Flower bulbs are not just tulips - there are so many other beautiful flowers!
After a long dark winter, we all long for the first signs of spring. Fortunately, we can achieve early spring joy by planting beautiful spring harbingers in the autumn. From late August to December, in mild winters even later, you can plant flower bulbs and tubers of the very earliest winter aconites, snowdrops, crocuses, glory-of-the-snow, and the slightly later tulips, daffodils and narcissi, crown imperials and snake's head fritillaries, ornamental onions, grape hyacinths, squills and many more. The earlier you plant your bulbs in autumn, the earlier they will delight you with blooms in spring. The very earliest are December-flowering snowdrops such as Galanthus 'Reginae-Olgae' and Galanthus 'Christmas Wish', and the latest are types of ornamental onions that can bloom in July-August.
On this page, we take the opportunity to highlight all the many other spring-flowering bulbs. We have divided them by variety, making them easier to find.
If you are looking for our tulips, crocuses, and hyacinths, you will find them under "Inspiration" in the main menu.
Enjoy!
Anemone blanda, Balkan Anemone and Anemone coronaria, French Anemone
The Anemone family is vast, with 150 different species.
Anemone blanda, the Balkan Anemone, originates from the Balkans and Turkey. The Balkan Anemone forms small hard tubers, which are planted in deep, well-drained forest or garden soil at a depth of 8-10 cm in September-December. The tubers can be soaked in water for 12-24 hours to soften them. The Balkan Anemone is fully hardy in Denmark. They bloom in March-April with flowers approximately 10 cm tall, in blue, pink, or white, or variations thereof. They are used in beds, under bushes and trees in perennial beds, and in wildflower meadows. They spread by self-seeding or by digging up the tubers/rhizomes in the spring after the foliage dies back, dividing them, and replanting.
Anemone coronaria, the French Anemone, originates from the eastern Mediterranean and western Asia. The tubers are planted 10-15 cm deep in well-drained garden soil in spring after soaking in water for 12-24 hours. They are not 100% hardy in Denmark, so if you want to keep them for several years, they should be dug up in autumn and stored dry and frost-free over winter. In spring, they are simply planted again; optionally, they can be pre-cultivated indoors or in a greenhouse to achieve earlier flowering.
In mild winters, they can often overwinter in the garden. Plant them deeply in autumn, 10-15 cm, close to the house foundation, and cover them for winter with a 20 cm thick layer of leaves, which should be removed when the frost is over. If planted in spring, flowering begins in June and continues for a long period. They reach a height of 30-40 cm and come in many colours, including white, blue, red, cyclamen, as well as bicoloured and with single or double flowers. If planted in autumn, flowering begins a little earlier, specifically in May-June.
Camassia, Camas Lily
Camassia is a small genus of five species native to North America and are hardy in Denmark. They grow in moist prairie meadows and are suitable for planting in ordinary garden soil that tends to be on the moist side. They are equally suitable for flower meadows, for naturalizing, and for decorative groups in garden beds with perennials, trees, and shrubs. They are also suitable for planting in pots and containers.
Camassia are easy and hardy plants. The prairie lilies bloom for a relatively long time from late May/June with long spikes up to 100 cm tall in white, purple, and blue shades. The spikes bloom from the bottom up with large star-shaped flowers.
Camassia cusickii from Oregon grows to about 80 cm and is blue, Camassia leichtlinii about 100 cm. It is available in a creamy white variety and various blue and violet shades, plus a semi-double variety. Camassia quamash (formerly
Camassia esculenta, meaning "the edible") was eaten boiled or roasted by the indigenous people of North America. The large bulbs (Camassia cusickii and Camassia leichtlinii) should be planted at least 20 cm deep, and the small bulbs of Camassia quamash should be planted 10-15 cm deep.
Winter Aconite, Eranthis
Winter aconites originate from Central and Southern Europe and the Middle East (Turkey and Syria). There are few species.
The small black tubers are planted between September and December at a depth of 5-10 cm, possibly after being soaked in water for 12-24 hours.
They bloom from January to March with bright yellow flowers. Winter aconites are among the first harbingers of spring, forming a beautiful yellow carpet when allowed to spread. The foliage is beautifully lobed. They propagate by seed and self-seed readily. The foliage withers in early summer.
We stock the common European winter aconite, Eranthis hyemalis, and the Turkish Eranthis cilicica. They are similar in bloom, but the Turkish variety has more deeply lobed foliage.
Eremurus, foxtail lily
Cleopatra's Needle likely owes its name to Eremurus robusta, as its up to 2.5 m tall white-pink inflorescence brings to mind the magnificent columns of antiquity. Eremurus comprises 50 species, all originating from the steppe regions and high plains of Asia. They all have star-shaped root tubers, which should ideally be planted in early autumn in a large, shallow hole with gritty, well-drained soil at a depth of 10-15 cm.
In spring, the 40-60 cm long slender leaves appear first, followed by the flower spike, 50-250 cm tall, in June-July. The colors of the flower spike can vary from white, pink, yellow, and various pastel shades. Plant in full sun in a perennial bed, prairie garden, or alongside low sun-loving shrubs. The leaves wither shortly after flowering. Winter protection prevents the central shoot from emerging too early in spring.
Erythrinium, Dogtooth
Erythronium, also known as Dogtooth Violet, comprises about 25 species, most of which are from North America. However, several species are also found in Asia and Europe. It is a woodland plant that is also suitable for planting in an acid soil bed.
They should be planted as soon as possible after they are offered in September, as they dry out easily due to a lack of bulb scales. They are planted to a depth of approximately 10 cm, larger bulbs slightly deeper, in deep, humic forest soil or acid soil. Varieties of Erythronium dens-canis from Southern Europe are more delicate than many other Dogtooth Violets and require earlier planting than the more robust ones: Erythronium 'Pagoda', Erythronium 'White Beauty', Erythronium 'Kondo'. They bloom in April-May, reaching a height of 15-35 cm. The beautiful foliage withers 4-6 weeks after flowering. They spread by offsets and by seeding. Beautiful in a wildflower meadow.
Colchicum, Autumn Crocus, Naked Ladies
Colchicum is a genus with approximately 65 species in Europe and eastward to Central Asia. Most bloom "naked," i.e., without leaves in the autumn. The flowers are shaped like a large crocus, 10-25 cm high, and the color is in lighter and darker purplish-pink shades or white.
Most have single flowers, but there are also varieties with double flowers.
Flowering time from September to November. In spring, the large leaves emerge and should be allowed to wither down to ensure next year's blooming. They thrive in ordinary garden soil and are planted at a depth of 15-20 cm. Colchicum is suitable for planting in perennial beds and other beds in the garden and will contribute color to the flower meadow at a time when not much else brightens it up.
Please note, the entire plant is poisonous.
Fritillaria, Crown Imperial, Snake's Head Fritillary
Fritillaria is a genus with approximately 80 species from Europe, Asia, and North America, covering the entire northern hemisphere. The larger species, Fritillaria imperialis, Fritillaria persica, and Fritillaria raddeana, are woodland plants that thrive in clearings in moist forests, while the smaller species grow on moist mountain slopes in grass.
The Crown Imperials, Fritillaria imperialis, and Fritillaria raddeana have large bulbs and are stately plants reaching 60-150 cm in height with 5-6 beautiful hanging or slightly outward-facing large bell-shaped flowers in a wreath around the stem, topped with a tuft of leaves above the flower wreath. The color of the common Crown Imperial, which originates from the Himalayas, can vary from red, orange, yellow, and many other color variations. Crown Imperials bloom early in April-May and die back in June after flowering. They propagate by offsets and by seeds.
The Persian Crown Imperial, Fritillaria persica, which also has a large bulb, grows 60-100 cm tall and has almost black bell-shaped flowers in a spike with 7-20 individual flowers. There is also a white-green variety called Fritillaria persica 'Ivory Bells'.
We call the small Fritillaria 'vibeæg' (snake's head fritillary), although 'vibeæg' specifically refers to Fritillaria meleagris, which has hanging bell-shaped flowers that are checkered like a snake's head fritillary. There is also a white form, Fritillaria meleagris 'Alba'. Furthermore, Fritillaria acmopetala, Fritillaria michailowsky, and Fritillaria uva-vulpis belong to this group. They are suitable for naturalizing in woodland beds or meadows, as they spread by self-seeding. However, it often takes 4-5 years for self-sown plants to flower.
Cyclamen
Cyclamen is a genus of about 20 species from Southern Europe eastwards to Iran (Persia) and southwards to Somalia. Most are not winter-hardy in Denmark, as cyclamen is a highly cultivated species that cannot tolerate frost. There are many varieties used as houseplants and are well-known from early autumn up to Christmas in flower shops.
These varieties are used as late-flowering annuals in pots and containers. Several of them are fragrant.
Cyclamen coum originates from Turkey and the Caucasus. It blooms in early spring, from January to April, with flowers in shades of pink, white, or red, followed by variable foliage. Plant with 2-3 cm of soil over the tuber in well-drained woodland soil. Cyclamen hederifolium (syn. Cyclamen neapolitanum) comes from Southern Europe and Turkey and blooms in Sept-Oct. with 15 cm high pink-violet flowers in many shades. These are followed by beautiful marbled, evergreen leaves, which do not wither until early summer. Plant it 5-10 cm deep in well-drained woodland soil.
Both of the mentioned species do well in a rhododendron bed in partial shade.
Galanthus, Snowdrop
There are about 20 species of snowdrops, Galanthus, that grow wild in the forests of Europe and Western Asia, Turkey, and the Caucasus. In Denmark, it has naturalized in many places and brightens up the landscape as the absolute first harbinger of spring. It can bloom as early as January with its delicate white bells. The bulbs are planted in Sep-Dec at a depth of 10 cm in ordinary garden soil. The height is 10-20 cm. There are snowdrop collectors who are bitten by the bug. There are an incredible number of varieties with special flower shapes, markings, and spots on the petals, and much more. The most expensive snowdrop we have is called Galanthus 'Primrose Warburg' and has a primrose yellow base. In addition to the species Galanthus nivalis, which is the common European snowdrop, we have Galanthus elwesii, Galanthus ikariae (= Galanthus latifolia), Galanthus woronowii, plus 6-7 special varieties to start with, Galanthus 'Dionysos', Galanthus 'Hippolyta', Galantus S. Arnott', Galanthus 'Viridi-Apice'.
Hyacinthoides, bellflower, Spanish bluebells, "bluebells", English bluebells, common bluebells
This genus contains 3 species that grow in Spain, Portugal, Italy, England, France, and Belgium. Hyacinthoides hispanica is the southernmost and is called the Spanish bluebell. It grows 20-30 cm tall, blooms in May, and self-seeds profusely.
The same applies to Hyacinthoides non-scripta (English bluebell). It reaches the same height. The most common color is blue, but it also comes in white and pink forms. In all country gardens on Mors, these bluebells spring up from the ground in abundance, which is a delight to behold. They are very well suited for naturalization and planting in flowerbeds. They produce many seeds and thrive in rich humus soil. The round bulbs are planted 10-15 cm deep.
Iris
Iris is a large genus with 300 species. Only Iris danfordiae, Iris reticulata with varieties, and Iris histrioides with varieties will be mentioned here. These are early-flowering irises.
Iris danfordiae has yellow flowers in April to May.
Iris reticulata, the netted iris, comes in many shades of blue and is low-growing, 10-16 cm. They should be planted in September to November at a depth of 8-10 cm.
Iris x hollandica, which is not hardy in Denmark, should be planted in spring, or placed in a conservatory or greenhouse in autumn.
Leucojum, snowflake, summer snowflake
Leucojum vernum, Spring Snowflake, is a bit like Dog's Tooth Violet. They do not tolerate being out of the ground and must be planted within 14 days. As soon as we receive them, we refrigerate them. The bulbs are planted in moisture-retaining potting soil at a depth of at least 10 cm. It spreads by offsets and by seeding. Leucojum aestivum, Summer Snowflake, has white, snowflake-like flowers on 50-60 cm tall plants in May. They bloom and blend well with late tulips.
Leucojum aestivum 'Gravetye Giant' has slightly larger flowers and is a little taller than the species.
Muscari, grape hyacinth
Muscari, grape hyacinth, is a genus with up to 50 species in the Mediterranean region and Asia Minor. These are low-growing, 10-20 cm tall April-flowering plants, most often with blue bell-shaped flowers in a small spike, often with a white mouth.
The round bulbs are planted in the garden from September to December. At a depth of 10 cm in ordinary garden soil. They spread by offsets and by self-seeding.
There is a sea of varieties with white, light blue, purple, pink, and even a single one with yellow flowers. They thrive in all types of soil and are easy to grow.
Scilla, Squill
The genus Scilla comprises about 80 species, all of which grow between rocks or in moist meadows in Europe and western Asia. They thrive in ordinary garden soil. The bulbs are planted about 10 cm deep and they bloom in early spring from March to April.
The earliest is Scilla bifolia, which begins in mid-March with dark blue flowers with long stamens. Like others, it produces side bulbs and many seeds, which is why it spreads quickly and forms a dense carpet.
Scilla sibirica, Siberian squill, is deep blue and begins flowering 14 days after Scilla bifolia. The Persian squill, Scilla mischtschenkoana (Scilla tubergeniana), is light blue and can begin flowering as early as February. It resembles Puschkinia, striped squill, in color but is only half as tall, about 15 cm, and can bloom for 6 weeks. They spread by side bulbs and seeds and are also suitable for lawns, wildflower meadows, and naturalization.