A garden stroll in spring usually
offers a lot of promise but little color. You can change this now
by planting one of the best kept horticulture secrets: “minor”
spring bulbs that offer beautiful blooms as early as February and
March.
These brightly colored plants are
minor in usage but a major source of satisfaction to anyone who
grows them. And, anyone can! Chionodoxa, muscari, eranthis, galanthus
and other minor bulbs are planted at the same time as tulips, daffodils
and hyacinths, and in the same way, although not so deeply. They
make perfect partners for all of your other traditional spring-flowering
bulbs.
Some of our favorites include:
Chionodoxa (Glory of the
Snow) - Small 1 inch white-centered blue or pink flowers
appear on leafless stems. Plant in large groups in front of early
blooming shrubs or naturalize in the lawn. When grown in shade,
blooms last several weeks. Plants grow 4-10 inches tall.
Muscari (Grape Hyacinths)
- Offering the rare and cherished blue color in the garden, muscari
have small spherical blossoms bunched into triangular clusters on
top of delicate 6-9 inch stems. Grape hyacinths are available in
many shades of blue, purple and white. We carry five different varieties.
Galanthus (Snowdrops)
- The cold is no deterrent to the bell-shaped frosty white flowers
of galanthus. This plant thrives in light shade under leafless trees
and is well suited to random planting amidst tough grass. Shorter
varieties grow to 4 inches while giant snowdrops reach 10 inches.
Leucojum (Giant Snowflake)
- Drooping bells of white or pink flowers with green tips adorn
this frost-hardy 4 inch plant.
Pushkinia (Striped Squill)
- The white flowers of this plant look light blue because of the
blue stripes on the petals. Plant in sun or partial shade in well-drained
soil. Striped Squill grows 6-8 inches tall.
Scilla (Spanish Squill)
- This late spring-flowering plant has multiple stems with up to
12 bells on each stem. Colors are blue, pink and white. Growing
10-12”, Scilla need adequate moisture in the flowering season.
Plant in full sun or partial shade.
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