My Favorite Fall-Planted Bulbs

Valerie Finnis Grape Hyacinth at Wayside Gardens

When I was 21 I was completely uninterested in gardening but I WAS interested in bouquets of grape hyacinth. At the time, I lived in this old farmhouse in Ashland and dark grape hyacinth had naturalized all over the back yard--I've never seen anything like it. I used to trudge out in the wet grass with my scissors and cut bouquet after bouquet which would fill little vases and jam jars in every room. Ever since then I've been crazy about the smell of muscari. Where I live now I've planted a few of the common purple variety here and there but I really flipped for the pale blue variety Valerie Finnis. The color is indescribable--almost a woad blue which you can stare at forever and not figure out if it's a cool grey blue or a warm periwinkle. Several years ago I planted some bulbs in a ring at the base of my dogwood but every year their numbers diminish. I'm not sure who to blame: slugs or squirrels, but this one is too good to give up on. You can buy 1,000 bulbs for under $150 from Van Engelen which would keep the slugs busy and me happy for quite a while.

Tête-à-Tête narcissus at Eden Brothers

Here's another diminutive AND early bulb. It's a great antidote to Portland's dreary winters: the charming and extra, extra early little daffodil Tête-à-Tête, which is known to poke it's little yellow head up through the snow. Mine bloom when the crocuses do here in Portland. This one's great for forcing or using in pots too.

Cream Beauty Crocus at Lowes

I hope I don't make anyone cry here but there's something I find garish about most crocuses. Maybe it's just that I don't like the purple, yellow, white combo you often see them in. I do however love the sunny crocus Cream Beauty which starts out more dark orangy yellow and fades to a creamy butter yellow. Plus, with its bright orange stamens it matches my house perfectly!

 Allium Ambassador at Van Engelen

Lollipop, Lollipop, Oh Lolli-Lolli-Lolli. Alliums are so fun and I particularly like Allium Ambassador for it's dark purple color and perfectly round shape. Plus, if you have the patience, the seed heads on the spent flowers are absolutely magical backlit by the Summer sun. 

Fritillaria Meleagris at White Flower Farms

I'd tried 3 times to grow this checkered lily and last year I finally hit gold. It's such a gorgeous freak of nature. I'm pretty sure the fairies make their party dresses out of the flowers.

 Fritillaria persica alba Ivory Bell at Van Engelen

This year I'm trying out a new Fritillaria thanks to my Mom (who also gave me the Checkerboard last year, ain't she sweet?). Ivory Bells looks equally as stunning. I hope the foliage on mine has that dusty green color like the photo. I haven't planted it yet and I'm not sure if I want to put it in a pot or find a home in the garden bed. Stay tuned...

 Bridal Crown Daffodil at Holland Bulb Farms

I had to include at least one more daffodil on my list--I pretty much love all daffodils but the ruffly doubles are my favorite and Bridal Crown is one that I really adore. It grows in clusters of small cream flowers with light orange centers. Very classy.

Angelique Tulips at White Flower Farm

And I have to close with a tulip. This is the most swoon-worthy tulip ever. I'm pretty fickle when it comes to tulips which is easy to do when you treat them as annuals as I do, tossing them out after they have bloomed. Angelique is one I'll go back to again and again though. If you love the blousy, peony-shaped tulips like I do, this is one for you. Normally I don't allow pink in the garden but I make an exception for Angelique (and there is also an orange version now which I'm dying to try).

 And finally, I wanted to share some tips for buying and planting bulbs for anyone who is new at this:

1. Order early if you want something new or rare--I recommend ordering as soon as the catalogs ship as I've seen some things sell out in a flash.

2. Shop ultra early or ultra late for the best deals. Most sellers have introductory offers when they first introduce their Fall offerings and again late in the season, though things will be picked over. I've also had good luck buying close-out bulbs at the grocery store which I've planted into December.

3. I think those bulb planter tools are a pain in the tuchus. I prefer to just dig a big hole at the required depth and plant all my bulbs at once. It's way easier and it looks more natural this way, as if the flowers have grown in drifts.

4. Layer your bulbs. When planting you can dig your hole and then plant according to depth with a layer of daffodils, a layer of hyacinths, and a layer of crocuses, etc.

And a post script: I haven't shown you any bulbs from one of my favorite sellers so I wanted to do that now. Old House Gardens specializes in heirloom Spring and Fall bulbs. I highly recommend you order their beautiful catalog which is full of history and beautiful photos. An example:

Absalom Tulip from 1870 at Old House Gardens

Most people have never even seen a brown tulip, let alone grown one. Here’s your chance! 18th-century ‘Absalon’ is intricately patterned with swirling flames of dark chocolate and chestnut brown on gold. It’s a true broken tulip, a Dutch Bizarre from the Hortus Bulborum – and sure to cause a buzz.