| Friday Five: Diminutive Spring Bulbs |
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| Written by Heleigh Bostwick Friday, 21 October 2011 | |||
 When I think of spring flowering bulbs it’s usually tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths that come to mind first, probably because they come in such a wide array of colors and “styles” and, they pack a bigger punch color-wise. That’s one of the reasons I thought it would be nice to highlight a few of the smaller--and maybe lesser well known--spring bulbs like these five. 1. Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis ) Winter aconite (pictured above) is a member of the buttercup family and its bright yellow flowers are sure to add some sunshine to the sometimes dreary, spring months of March and April when it blooms. Prefers alkaline soils and will colonize. 2. Reticulated Iris (Iris reticulata) What can I say? Iris flowers are beautiful in any size and the delicate reticulated iris is no exception. Perfect for the rock garden, the 3-inch pale blue to purple flowers are quite fragrant and hardy from USDA zones 5 to 8. 3. Windflower (Anemone blanda) Another winner for the rock garden is the windflower, which like winter aconite, is also a member of the buttercup family. Hardy between USDA zones 5 and 8, the daisy-like flowers bloom in shades of pink, white, blue, and bluish-purple. It is self-sowing and grows to a height of 6 to 9 inches. 4. Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) The 4-inch high snowdrops are among the earliest to bloom in spring. They’re hardy between USDA zones 3 and 10 and are members of the amaryllis family. 5. Siberian Squill (Scilla siberica) Appearing as a carpet of beautiful blue in early spring, the Siberian squill is a member of the lily plant family and is hardy between USDA zones 3 and 5. Photo source: www.srgc.org.uk |
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