LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONAL EDITION
2 0 1 9 S P R I N G D I S P L AY S C AT A L O G fo r FA L L P L A N T I N G
“
W
elcome to the SpringDisplays catalog of flowerbulbs for fall planting and spring bloom.
All items have been tested to give you a spectacular spring show. Your satisfaction is guaranteed. Please make your selections early to ensure your choices are available and can be delivered in time for planting this fall. If you have any questions, contact your landscape professional.
Above: Gemini II® page 43. On the cover: Tang Dynasty® page 14
CONTENTS Tulip Blends
4
Cubed Tulip Blends
50
Tulip Singles
54
Wild Tulips
70
Tulip BedSpreads®
74
Daffodils for Naturalizing
78
Golden Daffodils
82
Landscape Daffodils
86
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
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+
Height
16–18”
34/33/33
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
Item No
1457 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
16–22”
34/33/33
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
Item No
1237 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
20–24”
34/33/33
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
Item No
1210 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
22–24”
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
Item No
1250 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
20–24”
50/50
5
SOLD OUT 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
Item No
1206 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
20–24”
50/50
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
Item No
1242 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
20–24”
50/50
Trident
Rich purple, bright pink, pure white. Together they make a combination that is saccharine, sugary or just plain sweet. Four out of five staffers recommend this mouthwatering trio for their customers who plant blends. Introduced 2016
Item No
1271 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
20–24”
34/33/33
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
Item No
1481 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
22–24”
34/33/33
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 %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
22–24”
34/33/33
SOLD OUT 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
Item No
1217 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
22–24”
34/33/33
9
SOLD OUT 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
10
Item No
1483 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
22–24”
34/33/33
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
Item No
1247 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
18–22”
34/33/33
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
Item No
1215 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
22–24”
50/50
SOLD OUT 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 %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
22–24”
34/33/33
SOLD OUT 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
Item No
1297 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
12–14”
50/50
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 36 to learn more). Introduced 2005
Item No
1262 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
16–18”
34/33/33
Glow Motion ®
A glowing, ever-changing blend 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
Item No
1209 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
22–24”
34/33/33
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
Item No
1272 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
24–26”
34/33/33
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
Item No
1248 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
20–24”
50/50
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 blend that will slow them down. Introduced 1996
16
Item No
1221 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
18–22”
50/50
The Royals ®
A combination of brilliant purple and rich yellow, each color vying for attention. A regal blend with a great range of uses in the garden. Just look at it! Introduced 1990
Item No
1205 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
20–24”
50/50
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
Item No
1211 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
20–24”
34/33/33
17
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 36 to learn more). Introduced 2005
18
Item No
1264 Blend % 8 varieties
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
22–24”
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
19
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 36 to learn more). Introduced 2009
20
Item No
1517 Blend % 4 varieties
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
24–26”
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
Item No
1232 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
24–26”
50/50
SOLD OUT 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
Item No
1574 Blend % 7 varieties
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
20–22”
21
SOLD OUT 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
22
Item No
1270 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
16–18”
50/50
SOLD OUT 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
Item No
1214 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
16–18”
34/33/33
Mira Mira
Soft colors are not synonymous with subtlety. When this pink and yellow blend peaked in our trial garden, cars slowed, pedestrians gawked and a hardened staff member squealed with delight. Pretty powerful stuff. Introduced 2015
Item No
1256 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
24–26”
50/50
23
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+
Height
24–26”
50/50
SOLD OUT Skyliners Imagine if a city were to ask us 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
24
Item No
1276 Blend % 4 varieties
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
18–20"
SOLD OUT 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
Item No
1279 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
16–18”
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
Item No
1432 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
20–24”
50/50
25
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
26
Item No
1238 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
18–20”
34/33/33
SOLD OUT 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+
Height
16–18”
50/50
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
Item No
1451 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
16–20”
34/33/33
27
SOLD OUT 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
28
Item No
1246 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
16–24”
34/33/33
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 %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
18–20”
50/50
Vitamin See
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
Item No
1273 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
15–24”
34/33/33
29
SOLD OUT 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 %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
18–20”
34/33/33
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
30
Item No
1294 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
18–20”
50/50
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
Item No
1225 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
18–22”
50/50
31
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 %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
18–24”
34/33/33
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
32
Item No
1464 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
16–18”
50/50
SOLD OUT 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 %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
18–20”
34/33/33
SOLD OUT 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
Item No
1455 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
16–20”
34/33/33
33
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
34
Item No
1475 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
20–22�
50/50
SOLD OUT 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
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
14–16”
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
Item No
1472 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
18–22”
34/33/33
35
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 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.
36
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 well for more than one year. The best known are the Darwin Hybrids, but other types, such as 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 reasonably good displays from them before you feel the need to replant. You can find a list of these tulips on our website, springdisplays.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, we avoid making promises the bulbs may not keep. We’d rather keep our prices wholesale and our information straight.
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 blends like this one. Easy, beautiful and foolproof. Introduced 2011
Item No
1403 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
20–24”
34/33/33
37
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
38
Item No
1406 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
20–24”
34/33/33
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 %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
18–24”
34/33/33
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
Item No
1488 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
22–24”
50/50
39
SOLD OUT 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 %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
20–22”
Spring Displays: W H AT YO U S E E I S W H AT YO U G ET
Spring Displays selections are developed, planted, evaluated, photographed and presented in this catalog and at springdisplays.com. As simple as some blends appear, they are the distillation of much trial and error. Spring Displays 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 Spring Displays with complete confidence. Accept no substitutes. Go with the real thing. Plant Spring Displays Flowerbulbs. THE RAINBOW COALITION ® PAGE 11
40
50/50
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
Item No
1408 Blend % 4 varieties
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
26–30”
41
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
42
Item No
1443 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
20–24”
34/33/33
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
Item No
1447 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
20–24”
50/50
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
Item No
1421 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
20–24"
50/50
43
SOLD OUT 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
44
Item No
1414 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
23–25�
All Colors
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
Item No
1411 Blend % 5 varieties
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
23–25”
SOLD OUT 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
Item No
1439 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
22–25”
34/33/33
45
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 %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
16–25”
34/33/33
SOLD OUT 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
46
Item No
1514 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
16–25”
34/33/33
SOLD OUT 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 %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
16–25”
34/33/33
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
Item No
1516 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
16–25”
34/33/33
47
SOLD OUT 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 %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
16–25”
34/33/33
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
48
Item No
1518 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
18–24”
34/33/33
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 %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
16–24”
34/33/33
SOLD OUT 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
Item No
1581 Blend %
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
16–24”
34/33/33
49
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.
SOLD OUT 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.
50
Item No
1135
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
20–22”
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
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
22–24”
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.
Item No
1751
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
22–24”
51
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.
52
Item No
1501
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
22–24�
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
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
22–24”
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 36 to learn more).
Item No
1506
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
16–18”
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
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
24–26”
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
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
20–22”
53
SOLD OUT 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.
54
Item No
1239
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
22–24”
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
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
22–24”
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
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
22–24”
SOLD OUT
SOLD OUT 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 125), it absolutely sizzles.
Item No
1507
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
22–24”
55
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 36 to learn more).
56
Item No
1227
Bulb Size
14cm+
Height
24–26”
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
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
24–26”
SOLD OUT 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.
Item No
1228
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
24–26”
57
SOLD OUT 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.
58
Item No
1016
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
14–16�
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
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
22–24”
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
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
6–8”
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
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
16–18”
SOLD OUT 59
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.
60
Item No
1254
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
18–20�
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
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
18–20”
SOLD OUT 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.
Item No
1302
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
22–24”
61
SOLD OUT 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
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
18–20”
SOLD OUT 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.
62
Item No
1962
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
18–20”
SOLD OUT 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
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
15–17”
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
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
22–24”
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 51) and Virichic (above).
Item No
1500
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
22–24”
63
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
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
23–25”
SOLD OUT
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
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
23–25”
SOLD OUT
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
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
23–25”
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
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
23–25”
64
SOLD OUT
SOLD OUT 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
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
26–30”
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
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
26–30”
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
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
26–30”
65
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.
66
Item No Bulb Size Height
6050 Topsize 4–12"
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 Bulb Size Height
1011 6–7cm 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 Bulb Size Height
1022 5–6cm 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 Bulb Size Height
1025 8–9cm 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 Bulb Size Height
1026 5–6cm 8–10”
67
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 66–67, plus several more at springdisplays.com.
68
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
Item No Bulb Size Height
1291 Blend %
34/33/33
5–8cm 8–12”
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
Bulb Size
8cm+
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 Bulb Size Height
1036 9–10cm 11–13”
SOLD OUT 69
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
70
Item No
1578
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
16–22”
SOLD OUT 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
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
16–18”
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
Item No
1570
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
18–24”
71
SOLD OUT Chardonnay
Item No
1573
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
22–24”
Complicated Made
Bunny Hop
Item No
1585
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
16–24”
Easy BedSpreads
ÂŽ
More Choices, More Photos at springdisplays.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
74
Item No Bulb Size Height
3076 14–16cm 12–18”
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
Item No
3065
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
16–18”
75
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.
76
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
Item No Bulb Size Height
3101 14–16cm 12–18”
77
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 80), and Dutch Master (on our website, springdisplays.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
78
Item No
3006
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
14–16”
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
Item No
3010
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
16–18”
79
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
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
16–18”
SOLD OUT Gigantic Star Big, strong, early, perennial. Gigantic Star is what you could call a meat-and-potatoes daffodil. Carlton (page 78) is one of its parents, which explains its durability and why it grows well both North and South. DEER AND RODENT PROOF
80
Item No
3562
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
18–20”
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
Item No Bulb Size Height
3737 14–16cm 16–18”
81
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.
SOLD OUT 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
82
Item No
3017
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
16–18�
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 our trial and display gardens. DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No
3619
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
16–18"
SOLD OUT 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
Item No
3053
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
16–18”
83
SOLD OUT 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
84
Item No
3040
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
16–18”
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 staffer counted 91 flowers. DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No
3060
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
16–18”
SOLD OUT 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
Item No
3302
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
14–16”
85
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
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
16–18”
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
86
Item No Bulb Size Height
3015 14–16cm 13–15”
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
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
14–16”
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
3615
Item No Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
16–18”
SOLD OUT
SOLD OUT 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
Item No
3057
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
14–16”
87
SOLD OUT 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
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
14–18”
SOLD OUT 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
88
Item No
3042
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
14–16”
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
Item No Bulb Size Height
3555 14–16cm 14–16”
SOLD OUT 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
Item No
3317
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
18–20”
89
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.
SOLD OUT 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
90
Item No
3757
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
14–16”
SOLD OUT 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
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
14–18"
SOLD OUT 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
Item No Bulb Size Height
3701 14–16cm 14–16”
91
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
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
16–18”
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
92
Item No Bulb Size Height
3704 14–16cm 14–18”
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
Item No Bulb Size Height
3761 12–16cm 14–20”
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
Item No Bulb Size Height
3703 14–16cm 14–16”
93
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. SpringDisplays 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 SpringDisplays tulip and daffodil bulbs next to bulbs obtained from another source.
94
SPRINGDISPLAYS BULBS
FROM ANOTHER SOURCE
SOLD OUT 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
Item No Bulb Size Height
3710 13–16cm 14–18”
SOLD OUT 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
Item No Bulb Size Height
3770 13–16cm 14–18”
95
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.
SOLD OUT 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
96
Item No
3806
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
14–16”
SOLD OUT 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
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
14–16”
SOLD OUT 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
Item No
3083
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
14–16”
97
SOLD OUT 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
16cm+
Height
14–16"
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.
98
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.
3051
Bulb Size
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
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
16–18”
SOLD OUT
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
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
14–16”
SOLD OUT
Sir Winston Churchill
A double sport of Geranium (page 107), 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
Item No
3512
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
16–18"
99
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
Item No Bulb Size Height
3023 14–16cm 14–16"
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 14–16cm 14–16"
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
100
3802 12–14cm 12–14"
SOLD OUT
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.
SOLD OUT 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
Item No
3624
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
14–16"
101
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
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
13–15”
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
102
Item No
3625
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
16–18"
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
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
14–16”
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
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
14–16"
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
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
16–18"
SOLD OUT
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
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
18–20"
SOLD OUT 103
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
Item No Bulb Size Height
3043 14–16cm 14–16”
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
Item No Bulb Size
14–16cm 14–16"
Height
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
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
16–18"
104
SOLD OUT
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
Item No Bulb Size Height
3058 14–16cm 16–18"
SOLD OUT 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
Item No
3606
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
14–16”
105
SOLD OUT 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
Item No Bulb Size Height
3402 14–16cm 13–15”
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
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
14–16”
SOLD OUT
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
106
3515 12–14cm 14–16"
SOLD OUT
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
Bulb Size
13cm+
Height
14–16”
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
Item No
3048
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
16–18"
107
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
Bulb Size
16cm+
Height
16–18"
SOLD OUT 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
108
Item No
3960
Bulb Size
12cm+
Height
13–15"
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
Item No Bulb Size Height
3046 14–16cm 10–12"
109
SOLD OUT 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 122.) DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No Bulb Size Height
3021 12–14cm 7–9”
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 12–14cm 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
110
3532 12–14cm 12–14"
SOLD OUT
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 12–14cm 8–10”
SOLD OUT
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 10–12cm 7–9"
Baby Boomer
A great name for a great little daffodil. Baby Boomer is a child of Avalanche (page 104) 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 12–14cm 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 12–14cm 10–12"
111
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 125), and magic happens. DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No Bulb Size Height
3595 12–14cm 10–12"
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
112
Item No Bulb Size Height
3044 10–12cm 8–10"
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!
SOLD OUT 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
Item No Bulb Size Height
4052 16–17cm 8–10”
113
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
Item No Bulb Size Height
4057 16–17cm 8–10”
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 16–17cm 8–10"
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
114
4045 16–17cm 8–10"
SOLD OUT
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.
Item No Bulb Size Height
4049 16–17cm 8–10”
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 16–17cm 8–10"
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 16–17cm 8–10"
115
SOLD OUT 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
116
Item No Bulb Size Height
4055 16–17cm 8–10”
SOLD OUT 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
Item No Bulb Size Height
4053 16–17cm 8–10”
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 16–17cm 8–10"
SOLD OUT
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 16–17cm 8–10"
117
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
118
Item No Bulb Size Height
5020 9–10cm 4–6”
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 Bulb Size Height
5021 9–10cm 4–6”
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
Item No
5050
Bulb Size
5cm+
Height
3–4”
119
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.
Item No
6024
Bulb Size
5–7cm
Height
3–4”
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
Bulb Size
5cm+
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
Bulb Size
7cm+
Height
120
5–7”
SOLD OUT
SOLD OUT 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
Item No Bulb Size Height
6051 Topsize 3–9”
121
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 110). 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
Bulb Size
6cm+
Height
5–7”
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
Bulb Size
5cm+
Height
122
3–5”
Item No
6009
Bulb Size
7–8cm
Height
5–7”
SOLD OUT 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
Bulb Size
6cm+
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 Bulb Size Height
6012 5–7cm 4–6”
SOLD OUT
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 Bulb Size Height
6040 Topsize 8–10”
SOLD OUT 123
SOLD OUT 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
124
Item No Bulb Size Height
6004 6–10cm 5–7”
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 Bulb Size Height
6005 9–10cm 5–7”
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.
Item No
6003
Bulb Size
7–8cm
Height
5–7”
125
SOLD OUT 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
Bulb Size
14cm+
Height
24–28”
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
126
Item No
6033
Bulb Size
14cm+
Height
34–38”
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.
Item No
6028
Bulb Size
10cm+
Height
14–18”
127
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.
Alliums
SOLD OUT 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
128
Item No
6018
Bulb Size
20cm+
Height
44–48"
SOLD OUT 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
Item No Bulb Size Height
6019 20–24cm 34–38”
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
6017
Item No Bulb Size
20cm+
Height
42–46"
SOLD OUT
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 24–28cm 44–48"
SOLD OUT 129
Universe
In the beginning, there was Allium giganteum. Then came the reigning king, Globemaster (page 129). 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). DEER RESISTANT
6087
Item No Bulb Size
20cm+
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
Bulb Size
5cm+
Height
10–12"
SOLD OUT
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 Bulb Size Height
6029 5–6cm 10–12"
SOLD OUT
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
Bulb Size
6cm+
Height
130
22–26"
SOLD OUT
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
Item No Bulb Size Height
6023 12–14cm 28–32”
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
Bulb Size
14cm+
Height
18–22"
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 12–14cm 18–22”
131
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.
SOLD OUT 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.
132
Item No Bulb Size Height
7019 32–34cm 18–22”
SOLD OUT 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 32–34cm 18–22”
Amaryllis* GETTING THE MOST FROM
START WITH A BIG BULB.
SpringDisplays 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.
133
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 32–34cm 18–22”
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 32–34cm 18–22”
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 32–34cm 18–22”
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
134
7079 32–34cm 18–22”
SOLD OUT 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.
Item No Bulb Size Height
7081 32–34cm 18–22”
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 32–34cm 18–22”
SOLD OUT
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 32–34cm 18–22”
135
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 32–34cm 18–22”
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 32–34cm 18–22”
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 32–34cm 18–22”
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
136
7052 32–34cm 18–22”
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
Item No Bulb Size Height
32–34cm 18–22”
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
Item No Bulb Size Height
32–34cm 18–22”
SOLD OUT
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.
Item No Bulb Size Height
7029 32–34cm 18–22”
137
Paperwhites
Paperwhites are powerfully fragrant daffodils that will bloom indoors in fall and winter without special treatment. Think of them as living air fresheners.
SOLD OUT 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.
138
Item No Bulb Size Height
3404 16–17cm 18–22”
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. Unconditionally guaranteed. Made in USA. Item No
9032
Length
12"
Blade Width
1³/₄”
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”
Blade Width
1⁵/₈”
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
½"
139
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 springdisplays.com for more information.
R LY DECEMBER & EA
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
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.
Plan
140
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.
BULBS THAT FLOWER IN SPRING MUST BE PLANTED IN FALL. There is no getting around this requirement.
How to
ER
SPRING DISPLAYS 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.
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.
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.
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.
141
Budget Daffodils
Small bulbs sometimes make cents
Time (and size) is money—in the bulb trade and in the green industry. SpringDisplays 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 springdisplays.com. DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No Bulb Size Height
3631 12–14cm 16–18"
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 85. (Also performs well in the South.) DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No Bulb Size Height
3854 12–14cm 14–16”
Carlton LS
An adaptable and enduring two-tone yellow. Blooms a little later than the other big yellows. For jumbo-size bulbs, see page 78. (Also performs well in the South.) DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No Bulb Size Height
142
3852 12–14cm 14–16"
SOLD OUT
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 84. (Also performs well in the South.) DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No Bulb Size Height
3853 12–14cm 16–18”
SOLD OUT
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 12–14cm 14–16"
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 82. DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No Bulb Size Height
3858 12–14cm 16–18”
SOLD OUT
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 12–14cm 16–18”
SOLD OUT 143
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