Howard’s notes from his presentation
‘Bulbs for All The Year Round Colour’
Bulb or Corm or More?
Bulbs
True bulbs have leaves buds and flowers.
Protective layer of old leaves
Most bulbs are perennial, Cardocrinum, Notholirion die after flowering.
Some dry out if not in soil, Lilium, Narcissus, Galanthus,
Stoloniferous or concentric renewal
Importance of leaving leaves intact until dies off.
New research states these and more should be called Geophytes are broadly synonymous with bulbs.
Botanically a higher order than just bulbs we should now include ‘plants’ with tubers, corms or rhizomes, alongside carrots, potatoes, ginger and garlic.
Corms
Simply swelling at base of stem
Like bulb has a basal plate
Unlike bulbs, corms shrivel up every year.
Usually round and flattened.
Acidanthera, Colchicum, Crocosmia, Freesia, Gladiolus, Ixia, Romulea, Sparaxis, Trigridia, Tritonia, Watsonia
Rhizomes
Thinner and elongated, really underground stem bearing buds, between tuber and a perennial root
Achimes, Anemone, Zantedeschia
Tubers
Irregular sphere
No leafy covering or basal plate
Rough leathery covering
Roots are widespread over area
Surface of tuber has numerous latent buds
Examples of tubers Begonia, Bletia, Caladium, Cyclamen, Dahlia (Tuberous roots in Asteraceae), Eremurus (Tuberous roots in Ashodeline family) See below (C) Howard Drury
Gloriosa, Gloxinia, Ranunculus, Sandersonia, Souromatum, Sinningia
December to March in Borders
Eranthis hymenalis (winter aconite)
Galanthus (snowdrop)
Anemone blanda (wood anemone)
Leucojum vernum (spring snowflake)
Narcissus (daffodils)
Iris
Crocus
Associated plants Hellebores, Ajuga,
December to March Naturalized
Cyclamen coum under trees
Galanthus nivalis under shrubs
Crocus vernus C. chrysanthus, multi uses
C. tommasinianus, C. flavus & cultivars in grass
Bulbs shown include Eranthis hyemalis, Iris reticulata, Iris histrioides 'Katherine Hodgkin’ AGM
Bulbs for Spring Containers
Bulb only planted containers
Extended season of display
Burst of combined colour effect
Layer mono planting of bulbs
Planting order deepest are tallest and last to flower hiding the foliage of earlier blooms
Often replanted with fresh bulbs annually
December to March Pots and Containers
Seasonal plantings or permanent
Single subject
Layer planting for tiers of colour or longer displays
Hanging baskets
Miniature gardens
Raised beds
Supplement permanent plantings
Bulbs shown include Iris Danfordiae Muscari armeniacum 'Valerie Finnis'.
Bulbs for a Spring Window Box
Crocus October to April according to species
Galanthus February to April 8-20cm
Iris reticulata March to April 15cm
Muscari March April 15cm
Narcissus odorus May 20cm
Scilla sibirica February to April 20cm
Tulipa various March – May 20-25cm
Bulbs for a Spring Window Box
Crocus October to April according to species
Galanthus February to April 8-20cm
Iris reticulata March to April 15cm
Muscari March April 15cm
Narcissus odorus May 20cm
Scilla sibirica February to April 20cm
Tulipa various March – May 20-25cm
April to late May borders
Tulips, as mono plantings or in association
Formally or informally
Height
Flower shape
Narcissus usually informally used
Seasonal bedding
Naturalised in borders deeply planted
Fritillaria planted over several years full sun, baked
Alliums
Bulbs shown include Narcissus ‘Trena’ AGM
April to late May in containers
Anemone pavonina
Late Tulips
Muscari and Scillas
April to late May naturalised
Anemone nemerosa
Muscari and Scillas
Crocus
Fritillarias
Bulbs shown include Ipheon Uniflorum 'Starflower', Anemone blanda Atrocaerulea, Tulipa acuminata, Anemone pavonine
Bulbs for spring bedding
Dependant on height of other subjects
Can be mono planted, colour themed
Tulips
Narcissus
Crocus
Hyacinths
Bulbs shown include Tulip ‘West Point’, Tulip ‘Queensday’
Bulbs for The Late Spring Rock Garden
Crocus
Narcissi
Tulipa
Anemone
Bulbs shown include Anemone blanda Atrocaerulea, Muscari armeniacum 'Valerie Finnis' Narcissus Cyclamineus AGM
Bulbs for the Peat Garden
Anemone
Narcissus
Dodecatheon
Roscoea
Trillium
Cypridium
Cardiocrinum
Lilium species
Bulbs shown include Erythronium ‘White Beauty’, Sanguinaria canadensis f. multiplex 'Plena', Cardiocrinum giganteum (Giant Himalayan lily)
Woodland garden bulbs
More bulbs preferring calcareous (Limy)soils
Allium giganteum, A. affatumense, A. moly
Tulipa eichleri, grows under elms in cambs, pale or yellow flowers
T. sylvestris native 40cms stolons greenish
Ornithogalum nutans
L. pyrenicum pyrenees, yellow flowers black spot
L. martagon, purple pink flowers June July
Lilium hansonii, Korea orange red fragrant 1m
L. henryi, martagon type, early autumn
Bulbs shown include Fritillaria meleagris AGM (Snake's head fritillary), Uvularia grandiflora
(Merrybells), Lilium regale AGM, Lilium ‘Golden Splendour’ AGM (Asiatic),
June to September in borders
Agapanthus
Alstroemeria
Eremurus
Gladioli
Lilies
Eucomis
Bulbs shown include Alstroemerias ‘Indian Summer’. Allium sphaerocephalon, Allium ‘Forelock’, Allium nigrum, Allium ’Hair’, Asphodeline lutea (king's spear, yellow asphodel), Brodiaea laxiflora, Eremurus ‘Shelford Hybrids’.
June to September naturalised.
Alliums
Cardocrinums
Colchicums
Cyclamen
Iris many, inc marginals
Lilies
Pushkinia scilloides
Bulbs shown Camassia leichtlinii (Wild Hyacinth), Tulbughia violacea ‘Silver Lace’,
June to September in containers
Acidanthera
Begonias non stops, pendulous, upright
Dahlias (Dwarf)
Lilies
Zantedeschia (arum lily)
Bulbs shown include Nerine bowdenii AGM (Bowden Lily),
Bulbs for Summer bedding
Begonias
Anemones inc de Caen from France
Anemones St Brigid March planting
Gladioli
Dahlias
Bulbs shown include Dahlia ‘Chimborazo’,
Half Hardy Summer Bulbs
Sparaxis (Africa) Aug to Oct full sun
Ixias (Africa) only open in sunlight as above
Streptanthera Zwanenburg (Africa) red
Lachenalia (Africa)
Leucoryne ixiodes odorata blue 38cm
Trigridia pavonia (Africa, America)
Cypella herbtii like above (Africa America)
Homeria collina (Africa America)
Bulbs shown include Begonia 'Glowing Embers’ AGM, Begonia F1 ‘Starshine Bronze Papaya’, Begonia tuberosa ‘Illumination Lemon’, Begonia x tuberosa ‘Fragrant Sweet Spice Appleblossom’, Tigridia pavonia,
October to December in borders (weather permitting)
Colchicum
Crocus
Dahlias
Nerine bowdenii
Cannas
Bulbs shown include Iris unguicularis ‘Mary Barnard’, Hesperantha coccinea (Schizostylis coccinea)
October to December Naturalised
Crocus
Colchicum autumnale, C. speciosum
Cyclamen hederifolium, C. coum
Bulbs shown include Sternbergia lutea (autumn daffodil), Crocus speciosus (Bieberstein's crocus), Galanthus reginae-olgae subsp. reginae-olgae.
October to December in Containers
Cyclamen
Narcissus paper whites flower in 6-8 weeks
Nerines
Bulbs shown include Nerine bowdenii (Guernsey Lily),
Bulbs in the home
Hardy outdoor or tender bulbs
Forced hardy bulbs for out of season display
Normal season flowering
Tender bulbs in season
Amaryllis
Clivias
Cyclamen
Bulbs shown include Ipheion uniflorum Caeruleum, Eucomis vandermerwei 'Octopus, Lachenalia aloides,
Bulbs in the Alpine Lawn
Chinodoxa gigantea, C. lucile, C. sardensis
Crocus biflorus, C. chrysanthus, C. vernus
Erantis cilicica, E. hyemalis
Galanthus imperati, G. latifolius, G. nivalis
Iris bakeriana, I. danfordae, I. reticulata
Narcissus bulbocodium, N. cyclamineus, N. lobularis, N. minimus, N. ‘Rip Van Winkle’, Scilla bifolia, S. sibirica, S. tubergeniana, Tulipa tarda 7cm, T. urumiensis 15cm
Autumn Bulbs Amongst Shrubs
Not naturalising
Narcissus
Not tulips
More use of unusual bulbs
Extend normal flowering season or compliment current planting
Contrasting or complimenting colours
Bulbs for the Sun-Baked Borders
Bulbocodium vernum March 8cms
Calochortus albus May June 30cms
Colchicum autumnale, C. bornmuelleri, C. byzantinum, C. luteum, C. speciosum
Crocus
Eucomis
Muscari comosum April May 30cm
Muscari neglectum April May 15cm
Muscari tubergenianum April June 23cm
Bulbs sown include Eucomis ‘Sparkling Burgundy’ Gladiolus murielae Abyssinian Gladioli, Acidanthera, Peacock Orchid.
Bulbs for the Summer Rock Garden
Planted amongst choice plants
Neither to be invasive, colour themed
Most are very dwarf species or cultivars
Allium, Brodiaea, Bulbocodium,
Bulbs for the All Year Round Colour in the Alpine House
Difficult to grow out of doors types
Need to be dry at certain times
Not all are frost hardy
Can be appreciated at bench level
Plunged in sand bench
Use of cold frames in sun or shade
Many are half hardy African or similar
Bulb Propagation
Division of bulbs usually after flowering
Twin Scaling
Splitting rhizomes (Iris) after flowering
Young bulblets (Cardocrinum)
Seed
Bulb Problems including diseases
Diseases
Basal Rot Narcissi
Downy Mildew Anemones
Grey Bulb Rot at neck of many bulbs
Smoulder Narcissi bulbs in store
Rust Alliums, Muscari and Scillas are attacked
Smut lesions on leaves stems with black spores
Tulip Fire brown scorch leaf tips
White Rot Alliums are prone to this disease
Bulb Pests
Aphids
Birds
Mice
Narcissus eelworm
Slugs
Squirrels
