Flower bulbs

2.8.2018

Flower bulbs add colour to cityscapes early in spring and definitely deserve a place in containers, borders or grassy strips such as medians and verges. Some flower bulbs produce flowers in spring while others bloom in summer. Some are naturalized flower bulbs that can be left undisturbed. These will emerge year after year, often in even larger numbers. These include Early Crocus, Woodland Tulip, Daffodil, Snowdrop and Spanish Bluebell. Others, such as dahlias, will have to be lifted after flowering because their nectar and pollen are a source of food for a wide range of insects. Therefore, flower bulbs make an important contribution to the biodiversity of the urban environment.

Examples:

Eranthis hyemalis (Winter Aconite), Dahlia, Tulipa (Tulip), Narcissus (Daffodil), Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrop), Crocus tommasinianus (Early Crocus), Corydalis solida (Fumewort), Hyacinthoides non-scripta (Bluebell), Fritillaria meleagris (Chequered Fritillary), Allium sphaerocephalon (Round-headed Garlic), Anemone blanda (Grecian Windflower), Chionodoxa lucilaea (Glory-of-the-Snow) and Chionodoxa sardensis (Lesser Glory-of-the-Snow), Leucojum vernum (Spring Snowflake), Muscari armeniacum (Grape Hyacinth), Scilla bifolia (Alpine Squill) and Scilla siberica (Siberian Squill), Ornithogalum nutans (Nodding Star-of-Bethlehem).