It’s time to create a promise of vibrant colour in our late winter gardens to really give us a lift during the coldest, darkest part of the year.
Planting early flowering bulbs now will give them enough time to become rooted in and, depending on the type of winter we get, begin blooming as early as January.
The art of gardening with bulbs is more than just randomly plunking them in the ground; it’s about thoughtfully combining them with other plants to create a synergistic display.
We have so many early flowering perennials, like arabis, blue and purple aubretias and the new hottie candytufts (iberis) that companion nicely with early bulbs.
Evergreen perennials, too, like heucheras, euphorbias and some sedums, can really be highlighted with a surround of bulbs. Partnering bulbs with evergreen azaleas, dwarf rhododendrons like ‘Purple Gem’ and Leucothoe ‘Scarletta’ also make perfect combinations.
Grasses, especially the evergreen family of the carex ‘EverColor’ series, including C. ‘Everillo’ and C. ‘Everest,' would really pop with some bulbs planted in and around them. Even roses, with their richly coloured burgundy new growth, would be a great home for early blooming yellow daffodils.
Winter flowering shrubs could also use a boost from other winter flowers. Viburnum ‘Pink Dawn,' Hamamelis mollis (Chinese witch hazel) and yellow Jasmine nudiflorum could really be enhanced by sharing the spotlight with early flowering bulbs.
Winter flowering heathers are a natural fit for a surround of bulbs, especially because they flower for almost six months. The foliage on heathers ranges from a deep black-green to yellow, and it nicely complements the white, dark purple and pink heather flowers. The combination of heathers and blooming bulbs can create an excellent opportunity for some dramatic contrasting colour displays.
Bulbs can provide a wide range of colourful accents from the yellow of winter aconites, the pure white of snowdrops, and the blue, yellow and white of snow crocuses to the blue, white and pink of scillas, and the blue, white and pink of grape hyacinths (muscari). Early narcissus, like ‘February Gold’ and ‘Rijnveld’s ‘Early Sensation,' can provide a bright touch of yellow.
Botanical tulips, which are about the size of giant crocuses, are also charming and come in a wide range of colours.
The beauty of companion planting with minor bulbs is their ability to naturalize in amongst their garden companions. Sleeping during the summers, nestled in their hosts’ roots, they will continue to come up year after year. Host plants will also open up the soil for better drainage over the summer months, keeping the bulbs drier.
Now is a wonderful time to begin planning your winter colour schemes for yet another amazing performance season.
Take advantage of our great September weather to plant some lovely colour combinations to enjoy when the weather is cold, wet and dark.
