Flowering Garden Guide

Bulbs are among the most attractive, and easiest to care for, flowers in the garden.  A bulb garden in full bloom can be a wonderful, attractive sight for any gardener and garden designer.

Another great thing about bulbs is the sheer variety in which they come. There are literally thousends of colors, shapes and sizes to choose from.

Even within bulb families, there is quite a bit of variety.  The humble tulip, for instance, boasts a variety of different shaped blooms, from the traditional bell shaped to a number of more exotic varieties.  With all these varieties to choose from, finding just the right bulbs for your garden can be difficult.  Check out my list of popular bulb flowers with their optimum growing conditions:

Crocus
Bulb Type: Corm
Sunlight: Full sun or partial shade
Water: Regular watering during growth and bloom periods

Dahlia
Bulb Type: Tuberous Root
Sunlight: Full sun; partial shade in hot climates
Water: Regular watering during growth and bloom periods

Galanthus (Snowdrop)
Bulb Type: True Bulb
Sunlight: Full sun or partial shade
Water: Regular watering during growth and bloom periods

Gladiolus
Bulb Type: Corm
Sunlight: Full sun
Water: Regular watering during growth and bloom periods

Hererocallis (Daylily)
Bulb Type: Tuberous Root
Sunlight: Full sun or light shade
Water: Regular watering during growing season

Hyacinthus (Dutch Hyacinth)
Bulb Type: True Bulb
Sunlight: Full sun
Water: Regular watering during growth and bloom periods

Iris
Bulb Type: Rhizome
Sunlight: Full sun or light shade
Water: Regular watering during growing season

Lilium (Asiatic and Oriental Hybrid Lilies)
Bulb Type: True Bulb
Sunlight: Full sun or partial shade
Water: Regular watering is required.  Never let the the root zone dry out.

Muscari (Grape Hyacinth)
Bulb Type: True Bulb
Sunlight: Full sun or light shade
Water: Regular watering during growth and bloom periods

Narcissus (Daffodil)
Bulb Type: True Bulb
Sunlight: Full sun
Water: Regular watering during growth and bloom periods

Tulipa (Tulip)
Bulb Type: True Bulb
Sunlight: Full sun
Water: Regular watering during growth and bloom periods

No matter what types of bulb flowers you choose to plant, if you follow the instructions carefully and give them the growing conditions they need to thrive, you will be rewarded with many seasons of beautiful blooms from these spectacular plants.

What are your favourite Bulb Flowers. Use the comment form below to share your list.

Photo: Dahlia by Claudia Meyer, sxc, Paris