Unusual Bulbs Brighten the Garden

Clare Leighton opined that, "It is a greater act of faith to plant a bulb than to plant a tree." True, since one cannot but help observe that a tree is more likely to survive an onslaught by squirrels. It will also likely be less hard on the pocket book than a garden full of bulbs. Nevertheless, there are a number of oft-overlooked bulbs that are modestly priced and, better yet, pretty well look after themselves once planted.

While some are fanatical over snowdrops, who wants to see more white once the snow has departed? Actually, Glory-of-the-Snow, Chionodoxa luciliae, may push up through the last tattered remains (we hope) of winter in a display of bright blue flowers with white centres. Originally from Turkey there is also a light pink selection C. l. 'Rosea.' The bulb gains its scientific name from the Greek: chion, snow, and doxa, glory. Iris in Greek mythology was messenger to the gods who came to Earth via a rainbow. At least 250 species have been named after her. Those arising from rhizomes are familiar from summer perennial borders and water gardens. But there are several early blooming bulbous dwarf forms worthy of display close to well-used paths. Iris danfordiae is a very early flowering, fragrant yellow miniature. Occasionally it is found in stores in the depths of winter, having been 'forced' into bloom in pots. It was introduced from Turkey in 1876 by Mrs. C. G. Danford, an English plant hunter of the Asia minor regions. Also sometimes forced is Iris reticulata to display deep violet, scented flowers with an orange crest. Blooming after I. danfordiae, it comes from Russia, Caucasus, and northern Iran. It has received and Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. Two others not so commonly seen but worth searching for are the Horned Iris; Iris bucharica from central Asia and the Orchid Iris, Iris histrioides from Turkey. The former, with white standards and yellow falls was introduced into the U.K. 1902 and has received a RHS Award of Garden Merit. I. histriodes regrettably is listed as a threatened plant in the wild. The yellow scented flowers of the original have given rise to several cultivars. It was first described by G. F. Wilson in 1892.

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All of these irises require a sunny position in well-drained soil that will turn dry over summer. In early spring, lawns in established areas of northern North American cities are awash with masses of blue blooms. Scilla siberica is called Siberian Squill, a mistake since it originates from southwest Russia, Caucasus and Turkey. The small bulbs are poisonous to squirrels, which leave them strictly lone. Planted in lawns, they quickly establish and spread by self-seeding. The flowers and foliage disappear by the time of the first lawn mowing. So impressed were Britain's prestigious Royal Horticultural Society that they gave S. siberica the Award of Merit. Pink and white forms are also available. It would be interesting to report that these delightful bulbs obtained their name from Scylla, a six-headed sea monster who dwelt in a cave on the Italian coast opposite the whirlpool Charybdis. Instead, more prosaically, they gain their botanical name from the Greek name for the sea squill. Much to the alarm of householders making the acquaintance of Grape Hyacinth for the first time, profuse foliage springs forth in late fall. This is no cause for concern: Muscari armeniacum, Armenian Grape Hyacinth, first arrived on the garden scene in 1871 to be crowned with an RHS Award of Garden Merit. One of about 60 species of bulbs from the Mediterranean littoral into southwest Asia, there are purple, blue, white and pale pink selections. Often also found in store bulb bins is M. plumosum, a mauve form with feathery flowers. Most of our spring-flowering bulbs originate in temperate Eurasia. The Dog's Tooth Violet, Erythronium dens-canis, with its pink blooms and numerous cultivars still does. Cousin E. americanum, Trout Lily or Yellow Adder's Tongue is, however to be found in eastern North America. It bears yellow-brown nodding flowers over mottled foliage in mid-spring. The bulbs are shaped, as the name implies, like a dog's tooth. They require light shade and a moist, organic soil. All are excellent for woodland naturalization

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Another wonderful spring bulb for allowing to become established beneath deciduous tress is the beloved English Bluebell, Hyacinthoides non-scripta with its fragrant flowers carpeting British woodlands. Alas, perhaps no more as it is rapidly hybridizing with Spanish Bluebells, H. hispanica, whose flowers are emphatically non-scented. Either do best in a moist, woodsy soil. Should one be lucky enough to encounter them for sale, do not delay planting: the bulbs are prone to rapid desiccation. In less enlightened days, these beautiful bulbs were a source of starch used in bookbinding. Finally, for the closing spring comes the Drumsticks or Purple Onion, Allium atropurpureum. Tall, 2 1/2-foot-tall stiff stems support long-lasting unusual blooms. Known in gardens since the early 1800s, it was found in eastern Europe and Turkey. There are at least 700 species of onion. A surprising number are attractively scented ornamentals although Allium derives from the Greek for garlic.