While many consider planting daffodils and tulips in Autumn to be complete, this oversight means many gardeners are not aware of the diverse area of spring flowering bulbs. These bulbs are as simple to grow as daffodils and tulips, yet are rare in gardens. The bulbs that nurseries and garden centres keep in stock year round is often only a fraction of what is available in the bulb catalog. These bulbs become available in the summer and are often full of information.

When it comes to spring and summer bulbs, Alliums are often under planted. Alliums are part of the onion family and are often regarded as such. However, the larger varieties, such as Allium ‘Globemaster’ and Allium ‘Purple Sensation’, are excellent uses of bulb flowers for garden aesthetics as they produce purple flowers that are similar to pommadour balls and they grow on top of stocky stems. Alliums come up year after year and have resistant to slug problems. Alliums come up without any problems and flowers grow year after year without any issues, and the flowers are resistant to slugs. Alliums grow in a period of time that is between primrose and tulips, and roses.

Fritillaries have a unique place in both the spring timeline and the garden. Fritillaria meleagris, snake’s head fritillary, can be found in the colder and damp areas of the British isles and have no issues establishing themselves. This unique bulb can droop and have a checkered purple and white flower, something usually absent during the spring timeframe. Planting them in grass can induce the esthetic impact found in the wild Thames Valley Meadows, and requires little to no maintenance to achieve.

Camassia is a bulb that can tolerate wet soil and can be placed in areas where tulips and daffodils won’t establish. Flower spikes emerge in late spring with beautiful shades of blue and violet, relatively rare during that time of the year. This variety is also non-invasive and will spread once established, so that can be advantageous once established. Camassia leichtlinii ‘Caerulea’ is likely the most common variety.

Muscari, or grape hyacinths, are often overlooked after being seen as a border plant. This is a shame because there deep blue flowers can offer gorgeous contrasts with pale tulips or yellow narcissi. This is a color combination that is often not as effectual in designs as it is in practice. Plus, they spread over time, so the initial investment in a single bag will yield plenty of them.

Erythronium is the most deserving of attention among spring bulbs that are underutilized. Seek them out from specialty nurseries when possible. They are the dog’s tooth violets of the Erythronium dens-canis clan. These bulbs flower in the dappled shade of the woodlands in the early to mid spring. These bulbs take a little long to establish than the run of the mill bulbs and are on the expensive to pricey end of the spectrum. But once you place them in the conditions they prefer them to be in they are virtually care free. The bulbs flowers will be the only bulb flowers in the early to mid spring and the flowers are reflexed along with the leaves being mottled.