Bulbs for spring flowers – inspirational planting ideas, new varieties and companion planting 
 
Bulbs are easy

Most bulbs are easy to grow. Plant them, water them, and the shoots come up and bloom – it’s as easy as that. This is because the elements of the flower are already inside the bulb waiting to develop.

The most commonly grown bulbs will tolerate a wide range of soil types. There are varieties that will grow in the sunniest spot, and others suitable for planting under shrubs and trees. Bulbs are a good way of bringing colour and life into your garden in spring. Even new gardeners will almost certainly be able to produce a successful display if they plant bulbs in the autumn.

Bulbs bring happiness

Does the very thought of spring flowers fill you with a sudden memory of happiness? Fleeting maybe – but happy moments nevertheless. That happiness can be increased. One way of achieving this is to arrange spring flowering bulbs close to the house. Your light-hearted mood will revive whenever you catch sight of the flowers. Why not plant white or yellow Narcissus ‘Cheerfulness’, mostly for the scent, but also for the inspiring name?

Every spring gardens come alive with wonderful colour and fragrance. In my own garden I keep a row of terra cotta pots along a wall especially for bulbs. Each autumn I plant varieties that I know will give months of pleasure early the following year. Further down the garden flowers reappear from bulbs planted under trees and shrubs in previous years.

Which bulbs where?

Now is the time to decide which varieties you like - ready for autumn planting. The Lent lily and other wild species are recommended for naturalising in grass. No matter how large or small the garden, I would always try to find space for scented Narcissus poeticus and the similar cultivar ‘Actaea’ - they go so well with primroses. And alpine bulbs make excellent campanions to other plants – whether in a rock garden, a raised bed, a courtyard garden, or window box.

What’s new?

There are many ways of displaying bulbs and, whether we like the idea or not, there are fashions in gardens. Many of the latest designs include gigantic pots of bulbs and plants with impressive foliage or flowers arranged on slate, pebbles or gravel of various sizes and colours. Some plants can also be grown directly in the pebble mulch.

Favourite small daffodils (Narcissus)

Narcissus ‘Tete a Tete’ remains a popular dwarf daffodil for borders and pots, or next to terrace steps, as does N. ‘Dove wings’, a beautifully shaped mini daffodil. The dainty, multiheaded N. ‘Hawera’ has a very pleasing fragrance; and ‘Lintie’ is a sweetly scented jonquil with a greenish-lemon perianth and flat yellow cup.

Favourite large daffodils (Narcissus)

Besides the yellow trumpet daffodil ‘Saint Keverne’, I am drawn to varieties such as ‘Mount Hood’ (white trumpet), ‘Salome’ (white perianth, apricot trumpet) or ‘Passionale’ (white perianth, paler pink trumpet).

Narcissus – new varieties

Each year I am encouraged to grow trial novelties. Over the years they have included Narcissus ‘Chanterelle’ – a bright yellow, split corona, butterfly type; N. ‘Fragrant Breeze’ – a variety with a white perianth and disc-shaped corolla; N. ‘Modern Art’ – yellow with tightly frilled orange-red cup; N. ‘Quail’ – a late flowering, golden yellow jonquil, bearing 2-3 flowers per stem.

Tulips for bright colour

Artists often like tulips, maybe for their vivid colours - from red or pink, through most of the rainbow colours, to startling black or white. Tulipa ‘Swan Wings’ was well named - there is indeed a hint of swan in the white fringed petals - and the plain petals of ‘Black Swan’ are velvety maroon-black.

A few bulbs of ‘Union Jack’ (mainly raspberry red and white) will create dramatic visual impact, and yellow-flowering varieties conjure up sunshine colours even on dull days.

Miniature bulbs

These really should be enjoyed in close-up. If the container is placed near the house, it is possible to peep at the opening blooms on the coldest or wettest days. And what heart-lifting moments these are in early spring. Suitable plants for a sink garden might include:

*Narcissus minimus - the smallest daffodil;

*Chionodoxa – blue starry flowers, or rarely white

*Crocus chrysanthus ‘E.A.Bowles’ – flowers very early;

*C.biflorus weldenii – one of the small, early species. Delightful grey-blue stripe on white.

*C.fleischeri – white petals which open wide to reveal a red stigma.

*Iris reticulata – large blooms on 6 in (15cm) stems. Several colours available, but ‘Cantab’ blue has long been a favourite.

*Cyclamen – species and varieties for flowers in spring, and every season

Plant bulbs in succession

Try to keep your garden show going by including bulbs that will flower at different times – beginning with the earliest snowdrops. Here is a list to remind you of joys to come; but remember these are only some of the numerous bulbs available and that there is an overlap of flowering times.

Early snowdrops (Galanthus); species crocus –smaller and daintier than the cultivars; Narcissus – early, mid-season and late flowering; late snowdrops; Scilla –bluebell-like; Tulipa – early, mid-season and late flowering; grape-hyacinths (Muscari); and hyacinths –outdoor varieties.