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Bulbous flowers are the first to decorate the garden after a long winter. Some varieties of perennials bloom even before the snow has completely melted. From our article you will learn about the varieties of primroses, as well as their features.
Description and features of bulbous flowers
Bulbous plants are representatives of the flora belonging to three families: Onion, Lily, Amaryllis. Many often confuse them with tuber crops. They got their name due to the special structure of the stem. Unlike tubers, which only accumulate nutrients, bulbs are the embryo of a flower.
Plants owe their popularity among gardeners to such advantages:
- simple transplant procedure;
- the possibility of distillation at any time of the year;
- long preservation of varietal qualities (up to 10 years).
The only drawback of the bulbs is that with prolonged growth in one area, they deplete, and sometimes can even poison the soil.
Although the subtropics are the birthplace of plants, they are undemanding to care and adapt well to any climate. At low temperatures, the flowers fall into a dormant state, which allows them to survive the winter without consequences. Their breeding also does not require complex agricultural skills. Particular attention should be paid only to the transplant process and winter storage.
Video “Bulb flowers for the garden”
This video shows various bulb crops.
The best representatives of bulbous for the garden
Gardeners love these representatives of the flora for their external aesthetics and early flowering. Having planted bulbs in the garden, they will be the first to paint the lawns in bright colors. Below we present an overview of the best representatives of decorative flowers for the garden.
early primroses
These include perennials that bloom with the advent of spring.
Vesennik wintering
The earliest garden representative, the flowering of which begins in the last days of February or early March, when the snow cover has not yet melted. The height of the plant is 10 cm, the color is bright yellow. Flowers grow very quickly and do not like shade.
Galanthus
Known to most gardeners as a snowdrop. Making its way through the snow that has not yet melted, the plant blooms with snow-white flowers. Its height reaches 10 cm, and green blotches can be found in the color. Likes sunny or slightly shaded places.
Crocuses
Spring bulbous with a variety of colors. Depending on the variety, the color can be white, yellow, orange, pink, lilac or purple. They bloom by the end of March or with the advent of April. In a well-lit area, the shade of crocuses will be richer.
From the stigmas of the plant, a well-known spice, saffron, is extracted.
Hionodox
A low-growing representative of bulbous (up to 10 cm) with a good growing ability. Prefers shade or partial shade. It blooms with blue inflorescences with snow-white cores. The advantage of chionodox is that it does not need to be dug up for the winter.
Pushkinia proleskovidnaya
The second name of the plant is scilloid pushkinia. It grows up to 10 cm, does not grow well in the shade, and therefore it is better to plant it in sunny areas. It tolerates frost well even during flowering. When blooming, the petals turn white with a blue stripe.
Hyacinthus orientalis
A medium-sized flower, sometimes reaching 25 cm. Depending on the variety, the plants can be white, pale pink, bright purple, purple-lilac, raspberry, creamy orange or rich yellow. The hue becomes brighter the more light the hyacinth receives.
Tulip
Spring flowers blooming closer to May. Their height can vary from 10 to 50 cm. The color depends on the variety. Often there are snow-white, bright yellow, scarlet, coral, lilac or pink tulips with various shades and splashes. The plant prefers sunny areas of the garden.
Narcissus
The first flowering begins in mid-spring. As a rule, these are dwarf and tubular species. A little later crowned daffodils bloom. The color, size and shape of the flower depends on the variety. So, the height of a sun-loving plant is 15–45 cm, and the petals can be white, yellow or pale pink.
Muscari
These bulbs are also known as mouse hyacinth or viper onion. A low-growing plant (up to 10 cm) blooms in April and loves well-lit places. Muscari inflorescences are cone-shaped, they are white with a bluish or pale pink tint.
Allium
The heat-loving flower is widely known as an ornamental onion. It blooms only towards the end of May. At the end of the stem, multi-colored fluffy balls of white, lilac, blue or red color with various shades are formed. Allium height ranges from 10 to 175 cm.
Iridodictium, or reticulated iris
Do not confuse it with ordinary irises, since the latter do not belong to bulbous plants. This flower is smaller (up to 15 cm) and also has a different inflorescence shape. Iridodictium can be white, pale yellow, blue, blue or purple.
summer bulbous
The subspecies includes plants that bloom from early summer to early September.
Montbretia
Tall flowers are bright yellow, red-orange or dark scarlet. The perennial is also known as Japanese gladiolus and is related to irises. It has a high growing capacity. Flowering time is up to 3,5 weeks. Montbrecia is best planted in sunny, elevated areas.
garden bows
The flowering period begins in July, in warmer regions – from June. Garden bows are represented by dwarf and giant varieties. They are covered with round fluffy caps of a lilac-lilac or burgundy hue. Landing can be done twice per season: in April and early October.
Lilies
Bulbous bushy perennials with a wide variety of shades. Depending on the variety, tall plants have different flowering times and colors. They love moist loamy soil, fertilized with mineral fertilizers.
To make the lily bloom longer, it is recommended to cut dried buds in a timely manner.
Author’s advice
Gabrantus
The main feature of the habranthus is that the buds open only after heavy watering or rain. They are painted in white, yellow-orange or lilac-pink. In order for the plant to bloom on time, it should be planted no later than April. For the winter, the bulbs need to be dug up, since the flower does not differ in winter hardiness.
Galtonia, or African hyacinth
A tall plant up to 100 cm high. Its structure resembles a bell. In summer it is densely covered with small snow-white flowers. Galtonia does not like shade and does not tolerate drafts. Feels comfortable on the soil fertilized with compost. The African hyacinth does not tolerate winter well, and therefore the bulbs must be dug up.
Varieties with autumn flowering period
There are also bulbous perennials that bloom in autumn.
Garden cyclamen
Highly ornamental plant with wide spotted leaves and large flowers of white, scarlet or bright pink. He does not like the bright sun, and therefore it is better to plant cyclamen in shaded areas. The soil should be nutritious and not waterlogged. It is recommended to cover the perennial for the winter.
Colchicum
Miniature autumn perennial of a pale lilac hue. Feels comfortable in sunny areas. The soil should pass moisture well, as the plant does not like its excess. The composition of the soil can be any, but drainage is required. Colchicum is recommended to be planted in August.
home bulb plants
Bulbous flowers can be planted not only in personal plots. Often flower growers grow ornamental plants at home on windowsills.
Hyppeastrum
A tall perennial up to 100 cm high. Up to 6 buds can be placed on one shoot, which, when opened, have a coral hue. The flowers are quite large, their circumference reaches 25 cm. Hippeastrum begins to bloom in early spring, less often in February. Dislikes excessive lighting and acidic soil.
Amaryllis
The plant has a short flowering, which begins in April and lasts only a week. Lily-shaped inflorescences are painted in a rich scarlet hue. Their size is slightly smaller than that of the hippeastrum, as well as the height of the shoots. Amaryllis is a sun-loving perennial, and therefore it is better to put a flowerpot with it on the southern windows.
Oxygen
This representative of the flora is also known as hare cabbage. Oxalis belongs to undersized species and grows very well. During flowering, it is covered with a carpet of white flowers with lilac stripes. When watered from above or in bright light, the plant folds its leaves. Prefers partial shade, slightly acidic substrate, high humidity.
Gemanthus
Elephant ear, as this perennial is also called, has large snow-white flowers with many bright yellow stamens. A flowerpot with a plant is best placed on eastern or western windows, avoiding an excess of sunlight. Hemanthus is very fond of water, but you need to make sure that the substrate is well drained.
Rhodofial
The flowering period of Rhodophiala falls at the end of summer and lasts only a week. This is a moisture-loving plant that needs bright light. On each shoot there is one lily-shaped flower with a circumference of up to 20 cm. The color of the petals is pink-purple with burgundy stripes.
The perennial grows best in greenhouses, where it is possible to maintain the conditions it needs.
Drimiopsis
A low plant with long spotty leaves and spicate inflorescences. Each shoot is strewn with small flowers of a white-green hue. Their number can be from 20 to 30 pieces. Feeding drimiopsis is recommended every 10 days with formulations for succulents.
Vallota
Low-growing perennial of a beautiful rich carrot-red hue. Up to 9 buds can be on one shoot. Vallota blooms from mid-April to June. Flowering lasts 14 days. The substrate for the plant should be slightly acidic, with good permeability. Decorative flower does not like the bright sun.
Bulbous plants and landscaping
Bulbous perennials are very often used to create flower arrangements and lawn decoration. With their bright coloring, they fit well into the overall pattern, and are also combined with many garden plants. To make the garden look harmonious, it is enough to follow a few simple rules:
- Combine warm shades with cold ones, but make sure that the colors do not stand out from the overall palette.
- Better stick to 2-3 tones, one of which will prevail. Monotony or excessive variegation will not benefit the overall design.
- Plant tall plants in the background. So miniature bulbs will look much more profitable.
- If you want to create a “creative mess” in a flower bed, then you can plant different types of perennials in one composition.
- Do not be zealous when decorating borders. Do not arrange flowers too often and in a row. It is better to make small equidistant groups.
- To bloom from spring to autumn, choose bulbs of different ripening periods. Thus, some plants will imperceptibly replace others.
A wide variety of bulbous perennials opens up wide scope for a flight of fancy. With their help, you can make any garden plot unique, and while living in an apartment, admire them on the windowsills.