Colorblends Wholesale Flowerbulbs 2019 | Landscape Professional Edition

LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONAL EDITION

2 0 1 9 C O L O R B L E N D S C A T A L O G fo r FA L L P L A N T I N G

WHY COLORBLENDS?

Colorblends proudly presents its 2019 catalog for landscape professionals. It contains many new ideas and varieties that have proved themselves in our trial gardens.

Please pay attention to the extended BedSpreads section, which begins on page 74. BedSpreads are more complex than regular tulip blends because they contain more varieties (4 to 6). More is not necessarily better. You have to select colors, shapes and flowering times that work together to create a beautiful display. This is easier said than done, but through trial and error we continue to develop combinations that you and your clients will truly enjoy in the spring.

This catalog is 152 pages long, and yet there is somehow not enough room to show everything you should consider. At colorblends.com, you’ll find more BedSpreads, more tulips and more daffodils, plus information and tools to help you market flowerbulbs.

As always, we thank all our customers for putting on great spring displays and being prophets of bloom.

We hope you find the catalog inspirational.

It’s about spring!

—the

colorblends crew

TOP-QUALITY BULBS O F T H E B E S T VA R I E T I E S The effectiveness of your spring displays depends on proven varieties and the quality of the bulbs you plant in the fall.

WHOLESALE PRICES No gimmicky pricing.

No scrappy-sized bulbs. Just wholesale all the time.

All we ask is a $60 minimum order.

DECADES OF EXPERIENCE We have been supplying the trade for more than 50 years.

We want your clients to have great spring displays. Our knowledge and experience both in the Netherlands and the US ensure your success.

WE DO OUR HOMEWORK Our customers tell us, “You’ve taken the guesswork out of creating spring shows.

You make me look like a genius.” Colorblends tests all combinations so you don’t waste your time and money trying to figure it out.

CONTENTS Tulip Blends

ORDERING FOR FALL PLANTING WHEN TO ORDER

We urge you to order early, from now to the end of September.

Your bulbs will be reserved and then delivered in the fall for planting. We maintain inventory into December, but many selections sell out. Please reserve now. Credit cards will not be charged until the bulbs are shipped in the fall.

Your window for planting is from the start of fall to the start of winter.

See map on page 148. Fall 2019 begins September 23, 3:50am, EDT. Winter 2019 begins December 21, 11:19pm, EST. On the cover: Stop the Car® page 16

HOW TO ORDER

4

Cubed Tulip Blends

50

Tulip Singles

54

Wild Tulips

70

Tulip BedSpreads®

74

WEB: colorblends.com

Daffodils for Naturalizing

78

EMAIL: info@colorblends.com

Golden Daffodils

82

Landscape Daffodils

86

PHONE: 1 (888) 847-8637

8–6 ET, Monday–Friday

FAX: 1 (203) 309-6099 U.S. MAIL:

Colorblends USA 747 Barnum Avenue Bridgeport, CT 06608 You can print an order form at colorblends.com. After October 1, please place all orders by phone, by email or through our website.

Daffodil Blends

94

Double Daffodils

100

Uncommon Daffodils

106

Miniature Daffodils

114

Hyacinths

118

Specialty Bulbs

124

Alliums

134

Amaryllis

138

Paperwhites

144

Planting Tools

145

Ordering Information

146

Budget Daffodils

150

Diamond Touch

A trove of multifaceted double tulips in amethyst, rose and sparkling white. They have a calming effect on the spring landscape. Bold hues are prized after a long winter, but even a color-hungry eye appreciates a cool respite. Introduced 2019

Item No

1461 Blend %

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

16–18” Per 1000

34/33/33 $39 $340

Twister

Glowing yellow and deep red goblets mingle with a white lily-flowered tulip whose narrow, arching petals give a festive feel. The colors are pure, their look cheerful and happy. The tulip party you are looking for is right here. Introduced 2019 TO ORDER :

Item No

1457 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$39

Height

16–22” Per 1000

$340

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

3

Tulip Blends

Blends are choreographed displays that will change how you think about tulips. Bulbs come pre-mixed in bags of 100.

Just plant in fall, enjoy in spring.

Purdy ®

The beauty of this blend is its simplicity. Red, yellow, purple.

These are colors tulips do perfectly. These are colors people love instinctively. Almost 20 years on, Purdy remains a customer favorite. Introduced 2001

4

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1237 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

20–24” Per 1000

$270

Hot Hot Hot ®

Darwin Hybrid tulips are strong and dependable, and they always create an impact. We blend a scarlet-red with a golden yellow. Excellent for highlights in the border or bold effects in beds, and a great choice for drive-by color. Introduced 1989

1210 Blend %

Item No

50/50

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$33

Height

22–24” Per 1000

$280

1250 Blend %

50/50

The Crusaders ®

A melee of bishop purple and cardinal red tulips. The two colors invigorate each other, creating a spectacle that is impossible to overlook. Introduced 1995

TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$33

Height

20–24” Per 1000

$270

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

5

Your Imminence ®

A strong purple blended with a rich rose-pink, both with white accents. The combination seems obvious (“Pink and purple. Of course!”), but that won’t prepare you for the beauty of the music they make together. Introduced 2012

6

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1206 Blend %

50/50

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$36

Height

20–24” Per 1000

$300

Mood Indigo

Royal purple and pure glistening white make a blend that is elegant, serene, dignified, even noble. The strong contrast gets attention without shouting and rewards the eye with its depth and crispness. Introduced 2013

1242 Blend %

Item No

50/50

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

20–24” Per 1000

$295

Trident

Rich purple, bright pink, pure white. Together they make a combination that is saccharine, sugary or just plain sweet.

Four out of five Colorblenders recommend this mouthwatering trio for their customers who plant blends. Introduced 2016 TO ORDER :

1271 Blend %

Item No Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

20–24” Per 1000

colorblends.com

34/33/33

| 1 (888) 847-8637

$37 $320

7

My Three Suns

A blend of fraternal triplets, each a variation on a beautiful theme. Their perfect harmony of color, shape and timing can be mesmerizing. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself circling their bright spring display. Introduced 2010

8

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1481 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

22–24” Per 1000

$280

Celebration

Tall, sturdy, Darwin hybrid tulips in red, yellow and soft orange. If one must endure winter, oughtn’t there to be a reward on the other side? Here you go: Plant in fall, rejoice in spring. Introduced 1994

Item No

1245 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

22–24” Per 1000

$295

Torch Song

A white and two yellow tulips, each of which is feathered red.

They recall the “broken” tulips that were the rage during the Tulipmania that gripped the Netherlands in the 17th century.

Easy to see what all the fuss was about. Introduced 2012 TO ORDER :

Item No

1217 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$39

Height

22–24” Per 1000

$340

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

9

You know it’s

fall planting time when…

You start bringing blankets to the football game Fall nighttime temperatures stay between 40° and 50°F

The fall foliage has moved just past peak

BIRDS START Squirrels are GROUPING digging in acorns Soil temperatures in your as fast they can area are approaching 55°F You wake up in the middle of the night and look for a blanket

You don’t hear crickets anymore

You say,

In the NORTH you start closing windows YOU START TURNING THE HEAT ON IN YOUR CAR

“Man it’s COLD out”

for the first time

The mesquite trees lose their leaves

In the SOUTH you start backing off the air conditioning

YO U S TA RT T O S M E L L WO O D S M O K E

FR

O S T ON

Y UR

O

KILLING FROST

IN THE M

You get your first

I

R

NI

W I N DS H

NG T H E R E

IS

O

Winesap and Wolf River apples start turning RED

You no longer have to dodge night-flying bugs to get in the front door

LD

THE GRAPES ARE RIPENING ON THE VINE

While driving, you see leaves bouncing along the interstate

E

THE RAGWEED STOPS BLOOMING

The hummingbirds are gone THE HOSTAS START TO LIE DOWN Your OLD

aren’t keeping your feet warm anymore

g

WORK SHOES

n

in

YOU SEE TRUCKS ON THE ROAD LOADED WITH FIREWOOD

THE DEER ARE LOSING VELVET ON THEIR ANTLERS

t B ro w n t ro u

sta

p rt s

aw

If there is something that tells you fall has arrived in your area, please email it to us at info@colorblends.com

10

The Rainbow Coalition ®

Here is one of those color arrangements only tulips can bring.

Orange opens first, then red joins in, and purple closes ranks.

In the end, the three bloom together for as long as a fortnight.

A delicious three-act show! Introduced 1997 TO ORDER :

Item No

1247 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

18–22” Per 1000

$280

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

11

Lava ®

A radiant fiery red combined with a rich red-yellow. The warm color of the solid red is repeated in the two-toned variety, giving an overall glowing effect. Seen from far or near, they create a sensation. Introduced 1998

12

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1215 Blend %

50/50

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

22–24” Per 1000

$280

Flama Verna

Winter can be long. Winter can be hard. Winter can be drab.

When spring finally arrives, the desire for color is strong. Even lovers of pastels will indulge in a celebratory cheer. This blend is for all winter survivors. Burn, baby, burn! Introduced 2018

Item No

1203 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

22–24” Per 1000

$280

1297 Blend %

50/50

Apples to Oranges

A blend of early, compact tulips in pumpkin orange and fire engine red. Although the plants are short, the flowers are big, and so is their impact in the landscape. Excellent where early color is needed or tall tulips must be avoided. Introduced 2019 TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

12–14” Per 1000

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

$34 $310

13

The Tang Dynasty ®

A juicy blend of pure white, yellow and apricot-orange. They will rule your spring display with dignity. Strong growing and can give you a few return years (see page 18 to learn more).

Introduced 2005

Item No

1262 Blend %

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

16–18” Per 1000

34/33/33 $35 $270

Glow Motion ®

A glowing, ever-changing Colorblend of three Darwin Hybrid tulips in shades of orange and yellow. The colors shift slightly day by day as the flowers mature. The effect, from start to finish, is magic. Introduced 2008

14

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1209 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$33

Height

22–24” Per 1000

$295

Sorbetto

Chocolate, mocha and vanilla rule the winter. In spring, you crave something light and fruity. Trouble choosing? Have one scoop each of strawberry, peach and lemon. Go ahead. Splurge.

Spring comes but once a year. Introduced 2016

1272 Blend %

Item No

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$37

Height

24–26” Per 1000

$310

1248 Blend %

50/50

Thanks and Praise

Pure white and pure yellow. Nothing could be simpler.

Nothing could be more appealing. If you plant this blend, you have a lot to look forward to. These two can go on for what seems like forever. Introduced 2014 TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

20–24” Per 1000

$320

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

15

Stop the Car ®

Flamboyant apricot-orange flowers, touched with yellow at the base, open first. Satiny plum-purple blooms soon join in, creating a remarkable Colorblend that will slow them down.

Introduced 1996

16

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1221 Blend %

50/50

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$34

Height

18–22” Per 1000

$270

The Royals ®

A combination of brilliant purple and rich yellow, each color vying for attention. A regal Colorblend with a great range of uses in the garden. Just look at it! Introduced 1990

1205 Blend %

Item No

50/50

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

20–24” Per 1000

$280

Dawn to Dusk

The tulip color palette is incredibly broad. Looking for warm?

No problem. Prefer cool? Easily done. Somewhere in between?

How about: soft yellow (sometimes touched with red), white, deep purple. Yes, you can have it both ways. Introduced 2018 TO ORDER :

1211 Blend %

Item No

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

20–24” Per 1000

$310

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

17

Perennial Tulips? the straight dope

IT’S A COMMON F RUSTRAT ION: You buy tulip bulbs, plant them in the fall and enjoy a great display in the spring. But the following spring, all you get is a smattering of flowers and maybe a bunch of leaves. “What happened?” you ask yourself.

“Aren’t tulips supposed to come back? My grandmother has tulips that have bloomed every spring for as long as she can remember.

Did I do something wrong?”

PAMPERED BEGINNINGS

More than likely, you are not to blame.

It’s in the nature of tulips. Most tulips are not strong perennializers in the land­­scape. They don’t flower well the second year after planting.

Why don’t tulips come back? The tulip bulbs you buy and plant in the fall have been groomed to bloom.

They were raised in sandy Dutch soil and fertilized in just the right measure.

When they bloomed in the spring, the flowers were cut off soon after they opened to keep them from drawing too much energy from the bulbs. The leaves were allowed to continue to grow for another six weeks in the famously cool Dutch weather. After going dormant in early summer, the bulbs were dug and stored in a climate-controlled warehouse to mimic a long, hot, bone-dry summer in the mountains of Central Asia, which is where most tulips are native.

18

SPLITSVILLE USA

All of this TLC yields a high percentage of flowering-size bulbs, including many topsize bulbs, which measure 12 centimeters in circumference or larger. A topsize bulb can’t get bigger, but it will get smaller, typically by splitting into two or more smaller bulbs. Under less-than-perfect garden conditions, when the bulbs split into smaller bulbs, those smaller bulbs may take years to grow to flowering size. Some may also rot due to heavy soil or excess moisture. And so your breathtaking tulip display dwindles to little or nothing.

BUCKING THE ODDS

Despite the obstacles, there are some tulips that are willing (but not guaranteed) to bloom for more than one year. The best known are the Darwin Hybrids, but the Fosterianas, and many of the wild, or species, tulips also have perennial tendencies. They won’t keep going indefinitely, but it’s possible to get two or three reasonable displays from them before you feel the need to replant. You can find a list of these tulips on our website, colorblends.com, under Tulips, along with tips on encouraging perennial behavior.

HONEST TALK

Some bulb companies feature perennial tulips and charge a premium for them. Since repeat performances are never a sure thing, Colorblends avoids making promises the bulbs may not keep.

We’d rather keep our prices wholesale and our information straight.

Polka Dots ®

What is the recipe for a lively spring display? Try this: pure red, pure white, pure yellow. Combine, blend and plant thickly.

Steps 1 and 2 are done. All you have to do is plant and enjoy.

Introduced 2010 TO ORDER :

Item No

1483 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

22–24” Per 1000

$300

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

19

Big Ups ® An inviting blend of strong-growing Darwin Hybrid tulips.

They welcome all viewers with a hello shout. Some companies offer mixtures to unload seconds and leftovers. Big Ups is a carefully choreographed blend of topsize tulips. Their flowers are large, their colors complementary, their vigor impressive.

It’s not unusual for them to repeat their performance for two or three springs (see page 18 to learn more). Introduced 2005

20

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1264 Blend % 8 varieties

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

22–24” Per 1000

$37 $295

BIG UPS IN NEW YORK

Tough tulips for tough situations

The Darwin Hybrid tulips that make up the Big Ups blend are dependable even in an urban environment, where they have to cope with blustery winds and sudden changes in lighting (full sun one moment, deep shade the next). And where conditions aren’t so difficult? That’s when they really shine.

BIG UPS NEAR CHICAGO

TO ORDER :

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

21

Gentle Giants ®

A blend of four jumbo tulips in shades of pink and peach.

They manage to be both robust and delicate at the same time. All have perennial tendencies in the landscape (see page 18 to learn more). Introduced 2009

22

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1517 Blend % 4 varieties

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

24–26” Per 1000

$290

Twin Peeks ®

A pair of large-flowered tulips that are as vigorous as they are beautiful. The pink is a rose that shows red tones. The red is softened by a light frosting. They are perfectly compatible and willing to give repeat performances. Introduced 2013

1232 Blend %

Item No

50/50

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

24–26” Per 1000

$290

Wellspring

A blend of seven closely related tulips in shades that vary from cherry red to purple to mauve, some with creamy accents. Thirsty for color after a long winter? Here is the cool refreshment your eyes are longing for. Introduced 2017 TO ORDER :

1574 Blend % 7 varieties

Item No Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$39

Height

20–22” Per 1000

$340

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

23

S T R E T C H YO U R O T HOW

$100 T O T H E 408

2 tickets to an NBA basketball game

Massage for 1

3 tickets to an MLB baseball game

1 hour

Dinner for 2, with glasses of wine

3 hours

2 hours

1.5 hours

2 hours

1 night at a hotel

14 hours

hours

Some say tulips don’t bloom long enough to justify the cost. Tulips flower an average of 17 days in spring. That’s 408 hours of bloom.

Compared to other recreational activities, tulips are a great value.

21 hours

Approximate Hours of Enjoyment

The $100 tulip value equation

_ $10000

MAX

4th of July fireworks

300 tulip bulbs

1 adult day pass to Disney's Magic Kingdom

A springflowering bulb’s growth cycle

Early Fall

S

Late Fall

Early Spring

Spring

Early Summer

pring-flowering bulbs have a growth cycle that sets them apart from most other plants. They make roots in the fall, bide their time through winter, emerge and bloom in spring, and go completely dormant in early summer. During their brief period above ground, the plants must store up enough energy to survive their long dormancy (bulbs are very much alive in their dormant state), produce roots, and send up leaves and flowers again the following spring—in that order. That is why it is important to let the leaves die back naturally after bloom. If you cut the leaves early, you force the bulb to make sacrifices—starting with the next spring’s flowers.

24

White Hot ®

A dazzling red with a creamy yellow that matures pure white.

The contrast turns the heads of pedestrians, slows traffic and likely causes pilots to reduce their altitude. White opens first but carries on to overlap perfectly with the red. Introduced 1991 TO ORDER :

Item No

1225 Blend %

50/50

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

18–22” Per 1000

$270

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

25

Miss Confection ®

A sweet combination of a strong reddish pink and a creamy yellow that turns pure white. They bloom earlier than most other large tulips, offering a delicious preview of the parade of color to come. Introduced 2006

26

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1270 Blend %

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

16–18” Per 1000

50/50 $33 $260

Pinkster

Fresh colors for the season of renewal—pink, yellow and white.

These tulips start early, when the weather tends to be cool, and that helps them hold up longer than most. They will put a spring in your step after a long winter. Introduced 2012

1214 Blend %

Item No

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

16–18” Per 1000

$280

$37

1256 Blend %

50/50

Mira Mira

Soft colors are not synonymous with subtlety. When this pink and yellow blend peaked in the Colorblends trial garden, cars slowed, pedestrians gawked and a hardened staff member squealed with delight. Pretty powerful stuff. Introduced 2015 TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

24–26” Per 1000

$290

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

27

Pink Margarita ®

Two of the biggest and brightest of the Darwin Hybrids.

They are always the life of the garden party. Use this blend where you want to attract notice. It will not disappoint.

Introduced 1995

Item No

1234 Blend %

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

24–26” Per 1000

50/50 $37 $320

Skyliners Imagine if a city were to ask a Colorblender to develop a new master plan. In place of concrete, glass and steel, there would be gentle curves and bright, coordinated colors. Curious to see the design? This blend is a scale model (1:600). Introduced 2009

28

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1276 Blend % 4 varieties

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$37

Height

18–20" Per 1000

$310

Smooch

The cosmetics industry employs a small army of chemists to do what this blend does naturally and effortlessly. Deep, rich rose and cool soft pink. If you’re looking for spring landscape enhancement, you’re in the right place. Introduced 2017

1279 Blend %

Item No

50/50

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

16–18” Per 1000

$260

$33

1432 Blend %

50/50

Arrow Space

T-minus 6 months. The bulbs are in. Winter descends. At last, the thaw. Leaf tips appear. 40 days and counting. The foliage grows thick. 25 days. Flower stems emerge. 15 days. The buds color white and red. 7 days. And finally: Liftoff! Introduced 2018 TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$36

Height

20–24” Per 1000

$310

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

29

Petal Pushers ®

Big double tulips in primary colors: red, yellow and purple (standing in for blue). They make a blend that is simple, cheerful and eye-catching. Best in full sun. Introduced 2008

30

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1238 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$38

Height

18–20” Per 1000

$300

Vital Signs

Two doubles—one a cherry-red, the other a bright white with touches of cream and green—burst into bloom just when your spirits could use a lift. The ambulance you called in winter has finally pulled into the garden. Spring is here. Introduced 2016

Item No

1267 Blend %

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

16–18” Per 1000

50/50 $37 $310

Snowmelt

Big broad double tulips in white, purple and yellow. The blend is both cool and warm at the same time and thus can be used in a wide variety of landscape situations. All that’s required for a great display is plenty of spring sunshine. Introduced 2017 TO ORDER :

Item No

1451 Blend %

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

16–20” Per 1000

colorblends.com

34/33/33

| 1 (888) 847-8637

$37 $320

31

Merry Go Round

What is it about purple and orange? An artist would say that they are opposite each other on the color wheel and therefore complementary. The less technical term used by clients, customers and the man on the street: “Wow!” Introduced 2014

32

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1246 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$39

Height

16–24” Per 1000

$330

Chiquita Bordeaux

Double tulips in bright yellow and silvery purple. The flowers are large and densely petaled, much like those of peonies. But peonies don’t make these colors or bloom so early. Intrigued passersby will be drawn in for a closer look. Introduced 2001

Item No

1283 Blend %

50/50

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

18–20” Per 1000

$300

Vitamin See

As a Colorblender might say: Man does not live by red alone.

And with so many colors to choose from, why should he? This spring tonic comprises a fluffy lemon yellow, a hefty pumpkin orange and, flying above, a lily-like purple. Introduced 2016 TO ORDER :

Item No

1273 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$38

Height

15–24” Per 1000

$320

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

33

THICK THIN or

Tulip blends can make a statement either way, as shown by two plantings of Glow Motion (page 14) at the Colorblends House and Spring Garden last spring.

Nothing fills a bed like a tulip blend. Planted close together, the bulbs make a carpet of spring bloom.

Visitors are drawn to these plantings like moths to a flame.

Here the tulips were planted loosely in a rough lawn, with the daffodil Yellow Ocean (page 113) scattered among them. When seen from a distance, the lawn looks like a colorful spring meadow.

34

Sol Array

Red, yellow-and-red, and purple. These big double tulips do more than capture the energy of the sun; they intensify it.

Caution: Prolonged viewing may damage the naked eye.

Protective eyewear recommended. Introduced 2014

Item No

1442 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$37

Height

18–20” Per 1000

$310

1294 Blend %

50/50

Binary Fusion

Huge double tulips borne on long, arching stems. The extra petals give the blooms extra punch: They put on a show that cannot and will not be missed. Plant some for cutting, as well.

These flowers make incredible bouquets. Introduced 2009 TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

18–20” Per 1000

$295

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

35

Much Niceness ®

This blend looks like something you’d see on the dessert cart at a posh restaurant. The pastry chef has created something light and sweet to tempt you. A pity to take a fork to it. All you want to do is marvel at her exquisite composition. Introduced 2012

Item No

1219 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$38

Height

18–24” Per 1000

$320

1464 Blend %

50/50

Pillow Talk

Here a soft rose and a creamy yellow touched with pink are joined to form an incredibly beautiful combination. Their semi-double flowers open to wide, shallow bowls. Give them pride of place, and plant thickly. Introduced 2000

36

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

16–18” Per 1000

$37 $310

Metamorphic

The miracle of tulips: In fall, you plant what look like stones.

In spring, you get “gorgeous!” This blend of purple, rich pink, and blush-white doubles takes time to deliver on its promise, but man is it worth the wait. Introduced 2017

Item No

1453 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$39

Height

18–20” Per 1000

$320

Beyond Baroque

Beautifully constructed blooms of pink, purple and a hard-todescribe color that falls somewhere in between. They are so large, so full, so ornate that they look more like a 17th-century Dutch still life than they do a tulip blend. Introduced 2017 TO ORDER :

Item No

1455 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$39

Height

16–20” Per 1000

$340

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

37

Lipsticks

The range of choice at the cosmetics counter makes the head spin. But when all is said and done, pink and red are the basic options. They look great together, and they do marvelous things for the spring landscape. Introduced 2001

38

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1475 Blend %

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

20–22� Per 1000

50/50 $37 $290

Parrot Blend

Parrot tulips make terrific cut flowers. We placed an arrangement of our three-color blend in the front window of the Amsterdam Tulip Museum, and everyone stopped to see if they were real! Sensational in the garden, too. Introduced 2005

Item No

1417 Per 25

$24

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$58

Height

14–16” Per 500

$275

1472 Blend %

34/33/33

See View Plait ®

Three gorgeous tulips—a silvery pink, a mauve and a purple with a sparkling white edge—interweave in perfect harmony.

They deserve a prominent location where people may stop to admire them. Introduced 2006 TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$39

Height

18–22” Per 1000

$320

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

39

VISITING AMSTERDAM? Learn about the history of the tulip, Holland’s most famous flower, from its origin in the Central Asian highlands to its modern-day cultivation in the fields of the Netherlands.

The Amsterdam Tulip Museum is in the Jordaan district of Amsterdam, just a oneminute walk from the Anne Frank House. The surrounding historic neighborhood is a romantic place, with many museums, antique dealers, art galleries, restaurants and cafes to explore and enjoy. The museum shop sells bulbs to plant, books to educate and craft items to bring the story and beauty of tulips into your daily life.

For more information about the museum, visit amsterdamtulipmuseum.com.

For information about visiting the Jordaan (pronounced yor-DON) district of Amsterdam, go to jordaanweb.nl.

40

Cakewalk ®

Orchestrating tulip displays is hard. You have to juggle bloom times, heights, shapes and colors. Great ideas on paper are often flops in the landscape. Better to plant Colorblends like this one. Easy, beautiful and foolproof. Introduced 2011 TO ORDER :

1403 Blend %

Item No Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

20–24” Per 1000

colorblends.com

34/33/33

| 1 (888) 847-8637

$37 $300

41

Critical Mass ®

Blending tulips is a little like mixing chemicals. Get it wrong and nothing happens, or maybe too much. Get it right and the colors seem to feed off of each other. This chain reaction of yellow, purplish pink and maroon is all good. Introduced 2007

42

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1406 Blend %

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

20–24” Per 1000

34/33/33 $37 $290

Calm Cool Collective

A multilevel tulip display consisting of a white, a reddish purple and, pulling everything together, a purple edged with white. This is a great example of what tulip blends can do for the spring landscape: 1 + 1 + 1 = 4! Introduced 2018

Item No

1456 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$39

Height

18–24” Per 1000

$340

1488 Blend %

50/50

Black Tie

Two handsome tulips decked in glistening white and deep, dark maroon. High contrast, high style. And late to bloom, of course. It’s hard to imagine Astaire and Rogers showing up early at the ball. Introduced 2004 TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

22–24” Per 1000

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

$42 $350

43

Jacques and Jill ®

If you were to imagine mauve-pink and orange in combination, you might think twice, but when you see them, you understand how beautifully they work together.

These tulips have fantastic color synergy. Introduced 2009

Item No

1525 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

20–22” Per 1000

$310

Colorblends: W H AT YO U S E E I S W H AT YO U G ET

Colorblends selections are developed, planted, evaluated, photographed and presented in this catalog and at colorblends.com.

As simple as some blends appear, they are the distillation of much trial and error. Colorblends has done its homework so you don’t waste your time and money trying to figure it out.

Our sole mission is to help you put on great spring displays. You can order and plant Colorblends with complete confidence.

Accept no substitutes. Go with the real thing.

Plant Colorblends Wholesale Flowerbulbs.

THE RAINBOW COALITION ® PAGE 11

44

50/50

Bulb Size

Sultans of Spring ®

These long and lovely tulips bring royalty to the garden. As cut flowers, they have no rival: Few tulips give as much pleasure as they unfold their beauty in a vase. Whether you cut them or leave them, you will adore them. Introduced 2004 TO ORDER :

1408 Blend % 4 varieties

Item No Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

26–30” Per 1000

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

$41 $330

45

Happy Together

This blend fires on all cylinders. The colors—yellow, orange and mauve-pink—play beautifully together. Bloom overlap is very close. And the small differences in height and shape provide vitality. What’s not to like? Introduced 2014

46

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1443 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

20–24” Per 1000

$300

Gemini II

A cool and companionable pair: a white, edged and speckled with purple, and a lovely soft pink. Easy on the eye and yet very showy. Plant thickly to smother a bed, or cluster among perennials in a mixed border. Introduced 2015

1447 Blend %

Item No

50/50

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$37

Height

20–24” Per 1000

$310

Sherbet ®

Soft violet-mauve makes a delicious pairing with a pearly pink that gradually turns to apricot. When the sun hits them, they become even sweeter. Introduced 2002

TO ORDER :

1421 Blend %

Item No Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

20–24" Per 1000

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

50/50 $37 $300

47

French Blend

An all-color mixture of long-stemmed tulips, bright as lantern globes and nearly as large. We suggest you plant them for use in flower arrangements. They look great in the garden, too.

Each bag contains at least 7 different varieties. Introduced 2003

48

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1414 Blend %

All Colors

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$39

Height

23–25� Per 1000

$350

French Blend Rose

This is a stunning blend of large, florist-grade tulips in shades of pink, rose and apricot. Plant these, and next spring you and your friends and neighbors will know the simple pleasure of having a bouquet of home-grown tulips. Introduced 2005

1411 Blend % 5 varieties

Item No Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$39

Height

23–25” Per 1000

$350

Carnaval

Light and bright, cheerful and happy. These tulips hold a party wherever they are planted and welcome everyone to join in.

You can almost hear the cry of trumpets, the pulsing beat, see the floats and the crowds dancing in the street. Introduced 2013 TO ORDER :

1439 Blend %

Item No Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

22–25” Per 1000

colorblends.com

34/33/33

| 1 (888) 847-8637

$37 $320

49

Cubed Tulip Blends

Cubed blends comprise an early, mid and late variety to give you an extended run of spring bloom.

Flowering is sequential, but overlap is common, and welcome.

Red Cubed

A blend of three red tulips that bloom in succession. They provide three overlapping shows in the same space, increasing your pleasure exponentially. Since the bulbs don’t all bloom at once, plant thickly for a full display. Introduced 2006

Item No

1512 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$37

Height

16–25” Per 1000

$310

Yellow Cubed

Three succeeding rounds of yellow tulips. Excellent where a long run of color is needed. Also useful for cutting: When one bouquet fades, another can be harvested. For a dense display, plant the bulbs closely—just a few inches apart. Introduced 2006

50

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1514 Blend %

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

16–25” Per 1000

34/33/33 $37 $300

Pink Cubed ®

Pink to the third power—early, mid and late. The display begins at daffodil time and continues until the alliums start.

Along the way, there is plenty of color and plenty of spring flowers for cutting. Introduced 2008

Item No

1515 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$37

Height

16–25” Per 1000

$310

Red–Yellow Cubed

A three-act circus in one ring. Each pyrotechnic show rolls seamlessly into the next, drawing applause from family members, neighbors and passing motorists, all of whom will be amazed at your horticultural prowess. Introduced 2008 TO ORDER :

Item No

1516 Blend %

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

16–25” Per 1000

colorblends.com

34/33/33

| 1 (888) 847-8637

$37 $295

51

White Cubed

A rolling display of three white tulips. Each starts creamy yellow and matures pure white. As with the other cubed blends, it’s best to plant thickly, since flowering comes in waves, one-third at a time. Introduced 2009

Item No

1513 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$38

Height

16–25” Per 1000

$320

Threedom

Three distinct oranges for a warm spring show. The vaseshaped early tulip is soft orange. The mid bloomer is a gold and red double that reads as fiery orange. The finale is a lily-flowered tulip in sunset shades. Introduced 2009

52

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1518 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$37

Height

18–24” Per 1000

$310

Trifecta

A race to bloom that’s never in doubt. Red is always first, followed by yellow, with purple third but by no means last.

This blend of tulips is a sure bet. To ensure a good run, plant the bulbs closely—just 2–3 inches apart. Introduced 2011

Item No

1583 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$36

Height

16–24” Per 1000

$300

Triathlon ®

There’s a new competition at the beauty pageant next spring: endurance. Yellow starts, soft orange follows and burgundy leans across the finish line. Despite the effort that goes into this event, none of these beauties breaks a sweat. Introduced 2011 TO ORDER :

Item No

1581 Blend %

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

16–24” Per 1000

colorblends.com

34/33/33

| 1 (888) 847-8637

$37 $320

53

Tulip Singles

Sometimes a single variety is what you need. Here you’ll find a broad selection of tulips: early to late, short to tall and in almost every color save blue.

Tom Pouce

This lovely tulip takes its name from a popular Dutch pastry.

It is bright pink above, soft creamy yellow toward the base.

Especially delicious when the sun hits it just so. Tom Pouce needs no accompaniment. Just plant in fall, savor in spring.

54

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1135 Per 25

$17

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$38

Height

20–22” Per 1000

$320

Elegant Lady

Shapely lily-like tulips of creamy white brushed with mauvepink and touched with yellow at the base. Lovely on their own, maybe even better with purples or maroon. Late to bloom like most lily-flowered varieties. Your patience will be rewarded.

Item No

1630 Per 25

$15

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$37

Height

22–24” Per 1000

$310

Yume no Murasaki

A purple lily-flowered tulip that lasts an exceptionally long time, both in the garden and in arrangements. On sunny days, its petals open wide to reveal a contrasting white base.

Combines well with many mid and late tulips.

TO ORDER :

Item No

1751 Per 25

$15

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$36

Height

22–24” Per 1000

$310

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

55

Best Red

Vivid poppy-red. A vigorous tulip of great substance and radiant color that is sure to attract attention from a distance.

One of the best red landscape tulips.

56

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1501 Per 25

$15

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

22–24� Per 1000

$280

Best Yellow

A rich golden yellow tulip, impressive both for the size of its flowers and their longevity.

Best landscape tulip in its class.

It can light up a garden, the entrance to a building or an entire traffic median.

Item No

1502 Per 25

$15

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

22–24” Per 1000

$295

Best White

Large flowers open creamy yellow and soon turn pure white, retaining just a glimmer of yellow at the base.

Strongest white in the world of tulips. In a sunny spot, it can come back and bloom for several springs (see page 18 to learn more).

Item No

1506 Per 25

$15

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$33

Height

16–18” Per 1000

$280

Best Pink

Magnificent, vivid pink tulips on stout stems. Flowers grow to enormous size. Unsurpassed for borders and mass plantings. Strong perennial tendencies. This variety is also known as Pink Impression.

Item No

1505 Per 25

$15

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

24–26” Per 1000

$310

Best Purple

Deep purple blooms with a satin finish. A sturdy and dependable garden tulip that’s clearly the best solid purple around. Combines wonderfully with lighter-colored flowers. Especially nice with yellows, whites and pinks.

Item No

1504 Per 25

$15

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$34

Height

20–22” Per 1000

$290 TO ORDER :

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

57

Banja Luka

Huge blooms of marigold yellow feathered deep orange-red.

A brilliant and sturdy variety, very showy to say the least.

This tulip is a movie star.

58

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1239 Per 25

$15

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

22–24” Per 1000

$290

Daydream

Among the wonders of the world of tulips. The flower starts a clear lemon-yellow. As the bloom expands, the color shifts to rich apricot-orange. This changeable flower will give you a reason to wake up in the morning.

Item No

1508 Per 25

$15

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$37

Height

22–24” Per 1000

$310

Orange Queen

A beautiful orange with red tones, touched here and there with yellow.

In spring sunshine, a bed of Orange Queen burns like a four-alarm fire.

When the first responders arrive, you’ll have some explaining to do.

Item No

1259 Per 25

$16

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

22–24” Per 1000

$280

Best Red–Yellow

A red tulip brushed with yellow at the margin. When lit by the sun, it sets the spring landscape ablaze, and in a pool of grape hyacinths (page 131), it absolutely sizzles.

TO ORDER :

Item No

1507 Per 25

$15

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

22–24” Per 1000

$280

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

59

Big Eartha ®

A spectacular pink tulip, so large and vigorous it’s hard to believe it’s real. As the flowers expand, their sumptuous pink satin slowly deepens to a rich rose. Can return for several springs (see page 18 to learn more).

60

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1227 Per 25

$18

Bulb Size

14cm+ Per 100

$42

Height

24–26” Per 1000

$350

Big Red

Large red goblets with a silvery sheen are lifted skyward on thick stems. Where bold is called for, Big Red is an excellent choice. It can dominate a spring landscape.

Item No

1229 Per 25

$16

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

24–26” Per 1000

$290

Big Apricot

A sibling of Big Eartha, with a heavy apricot tone. It’s a monster grower with huge, long-lasting flowers. One of the largest Darwin Hybrid tulips available. Makes a big impact in the landscape.

TO ORDER :

Item No

1228 Per 25

$15

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

24–26” Per 1000

$290

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

61

Flair

Bright red-and-yellow blooms that catch fire in the sun. This tulip has many good characteristics: large flowers, a strong constitution and an exceptionally long bloom time. Starts with the daffodils in early spring and goes on and on.

62

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1016 Per 25

$14

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$31

Height

14–16� Per 1000

$270

Gudoshnik

A remarkable tulip loved for its variegated blooms. The flowers vary from an almost plain creamy peach to a deep rose-red, with all possibilities in between. A wealth of colors that has to be seen to be believed. Gudoshnik means “artist” in Russian.

Item No

1252 Per 25

$15

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

22–24” Per 1000

$290

Scarlet Baby

Starry red flowers, tinted pink, with a buttery base. They open bright and early in the spring, providing a welcome jolt of color. Scarlet Baby blooms at only half a foot tall, but its intensity makes it seem big.

Item No

1060 Per 25

$15

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

6–8” Per 1000

$290

Amazon

A planting of this striking tulip resembles a flock of tropical birds.

The arching orange petals, which look as though they have been dipped in yellow paint, flutter over purple-striped foliage. When the sun hits them, they glow.

Item No

1010 Per 25

$14

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

16–18” Per 1000

$295 TO ORDER :

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

63

Moris Gudanov

Moris Gudanov has big, beefy blooms filled with peach and red petals that are sometimes streaked, sometimes solid, but always appetizing. One flower could feed a family of four.

64

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1254 Per 25

$19

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$45

Height

18–20� Per 500

$215

Cretaceous

Enormous double blossoms of buttercup-yellow touched with varying amounts of scarlet. In some cases, the markings are so heavy a flower approaches red. How large is “enormous”?

Join your hands to make a bowl. They are that big.

Item No

1286 Per 25

$16

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$39

Height

18–20” Per 1000

$310

Beauty of Spring

This tulip lives up to its name. The large flowers are soft yellow, feathered with red along the edges of the petals.

Striking whether planted en masse, clustered here and there in a perennial bed or arranged in a vase.

TO ORDER :

Item No

1302 Per 25

$15

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$36

Height

22–24” Per 1000

$295

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

65

Akebono

Akebono is a full-figured tulip from Japan. The name means (roughly) “bright sky at daybreak.” The semi-double flowers are big, but their pale yellow coloring, often touched with red and green, gives them surprising lightness and grace.

Item No

1310 Per 25

$19

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$48

Height

18–20” Per 500

$200

Aveyron

Large double blooms of what might be called antique pink, neither soft nor strident, shading to near white at the petals’ edges. Each is a marvel of floral construction. Once upon a time, women wore hats that approached this level of detail.

66

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1962 Per 25

$15

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$37

Height

18–20” Per 1000

$330

Angélique

Candy for the eye: a late-flowering double that combines soft pink and white in near endless variety. Angélique has frequently been declared one of the most beautiful of all tulips.

Item No

1055 Per 25

$18

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$48

Height

15–17” Per 1000

$410

Virichic

An exotic beauty with vase-shaped blooms composed of narrow, wavy petals. They are vibrant pink, with lighter tones, and have a green stripe down the middle. A terrific cut flower—Virichic is worth planting for that purpose alone. It’s also an outstanding landscape tulip.

Item No

1658 Per 25

$15

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$42

Height

22–24” Per 500

$200

Queen of Night

Queen of Night is as close to black as a tulip is likely to get. It’s actually a very deep maroon. Combines nicely with other late tulips, including Elegant Lady (page 55) and Virichic (above).

Item No

1500 Per 25

$14

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$36

Height

22–24” Per 1000

$310 TO ORDER :

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

67

Maureen

The unrivaled standard in tall, late-season white tulips. The goblet-shaped blooms open creamy yellow and turn ivory-white as they mature. Maureen works equally well in large plantings and intimate flower gardens.

Item No

1620 Per 25

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$25 $57

Height

23–25” Per 500

$275

Menton

Menton is a rich pink with orange highlights that give it a hint of warmth. It looks beautiful on its own and combines easily with any of the other French tulips. Great for cutting, too.

Item No

1619 Per 25

$15

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$39

Height

23–25” Per 1000

$340

Roi du Midi Large, bright yellow goblets on tall stems. The name means “king of the south of France,” and like all the French tulips, Roi du Midi performs better in the American south than do most other varieties. Also excellent in northern landscapes.

Item No

1675 Per 25

$16

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$40

Height

23–25” Per 1000

$350

Dordogne

A lovely multicolored tulip that seems to change its hue with the light. Is it pink brushed with orange? Yes. Did I see a hint of yellow in there? Probably. Today it’s salmon. Am I going nuts? No! Relax and enjoy the show.

Item No

1623 Per 25

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

23–25” Per 1000

68

$16 $41 $330

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Blushing Lady

Very large yet supremely elegant flowers of pale yellow, brushed with rose on the exterior. When closed, they have a quiet sculptural quality. In the sun, with their petals unfurled, they look like a flock of exotic birds taking flight.

Item No

1556 Per 25

$17

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$41

Height

26–30” Per 1000

$330

Temple’s Favourite

Huge orange blooms, flushed with purplish pink, nod toward the sun on thick stems. There’s nothing else like them in the world of tulips.

Excellent for cutting.

Item No

1555 Per 25

$17

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$41

Height

26–30” Per 1000

$330

El Niño

This tulip is beautifully indecisive.

Its flowers can be amber or orange, or both at the same time, often overlaid with stripes of rose and speckles of red. No two flowers are exactly alike. Plant in quantity to see the full range of possibility.

El Niño can set a bed on fire.

Item No

1701 Per 25

$18

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$40

Height

26–30” Per 1000

$360 TO ORDER :

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

69

Wild Tulips

The forebears of the big hybrids.

Planted in a sunny, well-drained location, they can come back for two or three years. All of our bulbs are from commercially grown stock.

Aladdin’s Carpet

Wild tulips fit so easily into informal landscapes that they look as though nature herself planted them. This blend combines six of these beauties with three muscari and a dwarf daffodil for a colorful, long-running display. Introduced 2006.

70

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

6050 Per 200

Bulb Size

Topsize Per 1000

$230

4–12" Per 5000

$1050

Height

$52

Bakeri Lilac Wonder Dainty lilac-pink flowers with deep yellow centers glow like beacons on a sunny spring day. Every garden should include at least a hundred of these little beauties. The species is native to the island of Crete.

Item No

1011 Per 100

Bulb Size

6–7cm Per 1000

Height

$17 $140

8–10”

Linifolia

Flowers open to shining scarlet stars with black hearts. Makes quite a splash in the rock garden.

Also excellent along the edge of a path or a well-drained flower bed.

Central Asia.

Item No

1022 Per 100

$14

Bulb Size

5–6cm Per 1000

$110

Height

8–10”

Tarda

Clusters of yellow star-shaped flowers, edged white. Plant the bulbs closely to create a glittering spring carpet. Given a sunny spot and good drainage, this little tulip has the ability to bloom for several years. Tien-Shan Mountains, China.

Item No

1025 Per 100

$18

Bulb Size

8–9cm Per 1000

$140

Height

5–7”

Tubergen’s Gem Scarlet buds open to yellow stars.

Mass them for a cheery sight that can repeat itself for a year or three.

Tubergen’s Gem is a selection of Tulipa clusiana, which makes its home in Afghanistan and Tibet.

Item No

1026 Per 100

$21

Bulb Size

5–6cm Per 1000

$170

Height

8–10” TO ORDER :

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

71

A Z A K H S TA N

KU S

CHKENS

LI

PA

T

E N I S TA N

T U L I PA B E H

IS

KM

TU

MI

AK

UR

AN

TU

L I PA M O N TA N

A

I RA

NIDEA G

RE

E

TUL

PHA

CE

I PA

N

OR

Where do tulips come from?

ost people associate tulips with Holland,

but they didn’t originate there. Some species are indigenous to Turkey, where they have been cultivated and venerated for centuries, but the majority hail from the forbidding mountainous regions of Central Asia, where they can still be found growing wild today.

They may look small next to today’s big hybrids, but you have to admire their beauty and tenacity.

You’ll find a sampling of wild tulips and near-relatives at right and on pages 70–71, plus several more at colorblends.com. For an interactive map and photos of 40 tulips in their native habitats, visit tulipsinthewild.com.

72

Votive Motif

The clusiana tulips offer two looks in one. When they are closed, you see their cranberry stripes. When the sun is on them, they become constellations of yellow or white. What’s really great: They look terrific either way. Introduced 2018

1291 Blend %

Item No Bulb Size

34/33/33

5–8cm Per 100

Height

8–12” Per 1000

$27 $230

Turkestanica

Small white flowers with gold eyes borne 4–8 to a stem. Plant the bulbs thickly, and they will make a starry mass of bloom. Easy to grow and a good stayer. As the name indicates, this species is native to Turkestan.

Item No

1024 Per 100

$18

Bulb Size

8cm+ Per 1000

$145

Height

9–11”

Praestans Shogun

Flowers are a beautiful but hard-todescribe color—pumpkin, perhaps, with light red speckles—and are carried several per stem, forming little bouquets. On sunny days, they reveal blue-black stamens. The species can be found in Tajikistan.

Item No

1036 Per 100

Bulb Size

9–10cm Per 1000

Height

$27 $230

11–13” TO ORDER :

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

73

BedSpreads

®

Want to fill a large area with spring color? Try a BedSpread®: a blend of four, five or more varieties that provides a wide range of colors, bloom times, heights and textures.

Silvaner

Like a fine old wine for the eyes. Two whites deliver tartness.

A pair of pinks provide fruit. The lone purple imparts body and balance. Delicious, and you can drink as much as you like, headache-free. Sold in increments of 500 only. Introduced 2018

74

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1578 Per 500

$195

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 2000

$720

Height

16–22” Per 5000

$1650

Prosecco

An effervescent blend of yellow, orange, reddish pink and white. They bloom earlier than most other tulips, providing a welcome splash of color after a long winter. Cincin!

Sold in increments of 600 only. Introduced 2017

Item No

1575 Per 600

$216

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 2400

$780

Height

16–18” Per 6000

$1740

Boutonnière

Boutonnière showcases the diversity of tulips with a display of single, double and lily-shaped blooms in soft pink, rich pink, white and maroon. Sold in units of 500 only, because that’s the number needed for a balanced show. Introduced 2015 TO ORDER :

Item No

1570 Per 500

$195

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 2000

$700

Height

18–24” Per 5000

$1600

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

75

Chardonnay

Item No

1573 Per 500

$175

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 2000

$610

Height

22–24” Per 5000

$1400

Complicated Made

Bunny Hop

Item No

1585 Per 600

$216

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 2400

$780

Height

16–24” Per 6000

$1740

Easy BedSpreads

ÂŽ

More Choices, More Photos at Colorblends.com

Daffodils for Naturalizing

The daffodils on these pages are selected for their vigor and naturalizing capabilities. Their hefty bulbs will produce 2 or more flowers the first spring.

Spring Loaded ®

This mixture makes planting daffodils on a large scale very economical, with no compromise in bulb size. It contains at least 15 proven named varieties, covering the full spectrum of daffodil colors and bloom times. These time-tested beauties will provide a succession of flowers for many springs to come.

Introduced 2000 DEER AND RODENT PROOF

78

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

3076 Per 100

$55

14–16cm Per 1000

$490

12–18” Per 5000

$2350

The Gold Shoulder ®

A blend of tough, dependable daffodils, one gold, one white with a yellow cup that turns ivory. Both exhibit strong perennial behavior. Given half a day of sun or more and well-drained soil, the bulbs often increase their number.

Excellent for landscaping and low-maintenance plantings.

Introduced 1997 DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

Item No

3065 Per 100

$54

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 1000

$495

Height

16–18” Per 5000

$2350

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

79

Dancing

Daffodils

Biomechanists have determined that daffodils dance by design. In a paper entitled “Reorientation of Daffodil Flowers in Wind: Drag Reduction and Torsional Flexibility,” researchers concluded that daffodils turn their backs to the wind to reduce drag (Etnier and Vogel, 2000). They Daffodil stems are lenticular, or lemon shaped, in cross section, can do that thanks which helps the flowers turn to their stems’ ability away from the wind. to twist and bend.

Daffodils carry their flowers at an angle of 60–90 degrees to the stem. This arrangement makes them vulnerable to damage if a strong gust hits them head on.

But daffodils have a strategy for dealing with this problem. First, thanks to the material properties and lenticular shape (see the illustration above) of their stems, they are able to rotate away from the wind and lower their profile by bending. Second, daffodil flowers have the ability to reduce drag when their backs are turned to the wind. As wind intensity increases, the

When hit by a strong gust of wind, daffodils reduce drag by twisting and bending, and their petals form a cone.

80

petals are blown around the cup, giving the flowers a streamlined shape.

To study how daffodils respond to wind, the researchers placed daffodils in a wind tunnel. As wind velocity was increased, the flowers began to turn and the stems began to bend, until at speeds in excess of 30 mph, the flowers were turned a full 180 degrees from the wind, the tips of the petals were pointing downwind to form a cone and the stems were bent almost parallel to the wind direction (see the illustration below). When the wind tunnel was turned off, the stems stood back up and the flowers turned back around and assumed their normal shape, as though nothing had happened.

Outdoors on a breezy day, this back and forth can occur over and over, with each strong gust. And the daffodils, which look elegant and dignified when the weather is calm, appear to shimmy and dance to the music of the wind.

For the original article, point your web browser to the American Journal of Botany and then enter “daffodil” into the search field.

For a nice explanation of the article in layman’s terms, see a piece by Adam Summers of the University of Washington at http://faculty.washington.edu/fishguy/ Articles/daffodils.html

Illustrations © Sally Bensusen/Visual Science Studio

The poet William Wordsworth once wrote of daffodils “dancing in the breeze,” and Shakespeare before him described “daffodils that… take the winds of March with beauty.”

The Top 40

Where more is better, this mixture delivers. It comprises at least 40 different varieties from the best growers in the Netherlands. Included are old favorites but also many fresh faces—some of them new to commerce—and all at a price that allows for expansive planting. Bulbs are large and healthy and guaranteed to please. Introduced 2016 DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

3101 Per 100

Item No Bulb Size

$57

14–16cm Per 1000

$510

12–18” Per 5000

$2400

Height

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

81

nce upon a time, there

was a golden trumpet daffodil named King Alfred. It became so popular that people came to think of it as the golden trumpet. King Alfred was soon superseded by other varieties that grew better and had larger and arguably more attractive flowers, but demand for King Alfred, based mostly on name recognition, persisted even as production steadily declined.

Today, people still ask for King Alfred, and sometimes they get it—or think they’ve

gotten it: Bulbs bearing the name King Alfred are almost always those of another variety.

King Alfred was a great daffodil in its time, but current production is almost zero.

For those seeking an all-gold daffodil today, we offer not one but five great candidates: Carlton (below), Marieke (facing page), Golden Harvest and Gigantic Star (page 84), and Dutch Master (on our website, colorblends.com).

These showy and affordable varieties are the current gold standard-bearers.

Carlton

A two-tone yellow daffodil with a strong perennial nature. Soft yellow petals encircle a large, frilly, golden yellow cup. Carlton is a splendid multiplier that does well pretty much nationwide, including the Deep South. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

82

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

3006 Per 25

$20

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$59

Height

14–16” Per 1000

$530

Marieke

Here is a golden yellow daffodil that stands out in the crowd.

Its large flowers are beautifully proportioned, graceful despite their size, nicely scented and very long lasting. The name is pronounced mar–EE–keh. DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

Item No

3010 Per 25

$24

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$68

Height

16–18” Per 1000

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

$630

83

Golden Harvest

Golden Harvest is an old-timer but still an incredible daffodil.

It makes huge yellow flowers that can be seen for what seems like miles. And if the weather stays cool, they last for what seems like months. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3560 Per 25

$22

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$59

Height

16–18” Per 1000

$560

Gigantic Star Big, strong, early, perennial. Gigantic Star is what you could call a meat-and-potatoes daffodil. Carlton (page 82) is one of its parents, which explains its durability and why it grows well both North and South. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

84

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

3562 Per 25

$24

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$65

Height

18–20” Per 1000

$590

Roadside Yellow ®

You know that spring has arrived when yellow daffodils light up the highways and streetscapes. Here’s a great way to participate in this annual fiesta. Bulbs are packed in bulk and priced accordingly. DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

3737 Per 200

Item No Bulb Size

$94

14–16cm Per 1000

$420

16–18” Per 5000

$2000

Height

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

85

Landscape Daffodils

These daffodils, along with the traditional yellows, form the backbone of a landscape planting.

They are big and showy and priced for volume purchases.

Actaea

Sweetly scented, snow-white flowers with scalloped petals and a small flat eye of yellow, edged bright red. Actaea is late by daffodil standards. It is also one of the best for naturalizing.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

86

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

3017 Per 25

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$24 $74

Height

16–18” Per 500

$350

Cornish King

A Dutch daffodil with English roots and excellent landscape potential in the United States. Its large flowers have white petals and a big yellow trumpet. A standout in the Colorblends trial and display gardens. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3619 Per 25

$24

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$62

Height

16–18" Per 1000

$570

Pink Charm

White flowers with wide cups that look as though they were dipped in apricot nectar. Pink Charm is a great natural­izer.

It’s also very adaptable: It grows well almost everywhere and is the best pink cup for the Deep South. DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

Item No

3053 Per 25

$18

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$52

Height

16–18” Per 1000

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

$470

87

Ice Follies

Very large, silvery white flowers with a wide, lemon-yellow cup that slowly turns to ivory. One of the strongest growers ever and great for naturalizing, North and South. We call it “Nice Follies.” DEER AND RODENT PROOF

88

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

3040 Per 25

$19

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$53

Height

16–18” Per 1000

$470

Brackenhurst

Yellow petals encircle a cup of intense orange. Excellent for mass planting: Brackenhurst is very showy, even at a distance.

Good perennial, too. Six years after planting 25 bulbs, a Colorblender counted 91 flowers. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3060 Per 25

$23

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$65

Height

16–18” Per 1000

$590

Mount Hood

Mount Hood has been around since the 1930s but remains the best known and most widely grown of the all-white trumpet daffodils. The nose opens creamy yellow and matures an even bright white. A landscape staple. DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

Item No

3302 Per 25

$20

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$65

Height

14–16” Per 1000

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

$610

89

Pimpernel

Light yellow with a large tangerine cup. Pimpernel has an iron constitution and will thrive in most situations. A big, vibrant landscape daffodil that is also excellent for naturalizing.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3059 Per 25

$25

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$68

Height

16–18” Per 1000

$640

Thalia

Nodding white flowers, usually 2–3 per stem, with narrow petals and a delicate cup. They have a light, feathery quality.

Excellent for massing at the edge of woods or among shrubs.

Also grows well in the Deep South. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

90

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

3015 Per 25 14–16cm Per 100 13–15” Per 1000

$15 $44 $390

Golden Salome

Creamy petals crowned with a golden cup. The flowers like to look upward, as though they are as keen on seeing you as you are them. A vigorous and showy variety. Golden Salome shines brightly, even on cloudy days. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3616 Per 25

$23

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$62

Height

14–16” Per 1000

$550

Merels Favourite

Pristine white petals surround a bold yellow cup. The flowers are large, the color contrast striking.

Twenty-five Merels Favourite will light up a spring landscape. Half a thousand will be plainly visible in satellite imagery. Hey, Google Maps!

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3615 Per 25

$25

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$69

Height

16–18” Per 500

$330

Accent

Accent was a major breakthrough in pink-cupped daffodils when it was introduced over 50 years ago. Many others have since come and gone, a testament to Accent’s enduring appeal and value in the landscape. DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

Item No

3057 Per 25

$20

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$55

Height

14–16” Per 1000

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

$480

91

Barrett Browning

The petals are white, the cups orange, turning yellow in the center as the flowers mature. Barrett Browning is excellent for naturalizing, and it performs well all around the country—even in the Coastal South. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3052 Per 25

$22

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$65

Height

14–18” Per 1000

$560

Delibes

Beautiful primrose-yellow flowers with a large, shallow cup that shades to orange at the mouth. A reliable perennial and a good multiplier. Delibes is easy to like. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

92

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

3042 Per 25

$24

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$69

Height

14–16” Per 1000

$590

Golden Echo

A sweet-scented jonquil that grows and blooms with abandon.

The flowers, which are often borne 2 per stem, have long golden cups. The gold seeps into the white petals (the echo in the name). Long lasting and very fragrant. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

3555 Per 25

Item No Bulb Size

14–16cm Per 100

$17 $48

14–16” Per 1000

$420

Item No

3317 Per 25

$25

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$67

Height

18–20” Per 1000

$570

Height

Watch Up

This recently introduced trumpet daffodil is big and tall, and as the name suggests, its flowers are inclined to look you in the eye. White petals, with a nose that starts yellow and matures cream. A terrific new landscape daffodil. DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

93

Daffodil Blends

Blending daffodils is even more challenging than blending tulips, but when you come up with a winning combination, it’s worth all the trouble.

Oh Pairs

This pair of double daffodils provides a lot of bang for the buck.

Both are good growers that like to come back year after year, and both make large, long-lasting flowers. They look terrific together, too. Introduced 2008 DEER AND RODENT PROOF

94

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

3757 Per 25

$24

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$65

Height

14–16” Per 1000

$590

3D

This blend of three yellow trumpet daffodils starts the season early and keeps the show rolling, providing a succession of flowers over several weeks. Plant the bulbs closely to ensure a dense display. Introduced 2009 DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3715 Per 100

$56

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 1000

$510

Height

14–18"

Funhouse

A blend of two daffodils that do very different things with similar colors and form. They make an interesting and dynamic duo. Introduced 2012 DEER AND RODENT PROOF

TO ORDER :

3701 Per 25

Item No Bulb Size

14–16cm Per 100

Height

colorblends.com

14–16” Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$24 $59 $550

95

Sunshine Boys

A combination of two bright-colored landscape daffodils that are as durable as they are attractive. Happy Spring to all who plant these stalwart friends. Introduced 2005 DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3750 Per 25

$24

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$60

Height

16–18” Per 1000

$550

Starry Night

Yellow, yellow everywhere… Fine and good, but white allows the designer to set a different mood: clean, serene, restrained.

This three-part blend offers a variety of textures but is uncompromisingly white. Introduced 2016 DEER AND RODENT PROOF

96

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

3704 Per 25 14–16cm Per 100 14–18” Per 1000

$25 $63 $560

Gritty Southern Daff Blend

This blend is made up of 10 varieties that grow and bloom well in the Deep South, where many daffodils struggle. They thrive despite heat and humidity, and tolerate heavy soil. Also good in Southern California. Introduced 2011 DEER AND RODENT PROOF

3761 Per 100

Item No Bulb Size

$54

12–16cm Per 1000

$510

14–20” Per 5000

$2450

Height

Charm Offensive

Two sweet-scented doubles in cream and soft yellow. Their fragrance will make you want to get down on all fours to take it in. Concerned about conduct unbecoming a gardener? Cut a few stems instead. Introduced 2016 DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

3703 Per 25

Item No Bulb Size

14–16cm Per 100

Height

colorblends.com

14–16” Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$20 $47 $440

97

PLANTING

LARGE In the flowerbulb world, bigger is better.

That’s because large bulbs produce more or larger flowers than small bulbs. When purchasing bulbs, always ask what size bulb you are getting.

Colorblends only delivers size 12cm circumference tulip bulbs or larger. The flowers produced by small bulbs (10–11cm or 11–12cm) will look small next to flowers from 12cm+ tulips. Why go to all the effort of planting only to spoil the end effect by using smaller bulbs? Your savings will be negligible and much of the time and effort spent planting will seem wasted. Larger tulip bulbs simply produce superior plants with more impressive flowers.

With daffodils, large bulbs will give you 2–3 flower stems in the spring, smaller bulbs just one. The definition of “large” for a daffodil is harder to pin down, because some daffodils naturally make bigger bulbs than others. But given the choice between a 16cm bulb and a 12–14cm bulb, you (or your client) will be happier with the display from the 16cm bulb. The larger bulb appears to be expensive, but it’s actually more economical than a small bulb if you count the flowers you get.

And isn’t the purpose of planting bulbs to have a great spring display with lots of flowers?

Here we show Colorblends tulip and daffodil bulbs next to bulbs obtained from another source.

98

COLORBLENDS BULBS

FROM ANOTHER SOURCE

Evan Scent

Jonquils offer fragrance as well as beauty. When you walk by or bring your nose near, you pick up a sweet perfume. This is a blend of four varieties that complement each other nicely and smell great. Introduced 2008 DEER AND RODENT PROOF

3710 Per 25

Item No Bulb Size

13–16cm Per 100 14–18” Per 1000

Height

$19 $49 $440

Golden Earring

A blend of six varieties. All are yellow, but most have an orange accent. Excellent for naturalizing. Terrific massed wherever you want to draw attention. Sold only in units of 300 to ensure a balanced show. Introduced 2017 DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

3770 Per 300

$160

13–16cm Per 1200

$590

Item No Bulb Size Height

colorblends.com

14–18” | 1 (888) 847-8637

99

Double Daffodils

A double daffodil is much more than a single with extra petals.

Each bloom is a marvel of floral architecture. You’ll want to cut a few, or a bouquet, for closer study.

White Lion

White Lion has white petals interspersed with crepe-like ribbons of soft yellow (the lion’s mane, perhaps). It is an old-timer that continues to be grown because, well, it likes to grow. An attractive and enduring daffodil. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

100

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

3806 Per 25

$22

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$59

Height

14–16” Per 1000

$540

Tahiti

Fully double flowers of soft yellow accented by tufts of coppery orange. They stand like torches on strong stems. Tahiti is a favorite among commercial growers in the Netherlands because it grows and flowers so well. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3056 Per 25

$22

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$58

Height

14–16” Per 1000

$550

Flower Parade

Double white blooms with bright orange petals in the center.

Flower Parade is a child of Tahiti (above) and exhibits the same vigor and staying power in the landscape. Also makes a beautiful spring bouquet. DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

Item No

3083 Per 25

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$73

Height

14–16” Per 500

$320

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

$25

101

Delnashaugh

Double creamy white blooms enriched by fluffy peach-pink segments. An uncommon and uncommonly fetching daffodil.

It’s also fragrant and long lasting. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3051 Per 25

$21

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$57

Height

14–16" Per 1000

To get the most from follow these 4 basic rules Daffodils want to be perennial.

All they need is a little help from you.

1

Plant them where they will get at least 6 hours of direct sunlight—even after the trees have leafed out. Daffodils must have lots of sun after they bloom to produce the following year’s flowers.

2

Plant them in soil that drains well. Avoid areas where water stands after a rain storm.

102

3

Fertilize very lightly with a low-nitrogen fertilizer, preferably organic, just as the shoots emerge in early spring.

4

After daffodils flower, wait at least 8 weeks— until the leaves turn yellow—before cutting them. Never tie or braid foliage. This year’s leaves = next year’s flowers.

$510

Acropolis

Glistening white flowers with orange-red segments in the center.

They are carried well above the foliage for easy viewing. Lovely in the garden and terrific in a vase, which also allows ready access to their spicy scent.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3805 Per 25

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$25 $67

Height

16–18” Per 500

$310

Queen’s Day

A double yellow named for the Dutch holiday that was long celebrated on April 30. (Now that the Dutch have a king, they celebrate King’s Day—on his birthday, April 27.) A beautiful, perhaps even regal daffodil.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3081 Per 25

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$28 $73

Height

14–16” Per 500

$350

Sir Winston Churchill

A double sport of Geranium (page 111), with the fragrance to prove it. Each stem bears clusters of 3–5 white flowers with flecks of orange in the middle. Their scent is fresh and sweet.

Great for cutting. DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

Item No

3512 Per 25

$24

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$64

Height

16–18" Per 1000

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

$580

103

FINGERSPITZENGEFÜHL

WE WILL SHIP NO FLOWERBULB BEFORE ITS TIME Fingerspitzengefühl is a German expression that means having a feeling about how something has to be done. Dutch bulb growers use this expression to decide when flowerbulbs are ready to be harvested and shipped.

Y

ou cannot predict when bulbs will be ready for digging and shipping, but if you know just by feeling that the time is right, you call it “fingerspitzengefühl,” which means literally “the feeling in the tips of your fingers.”

Bulbs in general, and especially daffodils, need to mature after harvesting. Harvest time for daffodils is late July or early August. The bulbs are dug by machine and dropped on the soil.

The wind and sun can then dry them out in the open, fresh air. The daffodils need to lose more than 20 percent of their water weight before the end of August. If they are left in the open for at least two weeks, much of the drying will be done naturally.

The rest of the drying takes place in a warehouse in large kuubskisten (wooden boxes).

THE TYRANNY OF THE CALENDAR

The problem is that bulb growers are being forced to harvest and ship daffodils too early. Why? The exporters in the Netherlands want to take delivery of the bulbs before August 10 and sometimes before August 5, so they can ship daffodils with their other bulbs (tulips, crocuses, etc.) to the United States.

Why so early? Their customers in the U.S., the buyers for the big box stores, demand that bulbs be delivered by late August. That way the bulbs are on display for an extra two weeks before the Halloween and Christmas merchandise pushes them off the shelves. The negative early spiral continues when the local garden center owner, who usually knows better, feels forced to have his bulbs delivered early for competitive reasons.

104

EXCESS MOISTURE SPELLS TROUBLE

If you honor this schedule, it is impossible to give daffodils a proper drying. You have to take the bulbs from the field within a week after digging them. The moisture in the bulbs has much more difficulty escaping during the grading, packing and shipping process.

Or it doesn’t come out at all.

The result is daffodils that are not mature. They will be stored and shipped in an environment with higher humidity because of the moisture they continue to release. This humidity provides an ideal environment for all kinds of fungus to grow and damage the bulbs.

How much moisture are we talking about? 100,000 doublenose daffodil bulbs weigh about 22,000 pounds. If they need to lose another 10 percent of their weight after packing, we are talking about 2,200 pounds (263 gallons) of water per 100,000 daffodils. That is a lot of extra moisture that is trapped in the packages.

FIRST: DO NO HARM

The bulb industry is not collectively strong enough to “just say wait.”

But at Colorblends, we won’t start delivery until the first day of fall, around September 22.

We may lose business because of this policy. Having a customer tell us to deliver early, when the bulbs are not ready and temperatures are still too warm, is not an option. It would be like telling a winemaker to harvest his grapes early so the bottles can be on the shelf a little sooner. With agriculture and nature, you need patience. You can’t tell a flowerbulb when it is ready. The flowerbulb tells the grower. Usually through the fingers.

Cheerfulness

Each stem bears clusters of 3–4 double, creamy white, very fragrant blooms that are touched with orange in the center.

This heirloom (it’s been around since at least 1923) flowers late in the daffodil season. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

3023 Per 25

Item No Bulb Size

14–16cm Per 100

Height

14–16" Per 1000

$16 $44 $400

Yellow Cheerfulness Cheerfulness in soft yellow. Like its paler cousin, it is richly perfumed and, as they say, long in the tooth.

But talk about well preserved!

Yellow Cheerfulness will look as fresh next spring as it did in the spring of 1937. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3024 Per 25 14–16cm Per 100 14–16" Per 1000

$16 $49 $440

Double Smiles Fragrant double blooms open in bright profusion on wiry stems. The flowers stand out in the landscape and are plentiful enough, thank goodness, that you can bring some of their sweet scent indoors without marring the display.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3802 Per 25 12–14cm Per 100 12–14" Per 1000

$14 $38 $350 TO ORDER :

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

105

Uncommon Daffodils

For most people, a daffodil is a yellow trumpet, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Warning!

Proceed with caution. Daffodils can become a lifelong passion.

Pride of Lions

Pride of Lions is a newly minted daffodil with a cup so broad it threatens to obscure the petals. Is that extra-wide cup a quirk or a feature? If you’re looking for a flower that stands out in the landscape, it is just what you want. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

106

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

3624 Per 25

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

Height

14–16" Per 1000

$24 $71 $640

Cassata

Cassata is a showy daffodil that’s perfect for the border and looks great in broad sweeps. Its split cup opens bright yellow, takes on a soft buttery quality, and finishes ivory. A different and attractive look for early spring. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3520 Per 25

$21

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$61

Height

13–15” Per 1000

$520

Fellows Favorite

Daffodils do yellow, of course, but this one stands out. Is that pineapple? Chartreuse? Butterscotch? Call it what you want, it is beautiful. And you can expect to see a lot of it. Fellows Favorite is almost ridiculously prolific. DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

Item No

3625 Per 25

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

Height

16–18" Per 1000

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

$25 $67 $610

107

Pistachio

A remarkably beautiful flower. The petals are a light greenish yellow, the trumpet creamy white with a soft yellow rim. In gentle morning or evening light, the flowers glow.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3568 Per 25

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$30 $85

Height

14–16” Per 500

$380

Joyce Spirit

Joyce Spirit is a recent introduction with a bright future. The petals are white, the cup orange with a yellow halo at the base. An enthusiastic grower in the Netherlands, Ms. Spirit is eager now to show what she can do on this side of the Atlantic. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3626 Per 25

$18

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$55

Height

14–16" Per 1000

$520

Frosty Snow

Frosty Snow provides an evolving display. The broad cup opens yellow throughout. As the days pass, the yellow retreats to the rim before vanishing entirely. No matter when you see it, or how often, this daffodil is interesting, unusual and beautiful. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3628 Per 25

$25

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$69

Height

16–18" Per 1000

$640

Precocious

Precocious is a great Americanbred hybrid with the best pink color to date. It has won several prizes at the Keukenhof display garden in the Netherlands. And like most pink-cupped daffodils, it’s also a strong grower. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3580 Per 25

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$67

Height

18–20" Per 500

$310

108

$25

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Falconet

Sweetly scented, clear yellow flowers with orange cups are borne 3–7 on a stem. Since a bulb typically produces 4 stems, a planting of 25 bulbs can yield 450 flowers or more. That’s a lot of fragrance. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

3058 Per 25

Item No Bulb Size

14–16cm Per 100

Height

16–18" Per 1000

$12 $33 $270

Avalon

Avalon is what daffodil experts call a reverse bicolor. Its flowers are yellow with a white cup, rather than the other way around. The white grows brighter as the flowers age.

Distinctive, yes. Beautiful, too. DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

Item No

3606 Per 25

$24

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$65

Height

14–16” Per 1000

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

$580

109

Pipit

A fragrant jonquil with 2–3 light yellow flowers per stem. The cup matures to pure white. Brings a soft and cool elegance— and a delightful sweet scent—to the spring garden. It also grows well North and South. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Avalanche

A very old (100+ years) daffodil that is still valued for its strong scent and sheer abundance of bloom: Each stem from an established bulb bears 8, 10, sometimes 15 flowers. Thrives in the South and on the West Coast, but can’t take northern winters.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

3018 Per 25

Item No Bulb Size

14–16cm Per 100 14–16" Per 1000

Height

$22 $59 $550

Ceylon

Ceylon has pretty much everything you could want in a daffodil. Its flowers are upward facing and long lasting, and they hold their color well, even in intense sun. Its bulbs have strong perennial tendencies.

An easy choice, North and South.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3064 Per 25

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$77

Height

16–18" Per 500

$360

110

$28

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

3043 Per 25 14–16cm Per 100 14–16” Per 1000

$15 $44 $390

Kedron

Kedron calls attention to itself, drawing first the eye and then the nose. The petals are an unusual and lovely apricot-yellow.

They set off a small, rich orange cup. Close inspection reveals the heavenly jonquil scent. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3549 Per 25

$15

Bulb Size

13cm+ Per 100

$40

Height

14–16” Per 1000

$350

Geranium

A multiflowered daffodil that bears 2–6 deliciously fragrant blossoms per stem. Petals are white, the tiny cups orange. An oldtime favorite and a vigorous and reliable perennial. Also performs well in the South. DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

Item No

3048 Per 25

$20

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$58

Height

16–18" Per 1000

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

$510

111

Poeticus Recurvus

Pheasant’s Eye. Breeders have done amazing things with daffodils over the past century, but it would be hard to improve on this wildflower. Graceful, reflexed white petals. Yellow cup ringed with red. Spicy scent. Lovely. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Snowboard

The origin of the name is a mystery.

Snowboarders tend to be associated with brashness and flamboyance.

This flower makes a very different statement: clean, understated, elegant. And, as white daffodils often are, it is fashionably late.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3627 Per 25

$24

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$68

Height

14–16” Per 1000

$620

Bella Estrella

A cross between a split-corona daffodil and a jonquil. From the former, Bella Estrella inherited an open-face smile; from the latter, she got a sweet scent and a propensity to bear two flowers per stem. A charming and fragrant beauty.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

112

3515 Per 25 12–14cm Per 100 14–16" Per 1000

$19 $48 $450

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

3402 Per 25 14–16cm Per 100 13–15” Per 1000

$18 $51 $460

Monal

Monal may be the earliest and showiest of the yellow-andorange daffodils, flowering when others are just revealing their buds. It is capable of making large clumps over time, providing veritable living bouquets in the garden. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3623 Per 25

$24

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$64

Height

16–18" Per 1000

$590

Yellow Ocean

The Dutch grower says this variety grows “like a weed.” Last thing one wants is another weed, but a multiflowered daffodil that blooms like there’s no tomorrow? That’s the kind of ocean you’ll want to dip your toes into. DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

Item No

3960 Per 100

$48

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 1000

$420

Height

13–15"

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

113

Miniature Daffodils

Miniature daffodils are adorable and affordable. They’re great for edging a bed or border, lining a walk you use often or adding spring color to a rock garden.

Jetfire

Reflexed golden yellow flowers with narrow orange cups.

Jetfire is small but prolific. It’s also a very good perennial that can be relied on year after year. Looks great planted in large groups in beds, borders and wild areas. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

114

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

3046 Per 100 14–16cm Per 1000 10–12"

$36 $320

Minnow

This little daffodil is one of the delights of spring. It offers at least a pair of bright, cream-and-yellow flowers per stem. The flowers are hardly bigger than a quarter, but somehow they jump out at the eye and raise a smile.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3047 Per 100 12–14cm Per 1000

$25 $230

8–10”

W.P. Milner

An heirloom (pre-1869) with nodding blooms that are creamy white with a pale yellow trumpet.

It has a natural, almost wild look that suits it to massing around shrubs or along the edges of a groomed landscape.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3542 Per 100 10–12cm Per 1000

$34 $290

7–9"

Baby Boomer

A great name for a great little daffodil. Baby Boomer is a child of Avalanche (page 110) and Narcissus jonquilla, which means lots of flowers (up to 9 per stem) and lots of fragrance. Does well in the South, but struggles where winters are long and cold. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3544 Per 100 12–14cm Per 1000

$39 $360

7–9"

Sun Disc

A miniature and a late bloomer, with soft yellow, circular flowers that feature a flat golden cup. It is a jonquil and has the sweet fragrance and grass-like foliage of its kin.

Looks great planted in bunches near rocks or along a walk.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3202 Per 100 12–14cm Per 1000

$29 $270

10–12" TO ORDER :

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115

Tête–à–Tête

This little daffodil carries 1–3 yellow flowers per stem. It is valuable for edging a formal bed or brightening a perennial border. Every garden has room for a patch of Tête-à-Tête.

(Seen here with Blue Squill, page 128.) DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Segovia

Segovia looks wild. Its dainty, flat-faced flowers consist of white, propeller-like petals and chartreuse cups. Borne on nearly invisible stems, they appear to float above the grasslike leaves. Excellent with shrubs or in a naturalistic garden.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3611 Per 100 12–14cm Per 1000

$40 $380

8–10"

Rapture

Rapture looks like a falcon diving after prey, its petals blown back as it streaks across the sky. A bulb makes several flowers the first spring and can make many more in springs to come, creating whole flocks of graceful golden raptors.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

116

3532 Per 100 12–14cm Per 1000

$42 $390

12–14"

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

3021 Per 100 12–14cm Per 1000 7–9”

$35 $310

Sailboat

The white petals and pale yellow cups of this sweetly scented, vertically challenged jonquil are attractive on their own. Pair them with the true blue spikes of grape hyacinths (page 131), and magic happens. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

3595 Per 100

Item No Bulb Size

12–14cm Per 1000

$39 $360

10–12"

Height

Hawera

A small primrose-yellow daffodil that makes up for its size by producing 6–8 flowers on each stem. Use it along a path, at the front of a border, in a rock garden. Planted in a sunny spot, it can flower abundantly for many years. DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

3044 Per 100

Item No Bulb Size

10–12cm Per 1000

Height

colorblends.com

$24 $210

8–10" | 1 (888) 847-8637

117

Hyacinths

After breathing stale indoor air all winter, nothing beats the sweet scent of hyacinths. But wear gloves when handling the bulbs in the fall.

They can make you itch!

Étouffée

A mélange of four hyacinths in pastel shades. They are easy on the eye, and their sweet perfume is the toast of spring. In much of the country, hyacinths provide the first real fragrance of the year. No garden should be without them. Introduced 2007

118

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

4052 Per 25

$22

16–17cm Per 100

$69

8–10” Per 500

$330

Blue Jacket

Perhaps the most useful of all the hyacinths, because its deep purple-blue hue blends easily with almost any color in the spectrum. Combines especially well with yellow daffodils, which bloom at about the same time. Smells as good as it looks.

4049 Per 25

Item No Bulb Size

$18

16–17cm Per 100

$64

8–10” Per 500

$290

| 1 (888) 847-8637

119

Height

Fondant

Large heads of clear pink flowers with a white edge emerge from tufts of thick foliage. A welcome sight after a long winter. The sweet scent floats easily from bloom to nose on a light spring breeze.

Item No Bulb Size Height

4050 Per 25

$17

16–17cm Per 100

$65

8–10" Per 500

$295

Carnegie

White hyacinths shine at dawn and dusk and on cloudy days, and they go well with most other hyacinth colors. Their scent is just what you want after a few months of being cooped up in the house: strong, sweet, refreshing.

Item No Bulb Size Height

4047 Per 25

$18

16–17cm Per 100

$69

8–10" Per 500

$305 TO ORDER :

colorblends.com

Jambalaya

A spicy blend of five different hyacinths in bright, clear colors.

They look tasty and smell heavenly. Plant closely in a large bed or sprinkle them in bunches through the landscape. You really can’t go wrong. Introduced 2006

120

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

4055 Per 25

$22

16–17cm Per 100

$73

8–10” Per 500

$340

Saints Parade

An attractive blend of clear pink, white and purplish blue.

Their look is refreshing, their perfume intoxicating. They make a sweet salute to spring. Introduced 2014

4057 Per 25

Item No Bulb Size

$21

16–17cm Per 100

$68

8–10” Per 500

$325

| 1 (888) 847-8637

121

Height

City of Haarlem

Soft yellow hyacinths, maturing to ivory. Planted with Jan Bos (below), they make an eye- and nosestopping display. Hyacinth bulbs may make you itch, so handle with gloves and plant late in the day (just before shower time).

Item No Bulb Size Height

4043 Per 25

$18

16–17cm Per 100

$63

8–10" Per 500

$290

Jan Bos

Big heads of powerfully fragrant fuchsia-red flowers. Yes, they are bold. Exactly what’s wanted after a winter spent gazing mournfully at a landscape of olive, tan and brown.

Item No Bulb Size Height

4044 Per 25

$19

16–17cm Per 100

$69

8–10" Per 500

$320 TO ORDER :

colorblends.com

1

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5

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11

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12

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15

The Bulb Grower’s Year 1 October: Planting 2 November: Putting on winter cover 3 March–April: Crop inspection 4 April–May: Cutting flowers 5 May–June: Bulbs growing 6 July: Digging 7 July–August: Grading by size; 8 drying and curing 9 August: Bulbs ready for packing 10 August–September: Checking and packing; 11 crates ready for export; 12 export inspection by USDA; 13 loading “reefer” container; 14 container being hoisted aboard ship in Rotterdam 15 September–December: Re-inspection before delivery.

122

Blue Delta

The floral equivalent of waves breaking on a sunny shore. You may feel an urge to dig a beach chair out of the garage so you can relax and take in the scene. There will be no hint of salt in the air, just a sweet perfume. Introduced 2012

4053 Per 25

Item No Bulb Size

$22

16–17cm Per 100

$69

8–10” Per 500

$330

| 1 (888) 847-8637

123

Height

Purple Sensation

Dense clusters of fragrant, rich purple blooms on thick stems. No need to stoop to detect the scent of a hyacinth; it comes to you.

Item No Bulb Size Height

4048 Per 25

$19

16–17cm Per 100

$67

8–10" Per 500

$310

Gipsy Queen

Full heads of intensely fragrant, apricot-orange blooms. As with all hyacinths, give Gipsy Queen full sun and let the foliage die back after bloom if you want it to perennialize.

The flower heads will be smaller and looser in subsequent years, but the scent will remain strong.

Item No Bulb Size Height

4045 Per 25

$19

16–17cm Per 100

$67

8–10" Per 500

$310 TO ORDER :

colorblends.com

Specialty Bulbs

Tulips and daffodils play the lead roles in spring, but they benefit from a strong supporting cast.

Here you’ll find both familiar characters and quirky bit players.

Hokus Crocus Crocus vernus

Dutch crocuses never fail to surprise the eyes after a long winter. Freely planted, they proclaim that spring is on its way.

Hokus Crocus is a blend of large, goblet-shaped flowers in white, purple and white striped with purple. Introduced 1996

124

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

5020 Per 100

$22

Bulb Size

9–10cm Per 1000

$190

4–6” Per 5000

$900

Height

Crocreation

This cheerful blend of purple and golden yellow crocuses will brighten your early spring landscape. Plant them under trees or shrubs, or in the lawn (but be sure to let the leaves yellow before you start mowing). Introduced 2000

Item No

5021 Per 100

$22

Bulb Size

9–10cm Per 1000

$190

4–6” Per 5000

$900

Height

Vernal Jewels

These crocuses are colorful and cute and very early. They have a knack for popping out of the ground when you could really use a pick-me-up. The blend comprises creamy yellow, lavender and white. Hello, spring! Introduced 2015 TO ORDER :

Item No

5050 Per 100

Bulb Size

5cm+ Per 1000

$100

3–4” Per 5000

$450

| 1 (888) 847-8637

125

Height

colorblends.com

$14

Tommies Crocus tommasinianus ‘Barr’s Purple’

Purplish pink Tommies bring an elfin charm to the garden in late winter or early spring. A delightful, early and very affordable crocus. Flowers prolifically in most situations, and likes to come back year after year.

Winter Wolf’s Bane Eranthis cilicica Spring’s first yellow. Its little cup-shaped flowers, which sit on frilly leaves, open at the first hint of warmth. Happiest under deciduous trees, where it may self-sow. Bulbs are tiny. Plant lavishly.

DEER AND RODENT RESISTANT

Item No

6022 Per 100

$24

Bulb Size

5cm+ Per 1000

$180

Height

3–4"

Snowdrops

Galanthus elwesii Snowdrops are the earliest of all bulbs. They open their white, winged flowers before anyone dares whisper “spring.” For best results, plant in soil that is not too dry and beneath trees that lose their leaves.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

6020 Per 100

Bulb Size

7cm+ Per 1000

Height

126

$49 $420

5–7”

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

6024 Per 100

$12

Bulb Size

5–7cm Per 1000

$95

3–4” Per 5000

$400

Height

Woodland Blend

A blend of five early bloomers that deer generally avoid and can take up long-term residence in the shade of deciduous trees. All they require to flourish is well-drained soil and plenty of spring sunshine. Introduced 2010 DEER RESISTANT TO ORDER :

6051 Per 200

Item No Bulb Size

$48

Topsize Per 1000

$215

3–9” Per 5000

$1000

Height

colorblends.com

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127

Blue Squill Scilla siberica

Blue squill is excellent for naturalizing beneath trees that lose their leaves, where it will form drifts of singing blue bells in early spring. Needs a few years to really hit its stride. Capable of self-sowing. Try it with Tête–à–Tête (page 116). DEER RESISTANT

Striped Squill

Puschkinia scilloides var. libanotica A bright little bulb with white flowers traced with lines of blue.

Striped squill is easy and reliable in a sunny location. Blooms early, and with a little afternoon shade can last a long time. Where conditions suit it, it may self-sow.

Item No

6008 Per 100

$12

Bulb Size

6cm+ Per 1000

$90

5–7” Per 5000

$360

Height

Glory of the Snow

Chionodoxa luciliae An early bloomer with starry, lavender-blue flowers that shade to white in the center. When massed, the plants look like a summer sky fallen to earth. Grow in sun or light shade. Capable of spreading by seed.

DEER AND RODENT RESISTANT

Item No

6021 Per 100

$14

Bulb Size

5cm+ Per 1000

$110

3–5” Per 5000

$450

Height

128

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

6009 Per 100

Bulb Size

7–8cm Per 1000

$130

5–7” Per 5000

$600

Height

$17

Snake’s Head Fritillaria meleagris

Pointed buds open to maroon (occasionally white), bell-shaped blooms. The plant looks like a wildflower and is best used as such—in a meadow, under trees, around shrubs. Happiest in part shade and moist soil. DEER RESISTANT

Item No

6039 Per 100

$19

Bulb Size

6cm+ Per 1000

$145

Height

10–12”

Windflowers Anemone blanda

Windflowers carry daisy-like flowers above ferny foliage. This blend combines a pure white with a lavender-blue. Plant with abandon in sun or light shade. (Not suitable for cold climates.) Introduced 2000

Item No

6012 Per 100

$16

Bulb Size

5–7cm Per 1000

$135

4–6” Per 5000

$650

Height

Trout Lily

Erythronium ‘Pagoda’ Trout lilies make their home on the forest floor, where their nodding flowers provide a welcome spark of spring color. Pagoda is the most reliable of the group. Its delicate blooms, which resemble turks cap lilies, shine in dappled light.

Item No

6040 Per 25

$20

Bulb Size

Topsize Per 100

$70

Height

8–10” TO ORDER :

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

129

Grape Hyacinth Blend Muscari

Grape hyacinths in traditional blue, pure white and a lovely soft azure. They can be used as a foil for midseason tulips or as a stand-alone planting. The pastel blue harmonizes with the deep blue. The white adds sparkle. Introduced 2010

130

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

6004 Per 100

$21

Bulb Size

6–10cm Per 1000

$170

5–7” Per 5000

$725

Height

Grape Hyacinth Muscari armeniacum

Grape hyacinths produce several dense spikes of tiny, true blue flowers from each bulb. They are beautiful on their own, but their greatest value may be as companions to midseason tulips.

That rich blue makes almost any tulip color pop.

Item No

6005 Per 100

$16

Bulb Size

9–10cm Per 1000

$130

5–7” Per 5000

$600

Height

Muscari latifolium

This cousin of the grape hyacinth has two-tone flowers: bright blue on top, deep purple below. Makes a nice foil for daffodils and early tulips. After the first spring, it tends to move around, wildflower-like, popping up in places of its own choosing.

TO ORDER :

Item No

6003 Per 100

Bulb Size

7–8cm Per 1000

$100

5–7” Per 5000

$410

Height

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

$12

131

Snowflake Leucojum aestivum ‘Gravetye Giant’

Small white bells line arching stems. Snowflake prefers full sun and thrives in soil that is too wet for most other bulbs. In a spot it likes, it can take up permanent residence. We offer a tall and robust variety named Gravetye Giant. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

6015 Per 25

$24

Bulb Size

14cm+ Per 100

$69

Height

24–28” Per 500

$335

Camassia Camassia leichtlinii ‘Caerulea’

Starry, purplish blue flowers rise in loose spikes on tall stems.

Camassia is most effective when planted in clusters in a shrub border or grassy area. It needs full sun and thrives in damp, or even wet, soil. DEER RESISTANT

132

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

6033 Per 25

$25

Bulb Size

14cm+ Per 100

$95

Height

34–38” Per 500

$440

Spanish Bluebells Hyacinthoides ‘Excelsior’

A shade-tolerant plant that bears spikes of lightly fragrant, porcelain blue, bell-shaped flowers toward the end of the bulb season. Ideal for naturalizing below shade trees. Grows well North and South—California, too. Bulbs are extra large.

TO ORDER :

Item No

6028 Per 25

$12

Bulb Size

10cm+ Per 100

$32

Height

14–18” Per 1000

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

$270

133

Alliums

These relatives of onions and garlic bloom late (after tulips are done) and need sun and good drainage. Where happy, they can come back for several years.

Mount Everest

Creamy white, 5-inch globes top long stems in late spring.

Splendid grown against a dark background, and like all of the big alliums, it makes an impressive cut flower. DEER RESISTANT

134

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

6018 Per 5

$15

Bulb Size

20cm+ Per 25

$60

Height

44–48" Per 100

$220

Globemaster

The most spectacular of all the alliums. It bears 8-inch orbs of lilac-pink flowers on tall stout stems. Because the flowers are sterile, they last a long time. An outstanding cut flower, fresh or dried. DEER RESISTANT

6019 Per 5

Item No Bulb Size Height

20–24cm Per 25 34–38” Per 100

$24 $105 $395

Gladiator

Dense 5-inch heads of lilac-pink.

They reach their peak just ahead of Mount Everest (facing page).

Gladiator is especially effective when planted in 3’s, 5’s or 10’s in a flower bed or mixed border. Our bulbs are the largest you’ll find and guaranteed to please. DEER RESISTANT

Item No

6017 Per 5

$15

Bulb Size

20cm+ Per 25

$56

Height

42–46" Per 100

$200

Ambassador

Ambassador produces 6-inch balls of tightly packed, rich purple flowers. Terrific either planted in groups or strung like lanterns through a perennial border. One of the last of the large alliums to flower: Blooms with roses.

DEER RESISTANT

Item No Bulb Size Height

6061 Per 5 24–28cm Per 25

$25 $105

44–48" TO ORDER :

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135

Universe

In the beginning, there was Allium giganteum. Then came the reigning king, Globemaster (page 135). And now we have: Universe! The flower heads, which are composed of silvery lilac florets, can be as large as a beach volleyball (8½ inches).

Colorblends exclusive. DEER RESISTANT

Item No

6087 Per 5

$29

Bulb Size

20cm+ Per 25

$125

Height

28–32”

Moly

Two-inch heads of sunny yellow flowers brighten the garden at the tail end of spring. Foliage is a handsome blue-green. Plant Allium moly in bunches between perennials and shrubs for a golden summer send-off. DEER RESISTANT

Item No

6027 Per 100

$10

Bulb Size

5cm+ Per 1000

$80

Height

10–12"

Unifolium

Loose heads of lavender-pink flowers touched with white. A lovely gem for the flower or herb garden. This plant is edible. The young foliage can be used in place of chives. Native Americans in California and Oregon ate the bulbs.

DEER RESISTANT

Item No

6029 Per 100

Bulb Size

5–6cm Per 1000

Height

$12 $100

10–12"

Sphaerocephalon

Drumstick allium. The last of the bulbous alliums to bloom. Its egg-shaped, wine-red flowerheads wait until summer to color up. Puts on a nice show when planted in tight groups in a perennial border.

DEER RESISTANT

Item No

6016 Per 100

$12

Bulb Size

6cm+ Per 1000

$90

Height

136

22–26"

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Purple Sensation

Beautiful, perennial, affordable. Purple Sensation bears 4-inch globes of rich purple flowers on tall stems. It is early for an allium; blooms on the heels of late tulips. Can be massed or planted in clusters in a perennial border. DEER RESISTANT

6023 Per 25

Item No Bulb Size Height

12–14cm Per 100 28–32” Per 1000

$15 $38 $350

Schubertii

This intriguing allium draws the eye with its arresting, almost primordial look. It bears huge (10- to 12-inch) spidery heads of rosy flowers. A real conversation piece in the garden and in arrangements.

DEER RESISTANT

Item No

6025 Per 5

$9

Bulb Size

14cm+ Per 25

$37

Height

18–22" Per 100

$130

Christophii Stars of Persia. Airy domes of starry, metallic pink flowers measuring up to 10 inches across.

They make great accents in a perennial bed. Can be cut and dried or left as decorative elements.

Very late to bloom. Comes on as Globemaster wanes. DEER RESISTANT

Item No Bulb Size Height

6014 Per 25 12–14cm Per 100

$14 $42

18–22” TO ORDER :

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137

Amaryllis

Amaryllis are showy bulbs that must be grown indoors in most of the USA. Place them in a sunny window, and they will bear huge flowers in the depths of winter.

Rapido

A miniature and an early bloomer that produces smaller-thanaverage flowers but more than the usual number—up to 25 from one bulb. If potted in November, it usually starts to bloom by the end of December, and the show can go on for weeks.

138

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

7019 Per 3

$34

32–34cm Per 6

$65

18–22” Per 12

$125

Stardust

Big white flowers overlaid, outlined and, yes, dusted with red.

Winter can be hard on a gardener, but when Stardust opens on a dull January or February day, you will have reason to keep your chin up.

Item No Bulb Size Height

7082 Per 3

$37

32–34cm Per 6

$70

18–22” Per 12

$135

Amaryllis* GETTING THE MOST FROM

START WITH A BIG BULB.

Colorblends amaryllis bulbs are huge. All will produce at least two stems, and most stems will yield four flowers, sometimes more.

GIVE IT A NICE HOME. Pot the bulb in a 7- or 8-inch pot and set it on a sunny windowsill. Room temperature (60° to 75°F) is ideal.

GO EASY ON THE WATER. Water after potting and then only when the potting mix is dry to the touch.

HAVE PATIENCE. Amaryllis can be slow to get going. Allow 12 weeks (or more) from potting to bloom. Most bulbs will not flower until after Christmas.

MOVE THE BULB OUTDOORS FOR SUMMER.

*

Amaryllis may bloom again next winter if they spend summer in the sun.

Amaryllis arrive in our warehouse in midOctober. If you need your outdoor bulbs earlier, please place two separate orders.

139

Lagoon

The name causes the brow to furrow, until you leave aside the color and focus on other attributes of the word: large, round, shallow.

Lagoon is all of those things and, yes, eye-popping pink, too. Looking for subtlety? You’d best move on.

Item No Bulb Size Height

7076 Per 3

$37

32–34cm Per 6

$70

18–22” Per 12

$135

Rosalie Rosalie has large flowers of a color that is difficult to describe. Some insist it is pink. Others protest that it is salmon. Plant a bulb or three and take a side. Or better yet, take the high road: Everyone can agree that Rosalie is beautiful.

Item No Bulb Size Height

7074 Per 3

$32

32–34cm Per 6

$60

18–22” Per 12

$115

Double Dream

Reddish pink blooms with white highlights. They are fully double and doubly full, the petals appearing to have welled from the center in waves and flowed onto their predecessors. An unusual, beautiful and memorable display.

Item No Bulb Size Height

7067 Per 3

$39

32–34cm Per 6

$74

18–22” Per 12

$140

Caprice

Large but lovely blush-pink blooms with a rounded shape. What the photo cannot show is the substance of the petals. They are thick—not quite orange peel, but getting there.

That extra weight seems to help the flowers last longer than most.

Item No Bulb Size Height

140

7079 Per 3

$40

32–34cm Per 6

$76

18–22” Per 12

$140

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Grand Diva

A recent introduction with large, well-formed blooms of wine red. Grand Diva is more pinot noir than Bordeaux, so it tends to the lighter end of the wine spectrum. And it belongs to a very fine vintage. Your eyes will love drinking it in.

7081 Per 3

$37

32–34cm Per 6

$70

18–22” Per 12

$135

Item No Bulb Size Height

Marilyn

A very buxom platinum blonde.

The huge flowers measure fully 8 inches across and are composed of broad, overlapping petals. The shape is full and rounded and, frankly, voluptuous. How the stems hold up the display is anybody’s guess.

Item No Bulb Size Height

7073 Per 3

$39

32–34cm Per 6

$74

18–22” Per 12

$132

Purple Rain

The large, cupped and rounded blooms are white overlaid with veins of pinkish red. If you squint, you might discern a hint of purple, but don’t try too hard. Just sit back and take in the beauty of these extraordinary flowers.

Item No Bulb Size Height

7059 Per 3

$38

32–34cm Per 6

$72

18–22” Per 12

$135 TO ORDER :

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141

Dancing Queen

A candy-striped double that has large white flowers brushed with broad strokes of rust-red. Big and bold, yet graceful at the same time. A striking decoration for the windowsill. Also makes a dramatic winter centerpiece.

Item No Bulb Size Height

7008 Per 3

$35

32–34cm Per 6

$67

18–22” Per 12

$125

Red Rival

Yet another red amaryllis? Yes! Red Rival is elbowing its way into the company of old favorites with its well-formed flowers, compact size and speedy growth. Blooms are a tad smaller than those of the largest varieties, but their display is huge.

Item No Bulb Size Height

7065 Per 3

$34

32–34cm Per 6

$65

18–22” Per 12

$125

Monaco

Enormous blooms of cherry red accented with a white eye and white stamens. The color contrast is arresting: After the initial double-take, it’s hard to look away.

So don’t. Stare as much as you like.

The flowers won’t mind.

Item No Bulb Size Height

7023 Per 3

$35

32–34cm Per 6

$67

18–22” Per 12

$125

Flamenco Queen Big white blooms brushed and stippled with red. Flamenco Queen is an attention getter. It will call from the windowsill, insist on being the subject of dinner conversation.

You may need to move it so you can concentrate on something else.

Item No Bulb Size Height

142

7052 Per 3

$36

32–34cm Per 6

$68

18–22” Per 12

$120

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Double Delicious

Red petals marked with narrow white flares. In sunlight, the petals have a sheen that appears as a halo around the center. The form recalls a cactus dahlia—spiky but not unfriendly—or one of those fireworks that opens in successive bursts.

7072 Per 3

Item No Bulb Size Height

$39

32–34cm Per 6

$74

18–22” Per 12

$140

Moscow

The comfy couch of white amaryllis. Big flowers (up to 7½ inches across) open creamy and mature a bright, crisp white with occasional fine fuchsia markings.

The petals are broad and rounded and often curl backward at the tips.

You can’t sit on them, of course, but it’s OK to give them a gentle caress.

7069 Per 3

Item No Bulb Size Height

$35

32–34cm Per 6

$67

18–22” Per 12

$125

Samba

Big red ruffled blooms, edged and marked with white. Samba is a show stopper, a “look at me” flower, which is just what the doctor ordered on a gloomy winter day.

TO ORDER :

7029 Per 3

$36

32–34cm Per 6

$68

18–22” Per 12

$120

Item No Bulb Size Height

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

143

Paperwhites

Paperwhites are powerfully fragrant daffodils that will bloom indoors in fall and winter without special treatment. Think of them as living air fresheners.

Paperwhite Nir

Nir is one of the best paperwhites introduced to date. Its stems are shorter and therefore much less likely to flop than those of the standard variety; its flowers are larger and showier; and its sweet fragrance, while strong, is not overpowering.

Allow 5–6 weeks from planting to bloom; for flowers at Christmas, plant by November 10. Bulbs can be started at intervals to provide color and fragrance until after Easter.

Each will produce 2–3 sturdy stems crowned with clusters of large, sweetly scented white flowers.

144

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

3404 Per 25

$25

16–17cm Per 100

$69

18–22” Per 500

$335

See more paperwhites at colorblends.com

Planting Tools

Hori-Hori

A hori-hori is a knife that is designed to be used in the soil. It is ideal for planting small bulbs in turf or along the edge of woods because the blade slices through thatch and roots. Also useful for myriad other gardening tasks.

Wooden handle with a stainless steel blade that is serrated on one side and has depth markings in inches and milli­meters. Vinyl scabbard included.

There are many knock-off hori-horis on the market. None matches the quality and utility of this beautiful tool.

Unconditionally guaranteed.

Hand crafted in Japan.

There are a lot of bulb planting tools on the market. Most work better in theory than they do in practice. These are simple and effective and guaranteed forever.

Tulip Trowel

A serious hand tool that is perfect for planting tulips. It is made of 16-gauge stainless steel and has a red grip that’s easy to hold and hard to lose track of. The blade has markings in inches and centimeters so you know how deep you’re digging. Can also be used for weeding and for planting annuals.

Need a smaller trowel or a larger one?

See the Crocus and Daffodil Trowels at colorblends.com.

Unconditionally guaranteed.

Made in USA. Item No

9032

Length

12"

Blade Width

1³/₄”

Price

$16

Bulb Spade

The Dutch have been planting bulbs for more than 500 years, so they know a thing or two about the best tools for the job. This small spade is just right for planting in a kneeling position. If you are struggling with a trowel, you will reach for your bulb spade.

Forged stainless steel blade. Hardwood handle with T-grip.

The price reflects the craftsmanship required to make the tool and the durability of its construction: You can expect to hand your bulb spade down to your grandchildren.

Unconditionally guaranteed.

Made by hand in the Netherlands.

9036

Item No

9034

Item No

Length

12½"

Length

22"

Blade Width

4⁷/₈”

Price

$79

Blade Width

1⁵/₈”

Price

$33

See more tools at colorblends.com

TO ORDER :

colorblends.com

Bulb Auger

This heavy-duty auger allows you to plant a lot of bulbs in a hurry where the soil is mostly free of rocks and roots.

It works best with a portable gas or corded electric drill. A variablespeed hammer drill is recommended. And if you have a helper to drop in the bulbs as you go, the work goes twice as fast. We have landscape contractor customers who swear by this tool.

It’s also useful for planting seedlings, mixing small amounts of cement, installing signs, etc.

Unconditionally guaranteed.

Made in USA. Item No Length

9324 24”

Diameter

3”

Shaft

⁵/₈”

Flighting

12”

Drill Size Price | 1 (888) 847-8637

½" $35

145

How to

Plan & Order STA RT H E R E

THE COLORBLENDS

Guarantee

We will deliver premiumquality, commercially propagated, disease-free flowerbulbs of the stated size.

None of our bulbs has been collected from the wild.

All flowerbulbs have a certificate of health issued by the USDA and either the Dutch or the British Department of Agriculture.

Looking for a catalog index?

You can find one online at colorblends.com/catalog-index

Colorblends guarantees its bulbs the first spring after planting. After that, it’s in nature’s hands. Our liability is limited to the purchase price of the flowerbulbs.

If there is a problem with an order, please call us within 5 days from receipt of the order.

How many bulbs per square foot?

This chart will help you determine the number of bulbs needed per square foot to have a dense, full display.

Recommended spacing between bulbs is provided in our planting instructions and on our bag labels. If you have any questions, give us a call at 1 (888) 847-8637.

146

BULB TYPE

QTY

Tulips, standard

5

Tulips, wild

9–13

Daffodils, large

4–5

Daffodils, miniature

7–11

Allium Globemaster

1–2

Anemone

20–24

Camassia

4

Chionodoxa

20–24

Crocus

8–9

Eranthis

20–24

Fritillaria meleagris

10–11

Galanthus

16–18

Hyacinthoides

5–6

Hyacinthus

3–4

Muscari

14–15

Scilla

15–16

Bed area calculations The chart on the facing page gives you bulbs per square foot. To figure the number of bulbs you need to fill a bed, you have to calculate the area of the bed. You can crunch the numbers yourself, or you can let the Colorblends website do the math: colorblends.com/bedcalculator BED SHAPE

HOW TO CALCULATE THE AREA

WI DTH

LENGTH

H E I GHT

BASE

R ADIUS

WIDTH

LENGTH

A

C

D

E

F

G

B

RECTANGLE OR SQUARE AREA = LENGTH × WIDTH A rectangle is a parallelogram with four right angles. The area of a rectangle is found by multiplying the length by the width.

EXAMPLE: Determine the area of a rectangle where the length = 25 ft. and the width = 13 ft.

Area is: 25 × 13 = 325 sq. ft.

TRIANGLE AREA = (BASE × HEIGHT) / 2 A triangle is a polygon with three sides. The area of a triangle is one-half the base multiplied by the height.

EXAMPLE: Determine the area of a triangle where the base = 25 ft. and the height = 20 ft.

Area is: (25 × 20) / 2 = 250 sq. ft.

CIRCLE AREA = 3.14 × RADIUS² A circle is a closed curve of which every point on the edge of the curve is equidistant from a fixed point within the curve. The area of a circle is pi (3.14) multiplied by the radius squared. The radius is equal to one-half the diameter of the circle.

EXAMPLE: Determine the area of a circle where the radius = 12.5 ft.

Area is: 3.14 × (12.5 × 12.5) = 491 sq. ft.

OVAL AREA = (LENGTH × WIDTH) × 0.8 An oval has an elliptical, or egg-like, shape. The area of an oval is the length multiplied by the width, multiplied by 0.8.

EXAMPLE: Determine the area of an oval where the length = 25 ft. and the width = 15 ft.

Area is: (25 × 15) × 0.8 = 300 sq. ft.

IRREGUL AR SHAPES AREA = SUM OF PERPENDICULAR LINES × DISTANCE BETWEEN THE LINES To find the area of a large irregular shape, divide it into a series of smaller units. This method will calculate the area to within 5 percent.

Step 1: Determine the axis line, the longest line that can be drawn inside the shape.

Step 2: Mark several lines that are perpendicular to the axis and divide it into segments of equal depth. The more lines you use, the more accurate the result.

Step 3: Measure each perpendicular line.

Step 4: Calculate the area by adding the lengths of all the perpendicular lines and multiplying by the distance between the lines.

EXAMPLE: Determine the area of an irregular bed that is 60 f t. long. For convenience, the axis (A–B) is divided by 6 (to make 10-f t. segments). The measurements of 5 lines drawn perpendicular to the axis at 10-f t. intervals are as follows: C = 19 f t., D = 22 f t., E = 23 f t., F = 19 f t. and G = 13 f t.

Area is: (19 + 22 + 23 + 19 + 13) × 10 = 960 sq. ft.

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147

Ideal fall planting times

R L AT E S EPTEMBER & OCTOBE

VEM OCTOBER & NO

BER

MB NOVEMBER & DECE In the pink and portions of the purple zone, tulips should be prechilled before planting.

Visit colorblends.com for more information.

ER

R LY DECEMBER & EA

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING: BULBS THAT FLOWER IN SPRING MUST BE PLANTED IN FALL. There is no getting around this requirement.

BULBS SHOULD BE PLANTED WHEN THE SOIL HAS COOLED TO ABOUT 55°F. Bulbs need cool soil to make roots before the onset of winter.

JANU

A RY

YOU HAVE ABOUT 8 WEEKS TO PLANT AFTER THE FIRST FROST. As long as the ground is not frozen, you can still plant bulbs.

COLORBLENDS CAN MEET YOUR FALL PLANTING SCHEDULE. If you need your bulbs at a particular time, just let us know. Our shipping season begins in late September.

Answers to FAQs WHEN SHOULD I ORDER MY BULBS?

Reserve your selections now! Early ordering ensures availability of your choices. Credit cards are not charged until the bulbs are shipped in the fall.

WHEN WILL MY BULBS BE DELIVERED?

In the fall (late September through December) when soil temperatures in your area drop below 55°F. This is the proper time for planting. Tulip, daffodil and other bulbs have to be planted in the fall to establish a root system before the onset of winter.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO PLANT BULBS IN MY AREA?

Cool fall weather arrives at different times as you move from north to south across the United States, so the answer is variable. See the map above.

Read our planting and growing instructions with care.

Complete instructions are enclosed with every order. They are also available at colorblends.com.

WHAT DOES EARLY, MID AND LATE BLOOMING MEAN?

These are relative bloom times within the spring bulbflowering season, which varies from climate to climate and year to year. They are intended to help you plan a sequence of bloom from very early season to very late season. If you have specific questions, give us a call and we will try to help.

WHY DO YOU PACK TULIP BLENDS IN QUANTITIES OF 100?

This is the minimum quantity needed for a beautiful display.

CAN I ORDER ADDITIONAL BULBS IN THE FALL?

Yes. Turnaround time on fall orders is very fast, but we recommend ordering early, as some selections sell out quickly.

Planting & Care Upon Arrival

and remove the bags of bulbs so air can from the packages, get to them. check them agains • Plant as soon as t the packing list. possible. bulbs have been shippe Unless you specified a particular delivery week, your d at the appropriate them in the ground time for planting in your area. Get as soon as you can.

• If you can’t plant right away, you can keep the bulbs for a week cool place with good or two in a dry, air circulation. Tempe ideal, but your bulbs ratures between 50° and 60°F are should be fine within a range of 35°–75 Important: Bulbs must °F. be plante As you take the bags

d this fall

Choosing a Site

There are two key

considerations when choosing a site for bulbs. need ample sunshi ne to bloom well store up the energy next spring and to required to flower in future springs. crocuses and scillas Some bulbs — includ — can be planted ing beneath deciduous are able to satisfy trees; these bulbs most of their light needs before the requirements are trees leaf out. (Specifi provided in this pamph c let for each kind of bulb 2: Drainage. All bulbs we offer.) need good draina ge; never plant bulbs collects. The draina where water ge of heavy clay soils can be improved organic matter such by digging in as compost or compo sted manure.

1: Sunlight. Most bulbs

Planting

There are two princip

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

al ways of plantin g bulbs.

1: Planting a bed. Excava te the

area to be planted bottom. Set the bulbs and loosen the soil in the bed. Replac in the e the soil (gently at knocking the bulbs first, to avoid out of position). If the soil is dry, water thoroughly. ually. Dig a hole with a trowel, auger or Drop the bulb (or bulbs — small bulbs bulb planter. such as those of eranth can be planted in threes, fours or more) is and anemones into is dry, water thorou the hole. Replace the soil. If the soil ghly after plantin g.

Note: Don’t worry too much about which end is up on a bulb. shoots up and roots Bulbs know to send down. They will grow and bloom upside down. even if you plant them

2: Planting bulbs individ

1 (888) 847 8637

148

Instructions

• Open all boxes and crates

colorblends.com

Ordering information MINIMUM ORDER

Minimum order $60.

Shipping charges Small package orders are shipped via FedEx. Pallet orders go by LTL carrier.

HOW TO ORDER WEB: colorblends.com EMAIL: info@colorblends.com PHONE: Call us toll free 1 (888) 847-8637, Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 6:00pm, Eastern Time.

West

East

FAX : 1 (203) 309-6099 U.S. MAIL: Print an order form at colorblends.com. Mail to 747 Barnum Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06608. After October 1, please order only by phone, email or web.

SALES TAX

The rules have changed. Colorblends must now collect tax for the 32 states shown in the box at right below.

PAYMENT

Checks with orders, please, unless paying

by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. Credit cards will not be charged until the bulbs are shipped in the fall.

ORDER TOTAL

WEST

Up to $1500

Add 15%

Add 10%

MINIMUM $18

MINIMUM $12

Over $1500

EAST

Add 12.5% Add 7.5%

Sorry, no shipments to Alaska or Hawaii. We do not recommend planting in the southern portions of: AL, AZ, CA, FL, LA, MS, NM, or TX.

PURCHASE ORDERS

Corporate and institutional accounts are welcome! Purchase orders are accepted from approved companies and organizations. Government agencies, cities, states, counties and public schools are automatically approved. Call us for details.

GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS

Colorblends has been a GCSAA member since 1987 and is pleased to extend credit to fellow members. Reserve now. We’ll invoice you after delivery this fall.

BLEND PACKING

The varieties in a blend are mixed in the Netherlands before packing. If you are interested in ordering a variety that is part of a blend, let us know. We may stock it separately.

Sales tax In the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision in June 2018, Colorblends is now required to collect sales tax on shipments to 32 states, unless we are presented with a resale or exempt certificate. Landscape professionals can file resale certificates on our website or provide the required information by phone.

Please note: Sales tax is calculated on the order subtotal (order total plus shipping and prechill charge, if applicable).

Designed by Alexander Isley Inc.

SCHIPPERCRATES

The best shipping crates in the business!

Orders for 600 or more tulips are usually shipped in sturdy, stackable plastic Schippercrates with many uses: recycling bins, irrigation parts storage, you name it.

THE COLORBLENDS GUARANTEE

Please see page 146. Colorblends stands behind its bulbs the first spring after planting. After that, it’s in nature’s hands.

SALES TAX REQUIRED

AR , CO, CT, GA , IA , IL , IN, KS, KY, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK , PA , RI, SD, TN, UT, VA , V T, WA , WI, W V, WY

B FOR PLANTING IDEAS AND INSPIRATION, CONNECT WITH COLORBLENDS ON SOCIAL MEDIA! /ColorblendsWholesaleFlowerbulbs

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© 2019 by Schipper & Company U.S.A. Inc. All rights reserved under United States law and international copyright conventions. No part of this catalog may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission. Designed and printed in the United States of America. COLORBLENDS, It’s About Spring!, Nature’s Fireworks and all blend names are trademarks used to identify products of Schipper & Company U.S.A., Inc. dba COLORBLENDS and may not be used without permission. Introduced year is the year the catalog and blend name were registered at the United States Copyright Office in the Library of Congress. Contact: COLORBLENDS, 747 Barnum Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06608. Phone: 1 (888) 847-8637. Email: info@colorblends.com.

Budget Daffodils

Small bulbs sometimes make cents

Time (and size) is money—in the bulb trade and in the green industry. Colorblends prides itself on shipping big daffodil bulbs for maximum impact in the landscape the first spring after planting. But where the budget is tight and client patience is long, smaller bulbs may be what you need.

The following 12–14cm bulbs will give you 1 flower stem the first spring (our standard 16cm+ bulbs of the same or similar varieties will give you 2 and often 3). In keeping with industry practice, we refer to these small bulbs as landscape size (LS) bulbs.

Dutch Master LS

Standard yellow trumpet. When people ask for a yellow daffodil, this is what they have in mind.

Jumbo-size bulbs available at colorblends.com.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3631 Per 250

$81

12–14cm Per 1000

$290

16–18" Per 5000

$1350

Mount Hood LS

White petals. Nose starts pale yellow, turns white at maturity.

The first big white of the daffodil season. For jumbo-size bulbs, see page 89. (Also performs well in the South.) DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3854 Per 250

$135

12–14cm Per 1000

$440

14–16” Per 5000

$2100

Carlton LS

An adaptable and enduring two-tone yellow. Blooms a little later than the other big yellows.

For jumbo-size bulbs, see page 82.

(Also performs well in the South.)

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

150

3852 Per 250

$90

12–14cm Per 1000

$340

14–16" Per 5000

$1500

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Ice Follies LS

In much of the United States, Ice Follies is as widely planted as the big yellows. The reason is simple: There is no more vigorous and reliable daffodil than this one. For jumbo-size bulbs, see page 88. (Also performs well in the South.)

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3853 Per 250

$95

12–14cm Per 1000

$340

16–18” Per 5000

$1580

Fortune LS Yellow with a soft orange cup that turns yellow as the flowers mature.

An heirloom that has been lighting up landscapes for almost 100 years.

It was once one of the most coveted daffodils in the world. Now available for a song. (Also performs well in the South.) DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3007 Per 250

$85

12–14cm Per 1000

$310

14–16" Per 5000

$1350

Actaea LS

Pure white flowers with a small yellow-and-red eye. Actaea is much later than the familiar yellows, extending the daffodil season. It is also an excellent naturalizer in most situations. For jumbo-size bulbs, see page 86.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3858 Per 250

$125

12–14cm Per 1000

$420

16–18” Per 5000

$1950

Sealing Wax LS

Golden petals surround a petite cup with a bright orange rim.

An attractive flower and easy to appreciate because it almost always faces out or up. Sealing Wax is a daffodil that can hold your gaze.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3863 Per 250

$98

12–14cm Per 1000

$350

16–18” Per 5000

$1600 TO ORDER :

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

151

747 Barnum Ave Bridgeport, CT 06608-2415 colorblends.com 1 (888) 847-8637

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PA I D COLORBLENDS

Customer Number

Reserve now. We’ll deliver according to your schedule in the fall.

It’s about spring!

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