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 Plant a succession of distinctive spring-blooming bulbs

Take your garden from late winter to early summer with these underrated gems

Planting spring-blooming bulbs in the fall is an easy way to bring joy to the garden next year. This group of plants brings tremendous excitement and early color. Regional knowledge is especially important for this type of plant when selecting individual cultivars for your garden. Unfortunately, plants that aren't the best choice for the Southeast are often distributed and sold in our region anyway. The Southeast has unique growing conditions, and bulbs don't always respond as well here as in other parts of the country. Most of us are looking for plants that grow. This doesn't mean you shouldn't give unproven plants a chance. Experimentation should be encouraged and small amounts of fun. However, the following bulbs have proven to grow well here. These are unique, lesser-known bulbs and bulb-like plants (geophytes) that bloom at different times of the spring. Plant them all for successive blooms from February to June.

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Winter aconite

Eranthis hyemalis, zones 4–7

Flowering time: late winter to early spring

Winter aconite is a small fall-planted tuber that ranks among the earliest bloomers in the Southeast. Depending on your exact location, February blooms are not unusual. This plant is very popular among northern gardeners; However, if planted in a shaded woodland garden, it will thrive in the southeast. The frilled leaves are just as attractive as the buttercup-yellow flowers. I recommend using it as a space filler in the shade, and leafy herbaceous plants such as hostas (Hosta spp. and CVS., zones 3–8) can fill in late in the season.

‘Cassata’ daffodil

Narcissus ‘Cassata’, Zones 3–9

Flowering Time: Mid

One of my favorite daffodils in the Southeast is 'Cassata'. This is an early daffodil that opens with a yellow cup on top of the white outer petals. It has long-lasting beauty as the yellow petals mature to almost pure white. 'Cassata' is well-perennial and long-lived in southeastern gardens. Overall, daffodils are very hardy plants. One caveat is not to over-irrigate beds during dormant periods. This can lead to rotted bulbs and reduced viability.

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'Flava' tulip

Tulipa orphanidea 'Flava', zones 5–8

Bloom Time: Mid to late spring

I generally recommend species tulips over hybrid tulips for the Southeast because they are more likely to come back year after year. The 'Flava' tulip, sometimes called the Golden Anatolian Tulip, is a solid choice for long-lasting plants. Yellow flowers with shades of green and orange blushes make a loose bouquet in the middle garden. Amending soils to improve drainage will increase survival in our region.

Tumbleweed onion

Allium schubertii, zones 4–8

Flowering time: late spring to early summer

Allium, or ornamental onion, continues to grow in popularity. Among the early blooming alliums, three stick out as stars in the Southeast garden. They are the star of Persia (Allium cristopi, zones 4-8), black garlic (Allium nigrum, zones 4-8), and tumbleweed onions. Dumbledores are my favorite. This bulb is completely different from the purple tennis balls on a stick you might picture when you think of alliums. Cantaloupe-sized flowers burst from a central point like spider fireworks. Whichever allium you choose, they all bring dramatic architecture to the garden. The three mentioned here bloom in late spring. Most alliums prefer full sun in well-drained soil and attract excellent pollinators.

When I put a bulb in the ground in the fall, I plant it with an idea of ​​what will come next year. I'm often excited that it worked when I see the bulbs I planted the previous year come to life in the spring. Planting bulbs suited to your climate can help increase your chances of a spectacular spring show. For more on growing bulbs in the Southeast, see:

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