General information about bulbs
If you ask about bulbs that bloom in the garden, then of course people will name tulips and daffodils, some will add crocuses and galantuses, they will probably mention hyacinths and gladiolus.
But there are much more bulbous plants that bloom and can bloom in the garden…
The name bulbous is given by the type of root – onion. A bulb is a modified stem from which roots appear.
Bulbs are formed in plants from the Liliaceae, Amaryllis, and Cybulaceae families.
Bulbous plants are widespread in nature mainly in countries with a Mediterranean type of climate – with hot summers and mild other seasons. Therefore, storing water with the help of swelling substances ensures the survival of plants in the summer drought.
Bulbous plants are most common in steppes, deserts, semi-deserts, and are also found in broad-leaved forests. The vast majority of them are ephemeroids, that is, plants with a short development period.
After flowering, the aerial part of them dies, the bulb remains in the soil as an organ of recovery and reproduction.
Flower bulbs differ in variety. Some bloom already at the end of winter, others only in summer, some in autumn. There are also flowers that produce leaves in the spring, then disappear in the summer, and bloom again in the fall (colchiniums or late bloomers and not at all common amaryllis)
Almost all bulbous flowers are perennials. New bulbs are planted after the leaves and flowers have died.
Spring-flowering bulbs
Snowdrop
In spring, the first bulbs are galanthus. From the end of February to the beginning of March, white bells already appear in the garden. In addition to the usual form, there are also terry forms. Flore Pleno is a very interesting variety.
Snowdrops look good in large groups, for example, under trees or among bushes. But once every 4-5 years the plants need to be dug up and divided.
Bulbs that bloom in March-April
Around this time, the bulbous iris or Iridodictium, a small bulbous iris, blooms. He easily tolerates frosts, but frost is devastating for him. Iridodictum needs good drainage and a dry summer.
March-April is rich in bulbous plants – crocuses, chiodoxes, snowdrops, pushkinias, muscari.
In April, daffodils, botanical tulips and early hyacinths begin to bloom.
Crocuses are divided into botanical, which bloom earlier, reproduce very well, but the flower is slightly smaller, and large-flowered, which bloom 2-3 weeks later, but the flower is large.
Chionodox
Chiodoxa is sometimes also called a snowdrop or a snow beauty. Varieties with large flowers of various colors have now been bred.
Snowdrop
There are many species in the snowdrop family that differ in flowering time and shape. It is also very interesting that snowdrops and chiodoks if they grow in the same flower bed can form a natural hybrid.
White flower
Among the uncommon, but very interesting plants, I would like to mention the white flower. This plant, like the snowdrop, has long been listed in the Red Book, but it can be grown in the garden. Large white bells with green dots slightly resemble a snowdrop. White flowers have two varieties – spring and summer. Both species are very interesting, but the older one has a larger peduncle and flower itself. The bulbs of the white flower are similar to the bulbs of daffodils.
Tulips
grouse
Grouse are also bulbous. This plant has many species. Among the common ones in gardens is the so-called “royal crown” with a large number of varieties, among which you can choose any color – yellow, orange, lemon, red, bronze or even white. But other species, maybe not so majestic, but very interesting.
Erythronium
Erythronium has also been in the Red Book for a long time, but in addition to the natural “dog’s tooth” there are garden forms with bright leaves with spots and a larger flower.
Bulbs that bloom in summer
At the beginning of summer, Daurian or saffron lily begins to bloom.
Martagon hybrid lilies bloom in June. It is at this time that the bulbous Danish iris, which is about 50 cm tall, also blooms.
Allium plants of different species have different flowering times and can decorate the garden with their balls all summer.
Galtonia
Galtonia, or Cape hyacinth, if grown from February, also begins to bloom. Although I have come across information that galtonia winters in open ground in Ukraine, I dig it up so that the wonderful plants do not die.
Eucomis
Also at this time, another native of North Africa blooms – eucomis, or pineapple lily.
Atsindatera
Since August, gladiolus blooms in the gardens, and from the beginning of September, the relative of the gladiolus, Atcindatera Miruel, picks up the baton.
Autumn-flowering bulbs
September also flaunts montebration.
The blossoming of a flower, which is called both “naked lady” and “son before father” – late bloomer – begins.
Autumn crocuses are blooming for company with them at this time.
In addition to the usual late bloomers and crocuses, belladonna amaryllis and licorice bloom at this time.
Since bulbs have a short growing season, they need fertilizing.
I buy fertilizers for onions and garlic, which have a balanced set of trace elements for the development of bulbs.
Other conditions are acidic or calcareous soil, I provide it by adding peat or ash.
Be sure to plant bulbs in the garden and you will have a beautiful garden all garden season.
Sincerely, experienced gardener Olesya.
Read also Closing of the summer season!.
Published: 07.11.2019
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