Plants

The most cold-hardy of the species of Lycoris available in commerce today (Zone 5), L. squamigera is often called Resurrection lily because the leaves disappear in summer with the flowering stalks seemingly rising from the dead in late summer. Thick naked flower scapes rise to 18-24” tall in August or September, each bearing 4 to 7 large, showy, funnel-shaped, lilac-rose pink flowers that are very fragrant!

A member of the Amaryllis family, in appearance it resembles Belladonna lily (Amaryllis belladonna), but its flowering habit is reminiscent of Colchicum. Strap-like grayish-green leaves to 12” long and 1” wide appear in spring and must be allowed to die back in summer.

Though native to Japan, it is easily grown here in organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun or part shade. Plant the bulbs 8-12” deep and 6” apart in fall and mulch well in winter. Resurrection Lily naturalizes by bulb-offsets. A low-maintenance beauty with no serious insect or disease problems, water sparingly during the rest period and moderately when growing. Avoid transplanting as this plant dislikes being disturbed. Use in borders or containers, or in open woodland gardens, meadows, or wild areas where the late spring foliage is not a concern.

Potted Paperwhites bring intoxicating fragrance to your home in winter, and make wonderful holiday gifts. Bears trusses of heavily-scented, pure white flowers on up to three stems per bulb. They may be planted in all kinds of decorative pots, vases and trays, either in soil or pebbles, September through February. Rodent-proof.

Place the bulbs about 1” apart and cover 2/3 of the bulb with stones, marbles or pebbles, or completely cover the bulbs with potting soil. Water, then place them in a light, cool place in indirect sunlight until the foliage stands 3” to 4” high. Move to a sunny location at room temperature and keep them well watered. They will bloom in four to six weeks from planting. If not potting immediately, store bulbs in a dry, dark spot at 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Available as individual bulbs and in our decorative gold-boxed holiday sets, which include the bulb, a white plastic growing pot, soil disc, and planting instructions.

Known as Golden Garlic or Lily Leek, this species is an exceptionally cheery border perennial. Its golden yellow, starry flowers appear in clusters on 10-15″ stems above handsome, dark green foliage. The late May bloom is a burst of sunshine regardless of the weather. Plant closely together in clumps (5-10 bulbs per sq ft.) among perennials. The leaves of the Allium will go dormant later in summer when the perennials are in their prime.

Cold-hardy to Zone 3.

A large and beautiful species native to western N. America, Leichtlin’s camass is a spring-flowering bulbous perennial that typically grows wild on moist slopes and moist mountain meadows but can be allowed to go quite dry after flowering. The bulbs were an important food source for native Americans and early settlers.

Strap-shaped leaves form a 2’ by 2’ clump of foliage. Stout flowering stems tower above, densely clothed in showy purple-blue 2” wide six-petaled star-shaped flowers.

Plant bulbs 4-6” deep and 6” apart in full sun or morning sun. Camass tolerates a wide range of soils including clay, but prefers fertile, humusy soil. They are low-maintenance and best left undisturbed.

Blue Glory of the Snow is a deer proof bulb with compact 6-8” spikes of cheerful, white eyed, bright blue flowers in early spring. Chionodoxa is very attractive when planted in large drifts of many bulbs, and naturalizes readily.

Plant in full sun or morning sun, 2-4” deep, 16 bulbs per sq. ft. or 4” apart. Cold hardy to Zone 3.

In full bloom mid-February through mid-March, this heirloom variety with golden-yellow blossoms, feathered on the outside with bronze or plum markings, sports one of the toughest blooms of any crocus cultivar. It is “bunch flowering” in that more than one flower arises from a single corm, and a handful of corms can look surprisingly flowery right from the first year. One of the least floppy, with stronger flower stems.

It will naturalize well, and increase in number for years to come, being especially long-lived, persistent and hardy to Zone 3, 2-3” tall.

A cheerful mix of many colors and forms of super-early ‘snow crocus’!

Hardy to Zone 3.

Spring Beauty is an elegant and hard-to-find variety with bright lavender blue flowers marked with striking deep violet flames on the outer petals, a paler lavender-purple interior, pale yellow anthers and grass-like foliage with narrow, median silvery stripes.

Outstanding whether planted in large drifts or small clumps in the rockery. Late winter/early spring blooming. A bit shorter than other Species Crocus, Spring Beauty stands about 3-4″ tall with graceful six-petaled flowers that open and close on sunny days.

Deer-resistant, they naturalize readily in well-draining soil and in full to partial sunlight. Hardy to Zone 4

Crocus seiberi ‘Firefly’ is a tiny treasure 2-4” tall that multiplies rapidly and lights up the late-winter garden with lilac-violet flowers accented by golden throats and orange anthers.  The grass-like foliage has narrow, median silvery stripes.

Plant ‘Firefly’ corms 3″ deep and 2″ to 3″ apart, in full sun to part shade. ‘Firefly’ is among the earliest-blooming crocus, a great performer that naturalizes quickly. Cold-hardy to Zone 3.

This fall-blooming crocus emerges as a cheery surprise in October or November with bright violet-purple open cupped petals and brilliant orange stigmas, the source of the precious spice, saffron. The blooms are accompanied by short blades of dark green, grass-like foliage which elongates after the flowers have finished and may re-appear in spring.

Wonderful in the sunny rock garden, and among low, xeric groundcovers such as Turkish Veronica or ‘Tough-as-Nails’ (Paronychia kapela). Saffron Crocus prefers a location that is warm, sunny and dry, with very good drainage and only wants moisture when it is in flower and active growth.

Plant 2-4″ deep, 3″ apart. Zone 6.   4”-5” tall

A superb selection of the blue Fall Crocus, Conqueror blooms in early to mid-autumn, arriving to brighten the garden at a time when many other plants have finished blooming.  Conqueror’s very large, deep sky-blue flowers with golden-orange stigmas and anthers stand 5 or 6” tall and emerge without the narrow grassy foliage that will follow bloom. They will naturalize, and over the years, the clumps increase in size and duration of bloom.

‘Conqueror’ provides a stunning surprise rising out of a mass of perennial groundcover such as Plumbago, Evergreen Candytuft, ‘Harlequin’s Silver’ Teucrium, or any of the Geranium x cantabrigiensis selections!

Average soil and moisture, full to part sun, most soils except heavy clay, cold-hardy to Zone 4.

PLANT THESE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE to enjoy flowers this fall! For drifts, plant 10 bulbs per square foot.

‘Flower Record‘ Dutch Large-flowering Crocus has large six-petaled flowers with deep purple petals that form a cup around a ruffled bright orange pistil. It blooms in March or early April for ~3 weeks and grows 4-6” tall and wide, increasing and spreading easily. Flowers close at night and open up in the morning, but usually remain closed on rainy/cloudy days.

Plant 5″ deep and 4″ apart. Cold-hardy to Zone 4.

Crocuses are among the most widely grown early spring bulbs (actually corms). The genus name comes from krokos the ancient Greek name for saffron (Crocus sativus.) It is one of the most ancient plant names.

Crocus are also good for forcing indoors over the winter. Pot them up in mid-October and precool them at a consistent, dark 38°F to 45°F for eight to ten weeks with moderate watering. Bring them into the house, where they will bloom about four weeks later.

Crocus vernus varieties bloom later and have larger flowers than ‘botanical’ crocus.  They create a big, cheerful splash of color in the spring garden that few hardy plants can achieve. This mix contains a compatible blend of purple, yellow, white and striped varieties that will all bloom at the same time.

Grow in masses or drifts for the best effect.  The display will grow more spectacular every year, and is sure to cure your winter blues!

Plant 8 to 10 bulbs per square foot.

‘Golden Yellow’ (Crocus × luteus) is a cheerful, large-flowered bright yellow cultivar that grows 4-6” tall. Each corm produces several upright, cup-like, yellow to orange-yellow flowers with thin olive-green striping on the outside. It blooms in early spring shortly after snowdrops (Galanthus) and naturalizes readily.

Cold-hardy to Zone 4.

This distinctive large-flowered “Dutch” crocus bears goblet-shaped blooms with prominent white petals with vivid and intricate purple stripes. Stunning in drifts or mixed with Botanical Iris, Pickwick is a great favorite for early spring. Extremely cold-hardy, easy to plant, and naturalizing readily, it reliably returns every spring in increasing numbers.

4-6″ tall, hardy to Zone 3.

Pendant, bell-shaped white flowers with green-tipped petals are a classic harbinger of spring. They look wonderful planted in groups and may bloom as early as February. Commonly called snowdrop, this bulbous perennial is native to Europe and southwestern Asia.

Snowdrops will naturalize where happy. thrives in rich garden loam in part shade, making it perfect under deciduous trees and shrubs.

Zone 3,  3” tall.

All these highly fragrant Dutch Hyacinth varieties are perfect for spring gardens and for forcing indoors in pots or hyacinth glasses. They are long-lived in the garden if fertilized after blooming, and after the first year they will produce more flower spikes that are less densely packed and more natural-looking. Hyacinths are quite easy to grow in a sunny or partly shaded spot.

Description and photo coming soon!

All these highly fragrant Dutch Hyacinth varieties are perfect for spring gardens and for forcing indoors in pots or hyacinth glasses. They are long-lived in the garden if fertilized after blooming, and after the first year they will produce more flower spikes that are less densely packed and more natural-looking. Hyacinths are quite easy to grow in a sunny or partly shaded spot.

A spring gem for dry or moderately watered gardens in shade and part-shade. This long-blooming bulb from Chile and Uruguay sends up a mound of grassy foliage in autumn that persists over winter and begins blooming in early spring, producing a long succession of sweetly fragrant starry cobalt blue flowers through late spring, each atop its own 3”-6” stem. Multiplies to form a groundcover until summer when the foliage goes dormant. Also lovely planted under taller mid-spring bulbs such as ‘Tete a Tete’ miniature daffodils.

A member of the Onion family, the foliage smells like garlic when crushed (which makes it resistant to deer and rabbits!).

Succeeds in a wide range of soils, but like most bulbs, requires reasonably good drainage. Hardy to Zone 5,  3”-5” tall

Photo Credit: Brent & Becky’s Bulbs

Iris bucharica (also known as Bukhara iris, Corn-leaf iris and Horned iris) is a bulbous herbaceous perennial, in the Juno iris group, from Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. This stand-out species has arching blue-green leaves and a long succession of 2-3”-wide flowers in mid-spring, greenish white ‘flags’, and chrome yellow with green veins for the falls. Bukhara iris has a longer blooming and more solid presence in the spring garden than the reticulata/histrioides types. Its marvelous fragrance is a special surprise in the early spring!

Plant in a sunny or partly shaded position in soil that provides quick drainage year-round. Iris bucharica appreciates a hot, dry ‘baking’ in summer, but tolerates normal soil moisture during the cool and cold months.  8-12” tall x 8” wide, April, Morning sun or full sun, Hardy to Zone 5.

‘Katherine’s Hodgkin’ is a classic, award-winning, super-early, reliable, and tough botanical Iris that persists and increases for many years. Her flowers are larger than other miniatures, but still on stems only 3-4” tall. The soft powder-blue falls are decorated with distinctive deep blue veining and indigo and gold markings, while the standards are a couple of shades darker blue. Flowering soon after the snowdrops (often in February or early March), botanical iris quickly develop into gorgeous, densely floriferous clumps and excel in the rock garden or perennial bed, and add a lovely honey-scent to the early spring season.

Plant in part to full sun, in well-drained soil. Planting in very hot locations will shorten the duration of bloom. In heavier soil, add expanded shale to improve drainage. Cold hardy to Zone 5.

Iris Blue Hill is an outstanding recent introduction. This sweetly scented little gem has good-sized saturated blue flowers with darker blue and prominent yellow blotches on the falls. Flowers are held on strong 4-5” stems, and each bulb will produce a succession of blooms over a couple of weeks in late winter, along with a marvelous fragrance.

Botanical Irises form beautiful, floriferous clumps and can be divided every 3 or 4 years to maintain vigor. They mix well with other late-winter/early-spring flowering bulbs and are ideal for the front of the border, rockery or container planting.  Hardy to Zone 4.

Phot Credit: Brent & Becky’s Bulbs

This brilliant, fragrant beauty has bright sky-blue standards, while the violet-blue falls with deep blue tips sport canary-yellow centers edged in white ‘eyelashes’. Iris ‘Carolina’ will pop from the cold frozen earth in February or March, and its marvelous fragrance is a special surprise in the early spring! .

5-6” tall clumps can grow to 12” across. Hardy to Zone 4.