There’s still time to plant bulbs in readiness for a wonderful spring display that will take you through to the beginning of summer.
Our top ten choices are:
Crocus
Colourful crocuses are hard to beat, ideal for planting in rockeries, naturalising in grass or growing underneath trees and shrubs in large swaithes. Scatter a handful of bulbs and plant them where they fall for a really natural effect. Alternatively you can grow crocus in containers or window boxes where you can get up close to appreciate their many colours.
Daffodil
These come in a variety of sizes and colours, depending on which ones you choose, or you could go for a mixture that will bloom in turns throughout the spring. The traditional daffodil, such as Pipet is tall and straight and can grow to a height of 18 inches whereas the smaller varieties, such as Tete-a-Tete only grow to around 6 inches.
Tulip
Tulips come in a variety of colours and shapes and will bloom when the daffodils begin to fade. They too come in a variety of heights from the miniatures at 6 inches to the taller, traditional varieties which will grow up to 16 inches.
Snakes Head Fritillaria
These are easy to grow and are a choice bulb for spring displays. Fritillaria ‘Spring Bells’ look fabulous planted in drifts in your borders, raised beds, rock gardens and containers. The colours vary from greens through to purples and whites, guaranteed to brighten up your garden with their elegant springtime display.
Lily of the Valley
Each stem carries a flurry of snow-white, bell shaped blooms with a powerful fragrance. The lush green foliage and delicate blooms of Convallaria majalis make a wonderful cut flower for scented, springtime vases. Once established, lily of the valley requires little maintenance and makes great groundcover for woodland gardens and shady, damp areas.
Hyacinth
Hyacinth comes in the most delicate shades of pink, purple and white with a wonderful springtime perfume. The densely packed flower spikes make superb cut flowers for a vase indoors and they are perfect for formal bedding displays, spread through the front of borders or planted in containers for a bright windowsill.
Winter Aconite
This is a member of the buttercup family and will quickly multiply to form a carpet of golden yellow flowers each spring. The cup shaped blooms of the winter aconite attract pollinating insects to your spring garden, and look beautiful with snowdrops and bluebells for a spectacular woodland display. They are easy to establish and virtually maintenance free.
Bluebells
A drift of English bluebells indicates that the days are starting to get longer and the weather is warming up. The violet-blue flowers attract insects to their delicately scented flowers. They are at their best when growing in the dappled shade of trees and are ideal for a woodland garden or for naturalising in informal areas of grass. They will multiply each year to form a carpet of spring colour.
Pushkinia
Also known as the Russian Snowdrop, they have star shaped flowers, with delicate pale petals, striped with deep blue. These hardy snowdrops make a stunning alternative to traditional spring bulbs. They will grow in almost any well drained soil, and enjoy hot summers when their bulbs can bake in the sun. Grow them in borders and rockeries, or naturalise them in grass.
Pleione Formosana
These are a hardy orchid that is very easy to grow. They make a lovely pot plant for a cool windowsill indoors or you can grow it outdoors in sheltered borders. The pink blooms of Pleione formosana create a fabulous show from April to May and they will return year after year.
