g/m2 as shoots are emerging (avoid nigh N as will promote foliage at the expense of flowers)
In very dry conditions bulbs may need watering
Dead heading will re-direct energy to bulb (although may may cyclamen seeds)
Remove DDD
Weed and monitor for p and d
Avoid mowing until 6 weeks after flowering
Never use selective herbicides on grass planted with bulbs
Avoid spiking and slitting lawn during annual maintenance
Avoid walking on areas of planted bulbs
In containers
Liquid fertiliser when irrigating
Lift and store at end of growing season
Pests and diseases
Heat treatment should avoid pest issues - eg eelworm and bulb fly
N. Tazetta resistant to bulb rot
Rust
Powdery mildew
Botrytis
Four bulbs for naturalising
Five bulbs for containers
Four bulbs for garden beds
Bulbs for rock gardens
Narcissus lobularia, Crocus tommasinianus, Galanthus nivalis, Scilla siberica (rock gardens), Cyclamen hederifolium (wooodland)
Iris reticulata, Tulipa ‘Queen of Night’, Crocus tommasinianus, Narcissus ‘Thalia’, Hyacinthus orientalis
Narcissus ‘Thalia’, Tulipa ‘Queen of Night’, Lilium regale, Alium giganteum, Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’
Iris reticulata, Scilla siberica, Crocus tommasinianus, Tulipa turkestanica
Five spring/winter bulbs, corms, tubers
Five summer bulbs, corms, tubers
Spring/winter:
Galanthus nivalis
Crocus tommasinianus
Iris reticulata
Narcissus ‘Thalia’ and ‘Lobularia
Tulipa ‘Queen of Night
Summer/autumn:
Fritillaria imperialis
Lilium regale
Nerine bowdenii
Crocosmia ‘Peach Sunrise’ and ‘Lucifer’
Allium giganteum
Dhalia ‘Bishop of Llanduff’
Name
Crocus Tommasinianus
Early spring bulb. Long-tubed flowers which appear in early spring, as the narrow leaves emerge; the flowers vary from lilac to deep purple, sometimes paler outside
H 10cm S 5-10cm
Uses: Naturalising, gravel/rock garden, container plants, wildflower meadow, flower borders and beds
Full sun, otherwise not fussy
H6
Name
Tulipa ‘Queen of Night’
Late spring bulb. Bears glossy, dark purple to maroon goblet-shaped flowers in late spring
H 60cm S 10cm
Uses:
City/courtyard, Cottage, container plants, borders and beds, cut flowers
Not north facing, full sun sheltered
Well drained, not clay soils
H6
Marbled, heart-shaped leaves and upright, fragrant pink or white flowers in October and November
H 10cm S 15cm
Uses: woodland planting, under deciduous trees, patio, container, rock garden
Soil type any, pH any, aspect any
humus rich, moist but free draining
Full sun, partial shade
Name
Galanthus nivalis
Winter bulb. A winter-flowering perennial with narrow, grey-green leaves and solitary, nodding, fragrant white flowers 2.5cm in length, the inner segments marked with green at the tip
H 15cm S 10cm
Uses: Cottage, rock garden, wildflower meadow, borders and beds, underplanting of roses and shrubs, naturalising
Aspect any, partial shade, any soil and pH
H5
Name
Scilla siberica
Early spring bulb. Dainty spikes of up to five nodding, bell-shaped, violet-blue flowers in March and April and slender, strap-shaped, glossy, mid-green leaves.
H 20cm S 5cm
Uses: naturalising in areas of semi-shade, under planting, containers, rock garden, city/courtyard, country gardens, low maintenance
Aspect any, full sun, partial shade, moist but well drained, pH any, soil type avoid heavy clays
H6
Name
Narcissus ‘Thalia’
Mid-Spring bulb. A triandrus cultivar, flowering in mid-spring, and producing two, milk-white flowers per stem. These are about 5cm across, with small cups and narrow, slightly twisted outer petals
H 40cm S 10cm
Cottage, container plants, city/courtyard, Low Maintenance, cut flowers, borders and beds, underplanting, Naturalising
Moist but well drained, Any aspect but North sunny or patial shade, any soil, any pH
Name
Narcissus Lobularis
Early spring bulb. Upright, grey-green leaves, up to 50cm long, and nodding flowers, up to 7cm across, with yellow trumpets and narrow, twisted, cream petals, produced in early spring
Any aspect, soil, pH, sunny, partial shade, moist, well drained
Uses: Good for naturalising
H6
Name
Iris reticulata
Later winter/early spring bulb. A dwarf perennial with narrow, stiffy erect leaves and fragrant, deep violet-purple flowers 8cm in width, each fall marked with a central yellow ridge
H 15cm S10m
Uses: front of borders/beds, containers, rock garden, city and courtyard.
Any aspect, full sun, any soil texture, non-acidic soil,
H7
Name
Lilium regale
Summer bulb flowering July and August. A vigorous bulbous perennial to 2m in height, with narrow glossy green leaves and racemes of fragrant, trumpet-shaped white flowers 14cm in length, yellow in the centre and flushed with purple on the outside
H 1.5m S up to 50cm
Uses: Cottage/informal, cut flowers, borders and beds
Full sun, sheltered, any aspect, any soil type, not alkaline
Name
Crocosmia ‘Peach Sunrise’
Late summer-early autumn cormous perennial. Bears yellow-throated, star-shaped, apricot-orange flowers on arching, branched stems from
H 60cm S 50cm
Uses:
City/courtyard, coastal, cottage, cut flowers, borders and beds (inc wall side borders)
Unfussy, sunny/partial shade, moist/well drained
H4
Name
Fritillaria imperialis
Early summer bulb. Grown for its large and spectacular clusters of bell-shaped flowers
H 1m S 30cm
Uses: Cottage/informal, borders and beds
Full sun, any aspect, not pH fussy, well drained, not clay soil
H7
Name
Allium giganteum
Summer bulb. A perennial with spreading, glossy, strap-shaped basal leaves which die down before the flowers. Dense globose umbels of bright purple flowers are borne on tall stems in summer
H 1.8m S 30cm
Uses: Cottage/informal, cutt flowers,borders and beds
Full sun, any soil type, pH all types, any aspect, sheltered
H5
Name
Nerine bowdenii
Autumn bulb. A perennial with strap-shaped rich green leaves preceded by erect stems bearing umbels of lily-like pink flowers 6-8cm in width, with wavy, recurved segments
H 50cm S 10-15cm
City/courtyard gardens, coastal, cottage/informal, mediterranean climate plants, gravel garden, borders and beds, wall side borders
Full sun, sheltered, well drained, not north facing, any soil type, not pH fussy
H5
Name
Dahlia ‘Bishop of Landaff
Summer/autumn tuberous perennial. Deep blackish-red foliage and semi-double brilliant red flowers 6cm in width
H up to 1m S 30-50cm
Uses: Cottage/informal, city/courtyard, cut flowers, borders and beds
Full sun, south or west facing, sheltered. Any soil type, not pH fussy
H3
