Bulbs

We’re excited that bulbs have arrived! We’re unpacking boxes and putting these out for you as soon as as they come in – thanks in advance for your patience.

This fall-blooming crocus emerges as a cheery surprise in October or November with bright violet-purple open cupped petals and brilliant orange stigmas, the source of the precious spice, saffron. The blooms are accompanied by short blades of dark green, grass-like foliage which elongates after the flowers have finished and may re-appear in spring.

Wonderful in the sunny rock garden, and among low, xeric groundcovers such as Turkish Veronica or ‘Tough-as-Nails’ (Paronychia kapela). Saffron Crocus prefers a location that is warm, sunny and dry, with very good drainage and only wants moisture when it is in flower and active growth.

PLANT THESE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE to enjoy flowers this fall! Plant 2-4″ deep, 3″ apart. Zone 6.   4”-5” tall

Crocus x luteus ‘Golden Yellow’, courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden

Crocus x luteus ‘Golden Yellow’
The 4” – 6” tall fragrant flowers of ‘Golden Yellow’ Giant Crocus are a rich buttercup hue. The corms are incredibly floriferous, producing 4 to 12 flowers per corm the first-year, in April. Plant in a sunny or partly sunny area, 4” apart. This excellent heirloom variety has been a garden favorite since 1600. The corms multiply rapidly and naturalize beautifully. Cold-hardy to Zone 4.

Crocus Specie – Snow Crocus ‘Aqua’

This charming new crocus can begin blooming as early as February here in sunny Colorado. With a shade of blue-violet blooms quite different from typical ‘purple’crocus, ‘Aqua’ is a heavy bloomer and exceptional naturalizer, and it attracts early pollinators to the area. Low growing (4-6″ tall), it is versatile enough to add color and style to front borders, containers, rock gardens, between deciduous trees and shrubs. Plant in full to part sun, 3-4” deep and 3-4” apart. Cold-hardy to Zone 3

Crocus Specie Mixed
A lovely mix of ‘snow crocus’, spring’s earliest jewels, so cheery and so welcomed by gardeners and honeybees! Colors range from pure white to rich purple, with bright yellows, lavenders, bicolors and stripes included. Depending on their location, they can begin to bloom as early as the beginning of February! Tuck them into rock gardens and under deciduous shrubs and trees, edge a shrub or perennial border, plant large drifts, or force them in pots for indoor pleasure! Mostly native to the Balkans and Turkey, these diminutive gems are hardy to Zone 3. Plant in full to part sun, 4” deep and 3-4” apart in well-drained soil.

The superb blue Autumn Crocus, blooms in early to mid-autumn, arriving to brighten the garden at a time when many other plants have finished blooming.  Autumn Crocus has large, sky-blue to purple flowers with golden-orange stigmas and anthers. They stand 4” tall and emerge without the narrow grassy foliage that will follow bloom. They will naturalize, and over the years, the clumps increase in size and duration of bloom.

Autumn Crocus provides a stunning surprise rising out of a mass of perennial groundcover such as Plumbago, Evergreen Candytuft, ‘Harlequin’s Silver’ Teucrium, or any of the Geranium x cantabrigiense selections!

Average soil and moisture, full to part sun, most soils except heavy clay, cold hardy to Zone 4.

PLANT THESE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE to enjoy flowers this fall! For drifts, plant 10 bulbs per square foot.

Giant Mixed Crocus Blend

Bulb. Z3. 4-6” tall. Blooms early spring. Compost-improved soil.

A random mix of large-flowering purple, white, pale blue and yellow crocuses that make a lovely mosaic of color in early spring gardens. Grows well in containers. Deer and rabbit resistant. Gorgeous mix under deciduous trees and in mass plantings in lawns and perennial beds. Also good for indoor forcing. Rapidly naturalizes in your garden.

Golden Yellow Crocus

Bulb. Z3. ½-1” tall.  Blooms late winter / early spring.  Compost-improved soil.

Deep golden yellow color of this crocus brightens up your early spring garden atop slender, olive-green striped leaves.  Almost always the first flower in the garden each year. Naturalizes easily. Bees appreciate this in your garden for early season fodder! Mass plant in perennial borders or in lawns for showy displays. Plant with snowdrops and other early-blooming bulbs.

Fritillaria ‘Sunset’

Fritillaria imperialis ‘Sunset’
A show-stopper in the early to mid-spring garden, ‘Sunset’ Crown Imperial’s large, bright orange florets are suspended below a topknot crown of bronze-burgundy spiky foliage. The statuesque flowers shoot skyward on 40” to 48” burgundy stems for additional dramatic impact. Great in full or part sun in most soils that drain well. Fritillaria bulbs dry out very quickly so plant them soon after getting them home, 12” apart and 10” deep. The bulb has a depression on the top, so to avoid water accumulating and rotting the bulb, plant it at an angle to prevent water collecting and rotting the bulb. After bloom, don’t trim back the foliage until it has withered away entirely in summer. Crown Imperials are tough and drought-tolerant plants and can persist for many years. Hardy to -30 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pendant, bell-shaped white flowers with green-tipped petals are a classic harbinger of spring. They look wonderful planted in groups and may bloom as early as February. Commonly called snowdrop, this bulbous perennial is native to Europe and southwestern Asia.

Snowdrops will naturalize where happy. thrives in rich garden loam in part shade, making it perfect under deciduous trees and shrubs.

Zone 3,  3” tall.

All these highly fragrant Dutch Hyacinth varieties are perfect for spring gardens and for forcing indoors in pots or hyacinth glasses. They are long-lived in the garden if fertilized after blooming, and after the first year they will produce more flower spikes that are less densely packed and more natural-looking. Hyacinths are quite easy to grow in a sunny or partly shaded spot.

All these highly fragrant Dutch Hyacinth varieties are perfect for spring gardens and for forcing indoors in pots or hyacinth glasses. They are long-lived in the garden if fertilized after blooming, and after the first year they will produce more flower spikes that are less densely packed and more natural-looking. Hyacinths are quite easy to grow in a sunny or partly shaded spot.

An irresistible little iris that grows no more than 5-6″ tall. Its dazzling, royal blue petals have showy white and yellow markings and the flowers are sweetly fragrant! Perfect for rock gardens or along a walkway where the soil is well-drained and relatively dry. Blooms in late winter along with the crocuses.

5-6” tall clumps can grow to 12” across. Deer-resistant. Plant 4” deep and 4-5” apart. Hardy to Zone 4.

Mother and Daughter Daffodils

Bulb.  Z4. 6-8” or 12-14” tall. Blooms early spring. Compost-improved soil.

This blend includes large, white “mother” daffodils with yellow cups and pure yellow miniature “daughter” daffodils. This joyful mix is a sight for winter-weary eyes bringing sunshine and joy into the early spring garden. Plant 6-7 bulbs together per square foot for best effect. Grows well in containers. Deer and rabbit resistant. Intermix with garden herbs such as thyme and winter savory.

While ‘Altruist’ Narcissus has the classic daffodil look, the colors are anything but ordinary! This striking award-winner has a 3″ coppery golden-orange perianth that pales as it matures, the perfect background for the shallow, bowl-shaped crimson-orange cup. Altruist is long-lived and floriferous, and its unusual and gorgeous coloring make it a stand-out in the garden and as a cut flower. Pest-proof!

14-18” tall, Hardy to Zone 3, blooms mid-spring (April-May).

Narcissus Golden Echo

Golden Echo Jonquilla Daffodil

Bulb. Z3. 8-12” tall. Blooms mid-spring.  Compost-improved soil.

A vigorous miniature daffodil supporting several flowers with extra-long, bright and buttery cups in the center of creamy white petals. Nicely fragrant. Deer and rabbit resistant. Attracts native bees. Sturdy daffodil perfect for the front of a flower bed or in a container.  Flowers are extra long-lasting and lovely as a cut flower.  Plant with basket-of-gold or grape hyacinths.

An old favorite for naturalizing, and another Cyclamineus daffodil. Bright and cheerful in the garden, with reflexed vivid yellow petals and orange-red trumpet. ‘Jetfire’ is early blooming, and increases rapidly to form showy colonies. Very long-blooming, tough and adaptable. Also good for forcing indoors.

Plant 3 times height of bulb, 4-6″ apart. Zone 3, 8-10” tall, Deer and rodent-proof!

Narcissus Yazz

Yazz Daffodil

Bulb. Z5. 12-14” tall. Blooms mid-spring. Compost-improved soil.

This smallish creamy white daffodil begins as a pale yellow bud that matures into an ivory flower with a frilled apricot-yellow cup in the center. Blooms later than other daffodils. Showy under deciduous trees, attracting pollinators with its delicious fragrance. Nice addition to cut flower arrangements. Deer and rabbit resistant. Grows well in containers.  Adorable in rock gardens.  Adds light to shady areas, making them “pop”.

Pacific Rim Daffodil

Bulb. Z3. 12-16” tall. Blooms mid-spring. Compost-improved soil.

Reddish-orange edges line the center cup of this festive large-flowered yellow daffodil. This is a hardy daffodil excellent for cut flowers, or for forcing indoors. Grows well in containers.  Easily naturalizes in your garden. Long-lived, dependable bulb with a showy floral display. Deer and rabbit resistant. Combine with orange tulips and orange Mrs. Bradshaw’s geum.

Potted Paperwhites bring intoxicating fragrance to your home in winter, and make wonderful holiday gifts. They bear trusses of heavily-scented, pure white flowers on up to three stems per bulb. They may be planted in all kinds of decorative pots, vases and trays, either in soil or pebbles, from now through February. [Read More]

Sicilian Honey Garlic or Mediterranean Bells

Bulb. Z3. 30-36” tall. Blooms late spring / early summer. Compost-improved soil.

Unusual, stunning bell flowers are highly attractive to native and European honey bees. One of my favorite bulbs in the garden! It is grown both as a long-blooming ornamental and as a culinary herb throughout the Mediterranean. Fragrant blooms. Naturalizes easily.  Grows well in containers. Very hardy.  Adds interest to cut flower arrangements. Great in rock gardens and containers. Deer and rabbit resistant.  Gorgeous paired with lupine, columbine, tall verbena, and lady’s mantle.

Tritelia (Brodiaea) laxa ‘Rudy’
This gorgeous California native, 12 to 18” tall, features starry, milky-blue flowers contrasted with vivid indigo mid-veins accompanied by 14” tall, grassy foliage. Umbels of 2” elongated flowers pop up in late Spring and last well into mid-Summer. ‘Rudy’ will naturalize readily in most soils and a bit of regular moisture during the growing season will bring you a fuller display each year They will grow in any fertile, reasonably well-drained soil with winter and spring moisture and summer dryness. Plant in masses or among bright perennials like Gaillardia, in full sun to light shade (insufficient sunlight will result in lax, horizontal stems). Bloom time in horticultural zone 5 is May/June. Plant 4″ deep and 3″ to 4″ apart. Also makes a fabulous cut flower! Hardy to Zone 5a.

An artist’s palette of color, the salmon-rose flowers of ‘Artist’ glow with shades of peach, dusky purple and flashes of green that create the distinctive characteristics of a Viridiflora Tulip. The substantial, sculpted blossoms, with their pointed petals, add elegance for long-lasting color in the garden or indoors for room-brightening bouquets, with blooms lasting up to 3 weeks! This exotic creature will naturalize readily in your garden if the flowers are allowed to remain and are not cut. The term Viridiflora is derived from the Latin words virdis meaning green and flos meaning flower.

Plant in sun-part shade, 6” deep and 4-5” apart in well-draining soil. Hardy to Zone 3.

Orange Emperor Tulip

Bulb. Z3. 14-16” tall. Blooms early-mid spring. Compost-improved soil.

A feast for winter-weary eyes, the petals of Orange Emperor are a blend of tangerine, orange, pale yellow and apricot. This tulip brightens up your spirit along with your rock garden or perennial bed! Huge bowl-shaped blooms create a stunning display if planted in mass. Marvelous cut flower. Grows well in containers. Gorgeous planted under quince or forsythia shrubs.

A gorgeous, sturdy, low-growing (8”) naturalizing tulip, perfect for the rock garden, meadow or perennial border. ‘The First’ is very early, blooming in March or April. When closed, the red and white outer petals present a candy-cane striped effect. On sunny days, they open wide (~4″) and look like single waterlilies, revealing an ivory white interior with a bright yellow center and, sometimes, small coral-red markings.

Hardy to Zone 3. Plant 6” deep, 6” apart. Zone 3, 4” tall.

These adorable Species Tulips have reddish-pink petals with glowing, blue-eyed centers.

Plant 3” deep in full to part sun. Lightly fragrant. Grows 4-6” tall. Zone 3.

Mystic Fantasy Tulip Blend

Bulb. Z3. 20-24” tall. Blooms late spring. Compost-improved soil.

Unbelievably evocative combination of maroon, wine, mahogany, yellow, red and white petals on  tall, graceful tulips. A gorgeous blend lovely against early green foliage emerging on shrubs and trees. Makes nice bouquets of cut flowers.  Attractive interplanted with candytuft, garden thyme, and white alliums.

Tulipa Persian Pearl

Persian Pearl Wildflower Tulip is uniquely colored with showy purple-red petals and a bright yellow center. Like most of the wildflower tulips, Tulipa h. ‘Persian Pearl’ multiplies itself readily. Fragrant. Said to be deer-resistant!

Early to mid-spring bloom. Full sun to part shade. Thrives in moderate to low-water gardens.

Prinses Irene Triumph Tulip

Bulb. Z3. 14-16” tall. Blooms mid-late spring. Compost-improved soil.

Bold orange and purple flowers on very sturdy stems successfully brave the worst weather spring can throw at them. Grow well in containers or outside in perennial beds. Great for forcing indoors. Gorgeous in bouquets of cut flowers. Combine with grape hyacinths for a stunning effect. Fragrant.

Purple Pride Tulip

Bulb. Z3. 20-24” tall. Blooms mid-late spring. Compost-improved soil.

A Darwin hybrid with multiple lilac-purple petals that have a pink sheen. Has huge 5” blooms.  Plant in mass for eye-catching color in your spring garden.  Sturdy stems withstand snow and wind.  Lovely cut flower.  Grows well in containers. Gorgeous when planted with coral-colored tulips