Young Lights Flicker: A Reference to Small Light Bulbs in Action
Spring is here, and it's time to welcome the season with a burst of colour in your garden. This year, consider adding some lesser-known, small-statured spring blooms often called minor bulbs to your outdoor space. These early-blooming beauties, including grape hyacinths, snowdrops, windflowers, crocuses, scilla, fritillaria, and Siberian squill, are perfect for tucking into borders, rock gardens, under trees, or even in low-maintenance lawns.
Grape hyacinths, or Muscari, are small spring bloomers ideal for planting along walkways, in rock gardens, or in borders. They produce charming blue flower clusters. Snowdrops (Galanthus) are early spring bloomers with delicate white flowers and are deer resistant, making them suitable for gardens with wildlife.
Windflowers (Anemone) and crocuses are another early spring delights, growing well in either full sun or partial shade. They come in various colours, including yellow, blue, lavender, and purple, with many blossoms being striped. Scilla and fritillaria are similar in depth and spacing, producing small, star-like flowers and distinctive, bell-shaped flowers, respectively.
Siberian squill, with its slightly larger flower spikes and deep blue flowers, is an excellent choice for planting under trees and shrubs. For a pop of bright colour, consider the Checkered lily (Fritillaria meleagris) with its nodding, bell-shaped flowers in a distinctive checkered pattern or the Glory-of-the-Snow (Chionodoxa luciliae) with star-shaped, bright blue flowers with white centres.
When it comes to planting and care, these minor bulbs prefer well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. Most should be planted 2 to 6 inches deep, with spacing ranging from 2 to 8 inches, allowing room for growth and air circulation. After blooming, cut off spent flowers to prevent seed formation, and allow the foliage to die back naturally as it photosynthesises to store energy for the following growing season.
Don't forget about the dwarf irises, which perform best in well-drained soils in full sun. These bulbous species, such as the Danford Iris with its bright yellow flowers with greenish brown blotches, are excellent choices for rock gardens and the fronts of borders.
For a truly unusual addition to your garden, consider the Crown Imperial (Fritillaria imperialis) with its large bell-shaped flowers clustered atop a 1- to 2-foot stalk in mid-spring. The flowers are available in shades of yellow, orange, and red, and the bulb possesses a musky, skunk-like odour. The Persian Fritillary (Fritillaria persica) produces plum purple, pendant, bell-shaped flowers on 2- to 3-foot-tall flower spikes, with grey-green foliage.
By selecting these minor bulbs and following basic planting and care guidelines, you can enjoy a charming, low-maintenance spring display with small but delightful flowers. Learn more about these tiny treasures and how to make the most of them in your Midwestern garden.
- Tuck grape hyacinths, or Muscari, into borders, walkways, or rock gardens for a charming display of blue flower clusters.
- Snowdrops (Galanthus), with their deer-resistant, delicate white flowers, are suitable for gardens with wildlife and can be planted in borders or under trees.
- Windflowers (Anemone) and crocuses, which grow well in full sun or partial shade, can be found in various colours, including striped versions.
- Scilla and fritillaria, both perfect for borders or rock gardens, produce small, star-like and bell-shaped flowers, respectively.
- Siberian squill, with deep blue flowers, is an ideal choice for planting under trees and shrubs.
- For bright pops of colour, consider Checkered lily (Fritillaria meleagris) with its distinctive checkered pattern or Glory-of-the-Snow (Chionodoxa luciliae) with its star-shaped, bright blue flowers.
