Naturalising bulb collection
bulb collection
Create an evolving display of colour with this carefully curated spring bulb collection, designed to brighten gardens from late winter into spring. Flowing from cheerful yellows and crisp whites into calming shades of blue, it creates a relaxed, natural look that suits spring borders, woodland edges and naturalistic planting.
A blend of nodding blooms, star-shaped flowers and elegant spires are highlights, while overlapping flowering times ensure weeks of seasonal interest that becomes increasingly impressive, year after year, as the bulbs establish.
Ideal for cottage garden planting or beneath deciduous trees, this collection provides an early source of nectar for pollinating insects while bringing lasting seasonal interest to the garden.
A blend of nodding blooms, star-shaped flowers and elegant spires are highlights, while overlapping flowering times ensure weeks of seasonal interest that becomes increasingly impressive, year after year, as the bulbs establish.
Ideal for cottage garden planting or beneath deciduous trees, this collection provides an early source of nectar for pollinating insects while bringing lasting seasonal interest to the garden.
How to care for Naturalising bulb collection:
Plant these bulbs in autumn into moist but well-drained soil in a sunny or lightly shaded position.
As a guide, plant snowdrops (Galanthus) around 8-10cm (3-4in) deep, Anemone blanda 5-8cm (2-3in) deep (after soaking the corms for a few hours before planting), winter aconites (Eranthis) 5-8cm (2-3in) deep (also soaking the tubers before planting), English bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) 10-15cm (4-6in) deep, and grape hyacinths (Muscari) 8-10cm (3-4in) deep.
They are at their best planted directly into the ground rather than in pots, where they can establish naturally and gradually spread into impressive drifts over the years. Ideal for woodland gardens, beneath deciduous trees, along the front of mixed borders or through lawns that are left uncut until the foliage has died back.
Allow the leaves to die down naturally after flowering so the bulbs can store energy for the following year, and avoid disturbing established clumps unless they become overcrowded. Once settled, these bulbs require only modest maintenance and will naturalise beautifully, returning with increasing impact each spring.
As a guide, plant snowdrops (Galanthus) around 8-10cm (3-4in) deep, Anemone blanda 5-8cm (2-3in) deep (after soaking the corms for a few hours before planting), winter aconites (Eranthis) 5-8cm (2-3in) deep (also soaking the tubers before planting), English bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) 10-15cm (4-6in) deep, and grape hyacinths (Muscari) 8-10cm (3-4in) deep.
They are at their best planted directly into the ground rather than in pots, where they can establish naturally and gradually spread into impressive drifts over the years. Ideal for woodland gardens, beneath deciduous trees, along the front of mixed borders or through lawns that are left uncut until the foliage has died back.
Allow the leaves to die down naturally after flowering so the bulbs can store energy for the following year, and avoid disturbing established clumps unless they become overcrowded. Once settled, these bulbs require only modest maintenance and will naturalise beautifully, returning with increasing impact each spring.
What's included:
In each collection you will receive the following bulbs:
- 15 × Galanthus nivalis: It's hard not to love these wonderful bulbs for adding colour to the garden when little else is awake. The nodding white flowers have a small green marking on the inside of each tepal, are honey scented, and appear in late winter. They look particularly good planted in large drifts in grass where they will naturalise quite happily. Alternatively plant them up in clumps in the front of mixed borders, or into pots so they can be admired close up. Grows to 20cm.
- 25 × Anemone blanda blue-flowered: This is a wonderful plant that produces cheerful, daisy-like flowers in shades of blue and purple in March and April. These are perfect plants for naturalising in a mixed border around the base of deciduous shrubs, or adding spring colour to the edge of a woodland garden. For maximum impact, plant in bold drifts in September or October, and if happy, they should spread quite quickly. Grows to 15cm.
- 10 × Eranthis cilicica: Carpets of bright yellow, buttercup-like flowers in late January and February surrounded by ruffs of fresh green leaves. Winter aconites originate from damp woodland and shady places in Eurasia so are perfect for naturalising under deciduous shrubs and trees. They are a welcome sight in late winter as they are one of the first things into flower in the garden. Grows to 8cm.
- 10 × Hyacinthoides non-scripta: English bluebells are much loved for their stout spikes of bell-shaped, blue flowers in April and May. They are perfect for naturalising in a partly shaded woodland garden or underneath the canopy of deciduous trees. They quickly spread to form large clumps, so if you want to keep the numbers down in herbaceous or mixed borders, it's best to remove the faded flowerheads to prevent the plant from becoming invasive. Grows to 40cm.
- 50 × Muscari armeniacum: Charming, cone-shaped spikes of tiny, mid-blue flowers appear in April and May above the grass-like, mid-green leaves. Grape hyacinths look gorgeous peeping out of a large container, planted with yellow, spring-flowering pansies. Quickly forming small colonies, they're also valuable for naturalising at the front of a sunny mixed or shrub border. Grows to 15cm.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Position:
Full sun / light shade
Rate of growth:
Average
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Fully hardy
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This bulb dies back after flowering each year and enters a period of rest ahead of regrowth the following season.
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Harmful if eaten/skin irritant
