2023 SPRINGDISPLAYS CATALOG for FALL PLANTING It’s About Spring! ®
Welcome 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.
PUNCH BOWL PAGE 114 CONTENTS Tulips 3 Daffodils 76 Hyacinths 114 Specialty Bulbs 120 Alliums 132 Amaryllises 136 Paperwhites 142 Planting Tools 143 Ordering Information 144 On the cover: Silvaner page 69
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.
Wellspring
A broad blend of 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
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 20–22”
Blend % 6 varieties
3
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
Item No 1206
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 20–24”
Blend % 50/50
4
Shocks and Struts
The full spectrum of pink, from soft to vibrant, cool to warm. Planted closely, the flowers balance each other perfectly, lifting the spring landscape like the suspension of a ’76 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham. Introduced 2023
Trident
Rich purple, bright pink, pure white. Together they make a combination that is saccharine, sugary, or just plain sweet. Four out of five SpringDisplayers recommend this mouthwatering trio for their customers who plant blends. Introduced 2016
Item No 1263 Blend % 5 varieties
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 16–18”
Item No 1271 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 20–24”
5
®
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
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 18–22”
Blend % 34/33/33
Item No 1247
6
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 % 50/50
Bulb Size 12cm+ Height 22–24”
Tall, sturdy, Darwin hybrid tulips in red, yellow, and soft orange. If one must endure winter, oughtn’t there to be a reward on the other side? Here you go: Plant in fall, rejoice in spring. Introduced 1994
Item No 1245 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+ Height 22–24”
Celebration
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
Item No 1481
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 22–24”
Blend % 34/33/33
8
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 primal cheer. This blend is for all winter survivors. Burn, baby, burn! Introduced 2018
Item No 1203 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 22–24”
SpringDisplays: WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET
SpringDisplays 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. SpringDisplays 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 SpringDisplays with complete confidence. Accept no substitutes. Go with the real thing. Plant SpringDisplays Wholesale Flowerbulbs.
THE RAINBOW COALITION ® PAGE 6
Flama Verna
9
Purdy ®
The beauty of this blend is its simplicity. Red, yellow, purple. These are colors tulips do perfectly. These are colors people love instinctively. More than 20 years after its introduction, Purdy remains a customer favorite. Introduced 2001
Item No 1237
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 20–24”
Blend % 34/33/33
10
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
Four-Star
Tulips are just flowers, but they can call to mind a host of other things. For the SpringDisplayer in chief, this blend evokes ribbons worn by a senior officer. You can form your own associations, or simply enjoy the great spring display. Introduced 2020
Item No 1250 Blend % 50/50
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 20–24”
Item No 1485 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 20–24”
11
Polka Dots ®
What is the recipe for a lively spring display? Try this: pure red, pure white, pure yellow. Combine, blend, and plant thickly. SpringDisplays takes care of steps 1 and 2. All you have to do is plant and enjoy. Introduced 2010
Item No 1483
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 22–24”
Blend % 34/33/33
12
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 landscape. Just look at it! Introduced 1990
Wheels Up ®
Red and purple lily-flowered tulips take flight over a frothy sea of double yellows. A bold and beautiful blend that is guaranteed to attract notice. The captain has turned on the fasten seat belt sign. Buckle up! Introduced 2012
Item No 1205 Blend % 50/50
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 20–24”
Item No 1207 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 18 – 24”
®
13
Judy Beauty
A gaggle of closely related tulips in bright, fresh colors. Imagine coming upon a large bed of these lovelies in their glory. We don’t swoon in the 21st century, but you might want to keep smelling salts handy, just in case. Introduced 2020
Torch Song ®
A white and two yellows, each of which is feathered red. They recall the “broken” tulips that were all 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 1479 Blend % 6 varieties
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 20–22”
Item No 1217 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 18–24”
14
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
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
Item No 1215 Blend % 50/50
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 22–24”
Item No 1209 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 22–24”
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
Item No 1221
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 18–22”
Blend % 50/50
16
Three Kings
Lily-flowered tulips resemble stylized crowns, their pointed petals aiming skyward in soft light, arching outward in sun. Rich purple, glowing red, and a yellow with red markings. It’s not too early to practice your curtsy. Introduced 2023
Vitamin See ®
As a SpringDisplayer might say: Man does not live by red alone. And with so many colors to choose from, why should he? This spring tonic comprises a fluffy lemon yellow, a hefty pumpkin orange, and flying above, a lily-like purple. Introduced 2016
Item No 1489 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 22–24”
Item No 1273 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 16–24”
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 41 to learn more). Introduced 2005
Item No 1264 Blend % 8 varieties
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 20–24”
18
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.
NEAR CHICAGO
BIG UPS
BIG UPS IN NEW YORK
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 41 to learn more). Introduced 2009
Item No 1517
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 24–26”
Blend % 4 varieties
20
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
TuaLipa
Apricot and pink goblets rise above vase-shaped blooms that start yellow and mature white. There is something musical about this trio. Maybe it’s the hint of vibrato or the syncopated beat. Either way, it looks as great as it sounds. Introduced 2023
Item No 1225 Blend % 50/50
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 18–22”
Item No 1288 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 16–26”
White Hot ®
21
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
A springflowering bulb’s growth cycle
Item No 1242 Blend % 50/50
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 20–24”
Early Fall Late Fall Early Spring Spring Early Summer
Spring-flowering bulbs have a growth cycle that sets them apart from most other plants. They make roots in the fall, bide their time through winter, emerge and bloom in spring, and go completely dormant in early summer. During their brief period above ground, the plants must store up enough energy to survive their long dormancy, produce roots, and send up leaves and flowers again the following spring—in that order. That is why it is important to let the leaves die back naturally after bloom. If you cut the leaves early, you force the bulb to make sacrifices—starting with the following spring’s flowers.
22
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
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 16–18”
Blend % 50/50
Item No 1270
23
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
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 1219 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 18–24”
Item No 1211 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 20–24”
24
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
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 1279 Blend % 50/50
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 16–18”
Item No 1214 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 16–18”
25
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 41 to learn more).
Introduced 2005
Eyes Breaker
In search of a word that describes this blend. “Snappy” comes to mind. The dictionary says, “3. Full of snap, or life, briskness, pungency, smartness, etc.” That’s it exactly! These tulips push through winter to herald the color of spring. Introduced 2022
Item No
1262
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 16–18”
Blend % 34/33/33
Item No
1200
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 16–18”
Blend % 34/33/33
26
Pink Margarita ®
Two bright and beautiful Darwin hybrid tulips. They are always the life of the garden party. Use this blend where you want to attract notice. It will not disappoint. Introduced 1995
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 1234 Blend % 50/50
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 20–26”
Item No 1232 Blend % 50/50
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 24–26”
27
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.
Item No 1238
Bulb Size 12cm+
Introduced 2008
Height 18–20”
Blend % 34/33/33
28
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
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
Item No 1283 Blend % 50/50
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 18–20”
Item No 1294 Blend % 50/50
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 18–20”
29
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
Item No 1246
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 12–24”
Blend % 34/33/33
30
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
Mucho Gusto
A sumptuous blend of large-flowered double tulips in various shades of yellow and red. They offer the kind of embrace you get from a good friend you haven’t seen in years—warm, inviting, satisfying. Introduced 2023
Item No 1442 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+ Height 18–20”
Item No 1487 Blend % 4 varieties
Bulb Size 12cm+ Height 16–20”
31
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
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 1267 Blend % 50/50
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 16–18”
Item No 1461 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 16–18”
32
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
Pillow Talk
A soft rose with white and a creamy yellow touched with pink. The semi-double flowers open to wide, shallow bowls. Give this beautiful combination pride of place, and plant thickly. (Shown here with Grape Hyacinths, page 127.) Introduced 2000
Item No 1453 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+ Height 16–20”
Item No 1464 Blend % 50/50
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 16–18”
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
Item No 1475
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 20–22”
Blend % 50/50
34
See View Plait ®
Three stunning tulips—a two-tone purple, 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
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 1472 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 18–22”
Item No 1456 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 18–24”
35
®
Happy Together
This blend fires on all cylinders. The colors—yellow, orange, and pink—play off of each other. Bloom overlap is very close. And the small differences in height and shape provide vitality. What’s not to like? Introduced 2014
Item No 1443
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 20–24”
Blend % 34/33/33
36
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
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 1439 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 20–25”
Item No 1525 Blend % 50/50
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 20–22”
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
Height 20–24”
Item No 1406
Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+
38
Mellow Drama
Tulips can set a scene, create a mood, even tell a story. Here we have a feel-good play starring a passionate pink, a merry mauve, and their serious but indecisive suitor. Curious to know how it ends? There’s only one way to find out. Introduced 2022
Item No 1400 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 20–25”
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 % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 20–24”
39
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 % 4 varieties
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 23–25”
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 % 50/50
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 20–24"
40
Perennial Tulips?
the straight dope
IT’S A COMMON FRUSTRATION:
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 had tulips that bloomed every spring for as long as she could remember. Did I do something wrong?”
PAMPERED BEGINNINGS
More than likely, you are not to blame. It’s in the nature of tulips. Most tulips are not strong perennializers in the landscape. They don’t flower well the second year after planting.
Why don’t tulips come back? The tulip bulbs you buy and plant in the fall have been groomed to bloom. They were raised in sandy Dutch soil and fertilized in just the right measure. When they bloomed in the spring, the flowers were cut off soon after they opened to keep them from drawing too much energy from the bulbs. The leaves were allowed to continue to grow for another six weeks in the famously cool Dutch weather. After going dormant in early summer, the bulbs were dug and stored in a climate-controlled warehouse to mimic a long, hot, bone-dry summer in the mountains of Central Asia, which is where most tulips are native.
SPLITSVILLE USA
All of this TLC yields a high percentage of flowering-size bulbs, including many topsize bulbs, which measure 12 centimeters in circumference or larger. A topsize bulb can’t get bigger, but it will get smaller, typically by splitting into two or more smaller bulbs. Under less-than-perfect garden conditions, when the bulbs split into smaller bulbs, those smaller bulbs may take years to grow to flowering size. Some may also rot due to heavy soil or excess moisture. And so your breathtaking tulip display dwindles to little or nothing.
BUCKING THE ODDS
Despite the obstacles, there are some tulips that are willing (but not guaranteed) to bloom for more than one year. The best known are the Darwin hybrids, but the Fosterianas and many of the wild, or species, tulips also have perennial tendencies. They won’t keep going indefinitely, but it’s possible to get two or three reasonable displays from them before you feel the need to replant. You can find a list of these tulips on our website, springdisplays.com, under Tulip Bulbs, 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, SpringDisplays avoids making promises the bulbs may not keep. We’d rather keep our prices wholesale and our information straight.
41
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.
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 just 2–3 inches apart. Introduced 2006
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 1514 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+ Height 16–25”
Item No 1515 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+ Height 16–25”
42
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
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 1516 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+ Height 16–25”
Item No 1512 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+ Height 16–25”
43
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
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 from a distance as fiery orange. The finale is a lily-flowered tulip in sunset shades. Introduced 2009
Item No 1513 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 16–24”
Item No 1518 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 18–24”
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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
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 break a sweat. Introduced 2011
Item No 1583 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 16–24”
Item No 1581 Blend % 34/33/33
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 16–24”
45
Squared Tulip Blends
Some customers want extended bloom but can’t afford a delay in planting annuals. The solution: Squared Blends, which combine an early and a midseason tulip.
Red Squared
Red on red, early-mid and mid, to provide a long-running and bold spring show. Plant a little closer than usual to ensure a full display. For even more warmth, see Red-Yellow Squared and Orange Squared at springdisplays.com. Introduced 2015
Pink Squared
Two pinks—one soft, one with red tones—for an extended but not overextended spring display. Both are strong landscape varieties. Introduced 2015
Item No 1590 Blend % 50/50
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 16–24”
Item No 1593 Blend % 50/50
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 16–24”
46
Yellow Squared
Yellow times yellow equals a long run of glowing spring color. The varieties have been selected for sequential bloom and the bulbs have been mixed to save you the trouble. More Squared blends are available at springdisplays.com. Introduced 2015
White Squared
Looking to light up the landscape next spring? White Squared will do the trick. Two varieties, twice the lumens. The early variety starts creamy and turns white. The mid variety is pure white from start to finish. Introduced 2015
Item No 1591 Blend % 50/50
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 16–24”
Item No 1592 Blend % 50/50
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 16–24”
47
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.
Graceland
The flowers start creamy and mature pure white, the petals all the while edged with raspberry red. What the photograph can’t tell you: The flowers are large and the stems exceptionally sturdy. Graceland is an outstanding landscape tulip.
Item No 1172
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 20–22”
48
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.
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.
Item No 1556
Bulb Size 12cm+ Height 26–30”
Item No 1135
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 20–22”
49
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.
Item No 1501
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 20–24”
50
Best Pink
Magnificent, vivid pink tulips on stout stems. Flowers grow to enormous size. Unsurpassed for borders and mass plantings. Strong perennial tendencies (see page 41 to learn more). This variety is also known as Pink Impression.
Item No 1505
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 24–26”
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 20–24”
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 41 to learn more).
Item No 1506
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 16–18”
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”
51
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.
Item No 1239
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 18–20”
52
Gudoshnik
A remarkable tulip loved for its variegated blooms. The flowers vary from an almost plain creamy peach to a deep rich red, with all possibilities in between. A wealth of colors that has to be seen to be believed. Gudoshnik means “artist” in Russian.
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 127), it absolutely sizzles.
Item No 1507
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 22–24”
Orange Emperor
Vase-shaped blooms of the most beautiful soft orange, sometimes brushed with green toward the base. On sunny days, their petals arch outward, recalling magnolia flowers. Orange Emperor is a fosteriana tulip, which means it’s an early bloomer.
Item No 1608
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 17–19”
Item No 1252
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 22–24”
53
Big Eartha ®
A spectacular pink tulip, so large and vigorous it’s hard to believe it’s real. As the flowers expand, their satin pink coloring slowly deepens to a rich rose. Can return for several springs (see page 41 to learn more).
Item No 1227
Bulb Size 14cm+
Height 24–26”
54
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.
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 1229
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 24–26”
Item No 1228
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 24–26”
55
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 and goes on and on.
Item No 1016
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 14–16”
56
El Niño
This tulip is beautifully indecisive. Its flowers can be amber or orange, or both at the same time, often with stripes and speckles of red. No two flowers are alike. Plant in quantity to see the full range of possibility. El Niño can set a bed on fire.
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. Can bloom well beyond the first spring (see page 41 to learn more).
Item No 1060
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 6–8”
Orange Balloon
The name tells you most of what you need to know. Big flowers with a distinctly oval shape. They are orange, yes, leaning to the red end of that spectrum. Excellent with yellows and purples. Outstanding when floating above a river of Grape Hyacinths (page 127).
Item No 1345
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 20–22”
Item No 1701
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 26–30”
57
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”
58
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.
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 1254
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 18–20”
Item No 1286
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 18–20”
59
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. Brings out the best in a variety of other late tulips, including Virichic (below), Menton (facing page), and Aveyron (available at springdisplays.com).
Item No 1500
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 22–24”
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”
Marilyn
A pure white, lily-flowered tulip with raspberry flames. Marilyn is strikingly beautiful. Planted closely in a bed, she makes a head-turning mass display. Also lovely sprinkled through a perennial border or cottage garden.
Item No 1433
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 20–22”
Design Impression
The Impression tulips come in many flavors. This one is especially tasty. Soft pink with a flame that starts green and turns warm before disappearing almost completely. Adding to the appeal of the flowers: The leaves have a fine creamy edge.
Item No 1323
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 24–26"
60
Finola
Finola is an ugly duckling. The buds are funky, the unfurling petals often awkward. And then, suddenly: Beauty that defies description. That’s Finola for you. Hang in there. Ravishing pink-and-white blooms are in your future.
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 many other late tulips. Great for cutting, too.
Item No 1619
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 23–25”
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”
Item No 1964
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 16–18"
61
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”
Anatolia
This variety is a throwback to the “needle” tulips prized by the sultans of the Ottoman Empire. It has the narrow-waisted, vase shape of a lily-flowered variety, but the tips of the petals taper to sharp points. Distinctive and beautiful. Limited supply.
Item No 1765
Bulb Size 11–12cm
Height 22–26”
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”
Kingsblood
Deep red goblets on tall, sturdy stems. Kingsblood has become the late red tulip. Works nicely with most other late varieties. Plant the bulbs closely, and they will glow like a bed of hot coals in the spring landscape.
Item No 1562
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 20–22"
62
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.
Hakuun
Most white tulips start creamy yellow before turning white. Hakuun is pure white pretty much from start to finish. And it’s a Darwin hybrid, which means that it is a great performer in the landscape. The name is pronounced hah-KOON.
Item No 1302
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 22–24”
Item No 1314
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 22–24”
63
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 lovelies with three muscari and a dwarf daffodil for a colorful, long-running display. Introduced 2006.
Bulb Size Topsize Height 4–12"
Item No 6050
64
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 darlings. The species is native to the island of Crete.
Item No 1011
Bulb Size 6–7cm
Height 8–10”
Tinka
Soft yellow flowers with broad stripes of currant red on the outer petals. They open broadly in the sun to make a constellation of creamy stars. Plant thickly for impact, or cluster in tight bouquets. Tinka is hybrid of Tulipa clusiana, which is native to Afghanistan and Tibet.
Item No 1035
Bulb Size 6–8cm
Height 10–12”
Little Beauty
The name is just right. Flowers open at ground level among spidery leaves and stretch to a teetering 4 inches or so. They are a cool magenta with a blue base edged white. Wait a minute. Blue? This indigo-eyed beauty winks at the experts who say tulips can’t do blue.
Item No 1044
Bulb Size 6cm+
Height 4 – 6”
Praestans Shogun
The flowers are a beautiful but hard-to-describe color—pumpkin, perhaps, with light red speckles— and are carried several per stem, forming little bouquets. On sunny days, they reveal blue-black stamens. The species can be found in Tajikistan.
Item No 1036
Bulb Size 9–10cm
Height 11–13”
65
Wildfyre
A pair of multiflowered wild tulips that light up the landscape like a conflagration. Plants are compact (just a foot tall) and bloom earlier than the big hybrids. Space the bulbs closely to create a dense stand of glowing spring color. Introduced 2016
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. It is native to the Tien-Shan Mountains in China.
Item No 1025
Bulb Size 8–9cm
Height 5–7”
Linifolia
The flowers open to shining scarlet stars with black hearts. Linifolia makes quite a splash in the rock garden. Also excellent along the edge of a path or a well-drained flower bed. It grows wild in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, northern Iran, and Afghanistan.
Item No 1022
Bulb Size 5cm +
Height 8–10”
Item No 1266 Blend % 50/50
Bulb Size 9–10cm
Height 11–13”
66
You know it’s fall planting time when…
You start bringing blankets to the football game
Fall nighttime temperatures stay between 40° and 50°F
The fall foliage has moved just past peak
Squirrels are digging in acorns as fast they can
BIRDS START GROUPING
Soil temperatures in your area are approaching 55°F
You wake up in the middle of the night and look for a blanket
THE GRAPES ARE RIPENING ON THE VINE
You don’t hear crickets anymore
You say, for the first time
While driving, you see leaves bouncing along the interstate
YOU START TURNING THE HEAT ON IN YOUR CAR
In the NORTH you start closing windows In the SOUTH you start backing off the air conditioning
The mesquite trees lose their leaves
YOU START TO SMELL WOOD SMOKE
Winesap and Wolf River apples start turning RED
You no longer have to dodge night-flying bugs to get in the front door
You get your first KILLING FROST
The hummingbirds are gone
THE HOSTAS START TO LIE DOWN
YOU SEE TRUCKS ON THE ROAD LOADED WITH FIREWOOD
Your OLD WORK SHOES aren’t keeping your feet warm anymore
THE DEER ARE LOSING VELVET ON THEIR ANTLERS
Brown trout startspawning
“Man it’s COLD out”
T HEREISFRO ST ONYOUR W I N DLEIHSD NI T EH GNINROM
THE RAGWEED STOPS BLOOMING
67
BedSpreads ®
Lemony Remedy
Yellow is bright. Yellow is cheerful. Yellow gets noticed. Want viewers to come in for a closer look? Plant this sunshine blend, which includes touches of white, cream, red, and green. Introduced 2021
Want to fill a large area with color? Try a BedSpread®: a blend of four or more varieties that offers a range of colors, bloom times, heights, or textures and often all of the above.
Item No 1588 Blend % 6 varieties
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 18 – 26”
68
Vidal
Looking to increase the wattage of your spring display? Consider this blend of whites and creams, accented here and there with green. At dawn and dusk, it shimmers, sparkles, and shines. No batteries required. Introduced 2018
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. Introduced 2018
Item No 1577 Blend % 5 varieties
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 16 – 24”
Item No 1578 Blend % 5 varieties
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 16–22”
69
Chardonnay
This blend evokes the buttery warmth of a well-oaked California chardonnay. A sip is nice, but when a planting comes into its own, you’ll want to don your bathing suit and dive in. Introduced 2016
Item No 1573
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 22–24”
Blend % 5 varieties
70
Power Play
Strong tulips in strong colors. The show starts in midseason and carries on to the end. Fill a bed with theses beauties, and you’ll be able to sell tickets to recoup your investment.
Introduced 2021
Super Collider
What would happen if you put tulip bulbs into a particle accelerator and set them on a collision course? Here’s one answer: An explosion of color and texture that will amaze and delight. Introduced 2021
Item No 1597 Blend % 5 varieties
Bulb Size 12cm+ Height 20–24”
Item No 1840 Blend % 6 varieties
Bulb Size 12cm+ Height 16–24”
71
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 increments of 500 only, because that’s the number needed for a balanced show. Introduced 2015
Item No 1570
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 18–24”
Blend % 5 varieties
72
Nightingale
This BedSpread is music to the eyes. It consists of high notes and low notes, sharp notes and soft notes. Together they make a pleasing song in the key of sweet. Introduced 2022
Pinotage
A fine example from an outstanding vintage. Purple, deep burgundy, and maroon, with delicious pink notes. Can’t be absorbed with a single glance. The eye wants to pause and drink it all in.
Introduced 2015
Item No 1599 Blend % 5 varieties
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 16–30”
Item No 1571 Blend % 6 varieties
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 18–24”
73
KING-SIZE
Gamay
Item No 1572 Blend % 6 varieties
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 14-24"
Bouquet Beaucoup
Item No 1587 Blend % 5 varieties
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 16-24"
Plant
BedSpread ® Beaujolais Item No 1584 Blend % 5 varieties Bulb Size 12cm+ Height 16-22"
KING-SIZE BED?
a
Daffodils for Naturalizing
The daffodils on these pages are selected for their vigor and naturalizing capabilities. Their hefty bulbs will typically produce 2 or more flowers the first spring.
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 3101
Bulb Size 14–16cm
Height 12–18”
76
The Gold Shoulder ®
A blend of tough, dependable daffodils, one gold, one white with a yellow cup that turns ivory. Given half a day of sun or more and well-drained soil, the bulbs can increase their number from year to year. Excellent for landscaping and low-maintenance plantings. Introduced 1997
DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Bulb Size 16cm+
Height 16–18”
Item No 3065
77
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
Item No 3076
Bulb Size 14–16cm
Height 12–18”
Spring Loaded ®
78
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: Dutch Master (below), Marieke (page 80), Gigantic Star and Lucky Number (page 81), and Carlton (on our website, springdisplays.com). These showy and affordable varieties are the current gold standard-bearers.
Dutch Master
RODENT PROOF
The most widely grown of the yellow trumpets. Like King Alfred before it, it has become the standard yellow daffodil. In fact, many suppliers still list King Alfred, but they usually ship Dutch Master. Sold in bags of 200 only. DEER AND
Item No 3630 Bulb Size 16cm+ Height 16–18” 79
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 long lasting. The name is pronounced mar–EE–keh. DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No 3010
80
Bulb Size 16cm+ Height 16–18”
Gigantic Star
Big, strong, early, perennial. Gigantic Star is what you could call a meat-and-potatoes daffodil. Carlton (available on our website) is one of its parents, which explains its durability and why it grows well both North and South. DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Lucky Number
Many familiar daffodils are in decline. When a grower finds that a variety does not yield as it once did or that demand for it is falling, he moves on to new varieties. Like Lucky Number. Behold the future of yellow daffodils. DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No 3562
Bulb Size 16cm+
Height 18–20”
Item No 3318
Bulb Size 15cm+
Height 16 – 18”
81
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 3737
Bulb Size 14–16cm
82
Height 16–18”
Landscape Daffodils
These daffodils, along with the traditional yellows, form the backbone of a landscape planting. They are floriferous and showy and priced for volume purchases.
Cornish King
A Dutch daffodil that has English roots and offers excellent landscape performance in the United States. Its large flowers have white petals and a big yellow trumpet. A standout in the SpringDisplays trial and display gardens.
Bulb Size 16cm+ Height 16–18"
DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No 3619
83
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
Bulb Size 16cm+
Height 18–20”
Item No 3317
84
Brackenhurst
Yellow petals encircle a cup of intense orange. Excellent for mass planting: Brackenhurst attracts attention over a long distance. Good perennial, too. Six years after planting 25 bulbs, a SpringDisplayer counted 91 flowers. DEER AND RODENT PROOF
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 excellent for naturalizing from Bismarck to Baton Rouge. We call it “Nice Follies.” DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No 3060
Bulb Size 16cm+ Height 16–18”
Item No 3040
Bulb Size 16cm+
Height 16–18”
85
Cornish Dawn
Bright yellow petals surround an orange cup that can vary in intensity from one year to the next. The flowers are plentiful and tend to become more so as the years pass. They are also sweetly fragrant. DEER AND RODENT PROOF
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 3210
Bulb Size 14–16cm
Height 16–18”
Item No 3057
Bulb Size 16cm+
Height 14–16”
86
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.
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 among the best daffodils for naturalizing.
DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No 3017
Bulb Size 16cm+
Height 16–18”
Mount Hood
Mount Hood has been around since the 1930s but remains the best known and most widely grown of the all-white daffodils. A strong performer, North and South. The nose opens creamy yellow and matures an even bright white.
DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No 3302
Bulb Size 16cm+
Height 14–16”
DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No 3053
Bulb Size 16cm+
Height 16–18”
87
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
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
Item No 3052
Bulb Size 16cm+
Height 14–18”
Item No 3042
Bulb Size 16cm+
Height 14–16”
88
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
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”
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 3555
Bulb Size 14–16cm
Height 14–16”
Item No 3015
Bulb Size 14–16cm
Height 13–15”
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.
Oh Pairs ®
A blend of two double daffodils drawn from the same gene pool. Excellent for cutting or the assembly of outsized corsages. And if you’re in the market for a memorable daffodil display, you can stop here. Introduced 2008 DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No 3757
Bulb Size 16cm+
Height 14–16”
90
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
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 3715
Bulb Size 16cm+
Height 14–18"
Item No 3750
Bulb Size 16cm+
Height 16–18”
91
Bloom Factory
A blend of multiflowered daffodils in pale yellow, gold, and white. When planted closely, they make a sheet of color so dense you can hardly see leaves, let alone the ground. They are richly scented, too. Introduced 2020 DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Topsy Turvy
This is a head-scratcher. How did hibiscus flowers find their way into the company of daffodils? Well, believe it or not, these two are daffodils. They provide a taste of the tropics as winter finally yields to spring. Introduced 2021 DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No 3706
Bulb Size 14cm+
Height 13–15”
Item No 3709
Bulb Size 16cm+
Height 13 – 16”
92
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
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 3710
Bulb Size 13–16cm
Height 14–18”
Item No 3703
Bulb Size 12–14cm
Height 14–16”
93
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
Bridge Builders
Aficionados classify daffodils by division. This trio contends that they are better together. It is a happy marriage of a largecup, a double, and a split-corona variety. Makes for a lively and attractive display. Introduced 2021 DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No 3704
Bulb Size 14–16cm
Height 14–18”
Item No 3708
Bulb Size 16cm+
Height 13 – 18”
94
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
Golden Earring
A blend of six varieties. All are yellow with an orange accent. Excellent for naturalizing. Terrific massed wherever you want to draw attention. Sold only in increments of 300 to ensure a balanced show. Introduced 2017 DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No 3761
Bulb Size 13–16cm
Height 14–20”
Item No 3770
Bulb Size 13–16cm
Height 14–18”
95
Double Daffodils
A double daffodil is much more than a single with extra petals. Each bloom is an amazingly intricate confection. You’ll want to cut a few for closer study.
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
Height 14–16”
Item No 3056
Bulb Size 16cm+
96
Sir Winston Churchill
A double sport of Geranium (page 105), with the fragrance to prove it. Each stem bears clusters of 2–6 white flowers with flecks of orange in the middle. Their scent is fresh and sweet. Great for cutting.
DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Flower Parade
Double white blooms with bright orange petals in the center. Flower Parade is a child of Tahiti (facing page) and exhibits similar vigor. Also makes a beautiful spring bouquet.
DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No 3512
Bulb Size 16cm+
Height 16–18"
Item No 3083
Bulb Size 16cm+
Height 14–16”
97
Double Sunrise
Double the petals and a profusion of activity in the center: pointed bits and ruffles in yellow and orange. Showy in the landscape and, as is true for most double daffodils, excellent for cutting. DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No 3813
Bulb Size 16cm+ Height 15–17"
To get the most from follow these 3 basic rules
Daffodils want to be perennial. All they need is a little help from you.
1 2 3
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.
Plant them in soil that drains well. Avoid areas where water stands after a rain storm.
After they 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.
98
Delnashaugh
Double creamy white blooms enriched by fluffy peach-pink segments. An uncommon and uncommonly fetching daffodil. Try it with Grape Hyacinths (page 127) or our blend of grape hyacinths, Cobalt Sea (page 126). DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No 3051
Bulb Size 16cm+
Height 14–16"
99
SPITZ ENGE FÜHL
WE WILL SHIP NO FLOWERBULB BEFORE ITS TIME
Fingerspitzengefühl is a German expression that means having a feeling about how something has to be done. Dutch bulb growers use this expression to decide when flowerbulbs are ready to be harvested and shipped.
You cannot predict when bulbs will be ready for digging and shipping, but if you know just by feeling that the time is right, you call it “fingerspitzengefühl,” which means literally “the feeling in the tips of your fingers.”
Bulbs in general, and especially daffodils, need to mature after harvesting. Harvest time for daffodils is late July or early August. The bulbs are dug by machine and dropped on the soil. The wind and sun can then dry them out in the open, fresh air. The daffodils need to lose more than 20 percent of their water weight before the end of August. If they are left in the open for at least two weeks, much of the drying will be done naturally. The rest of the drying takes place in a warehouse in large kuubskisten (wooden boxes).
THE TYRANNY OF THE CALENDAR
The problem is that bulb growers are being forced to harvest and ship daffodils too early. Why? The exporters in the Netherlands want to take delivery of the bulbs before August 10 and sometimes before August 5, so they can ship daffodils with their other bulbs (tulips, crocuses, etc.) to the United States.
Why so early? Their customers in the U.S., the buyers for the big box stores, demand that bulbs be delivered by late August. That way the bulbs are on display for an extra two weeks before the Halloween and Christmas merchandise pushes them off the shelves. The negative early spiral continues when the local garden center owner, who usually knows better, feels forced to have his bulbs delivered early for competitive reasons.
EXCESS MOISTURE SPELLS TROUBLE
If you honor this schedule, it is impossible to give daffodils a proper drying. You have to take the bulbs from the field within a week after digging them. The moisture in the bulbs has much more difficulty escaping during the grading, packing, and shipping process. Or it doesn’t come out at all.
The result is daffodils that are not mature. They will be stored and shipped in an environment with higher humidity because of the moisture they continue to release. This humidity provides an ideal environment for all kinds of fungus to grow and damage the bulbs.
How much moisture are we talking about? 100,000 doublenose daffodil bulbs weigh about 22,000 pounds. If they need to lose another 10 percent of their weight after packing, we are talking about 2,200 pounds (263 gallons) of water per 100,000 daffodils. That is a lot of extra moisture that is trapped in the packages.
FIRST: DO NO HARM
The bulb industry is not collectively strong enough to “just say wait.” But at SpringDisplays, we won’t start shipping until the first day of fall, around September 22. We may lose business because of this policy. Having a customer tell us to deliver early, when the bulbs are not ready and temperatures are still too warm, is not an option. It would be like telling a winemaker to harvest his grapes early so the bottles can be on the shelf a little sooner. With agriculture and nature, you need patience. You can’t tell a flowerbulb when it is ready. The flowerbulb tells the grower. Usually through the fingers.
GER
FIN
100
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
Golden Delicious
Double yellow flowers borne in pairs (sometimes threes). What makes them “delicious” is their fragrance, which is light and sweet. You can stoop to enjoy it, or you can save your knees by cutting a few stems and bringing them indoors.
DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No 3811
Bulb Size 12–14cm
Height 14–16"
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.) Pairs beautifully with Hyacinth Purple Sensation (page 118). DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No 3081
Bulb Size 16cm+
Height 14–16”
Item No 3023
Bulb Size 14–16cm
Height 14–16"
101
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.
Tom Pouce
This is a daffodil to fall in love with. Creamy yellow petals, apricot cup, white halo where cup and petals meet. Visitors may stop and gawk. No, it’s not polite to stare, but you really can’t blame them. Tom Pouce is adorable.
DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No 3629
Bulb Size 16cm+
Height 14–16”
102
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
Yellow Ocean
The Dutch grower says this variety grows “like a weed.” Last thing one wants is another weed, but a fragrant 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
Item No 3402
Bulb Size 14–16cm
Height 13–15”
Item No 3960
Bulb Size 12cm+
Height 13–15"
103
Ceylon
Ceylon has everything you could want in a daffodil. Its flowers are upward facing 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
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 3064
Bulb Size 16cm+
Height 16–18"
Item No 3623
Bulb Size 16cm+
Height 16–18"
104
Kedron
Kedron calls attention to itself, drawing first the eye and then the nose. The petals are an unusual apricot-yellow. They set off a small orange cup. Close inspection reveals a sweet scent. Can handle northern cold and southern heat. DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Avalanche
A very old (100+ years) daffodil that is still valued for its strong scent and sheer abundance of bloom: Each stem from an established bulb bears 8, 10, sometimes 15 flowers. Thrives in the South and on the West Coast but can’t take northern winters.
DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No 3018
Bulb Size 14–16cm
Height 14–16"
Geranium
A multiflowered daffodil that bears 2–6 deliciously fragrant blossoms per stem. Petals are white, the tiny cups orange. An old-time 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"
Item No 3549
Bulb Size 13cm+
Height 14–16”
105
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
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 3515
Bulb Size 10–12cm
Height 14–16"
Joyce Spirit
Joyce Spirit is a recent introduction with a bright future. The petals are white, the cup orange, ringed with yellow 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 16–18"
Item No 3624
Bulb Size 16cm+
Height 14–16"
106
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"
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"
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 3058
Bulb Size 12–14cm
Height 16–18"
107
Miniature Daffodils
Miniature daffodils are adorable and affordable. They’re great for edging a bed or border, lining a walk you use often, or topping a retaining wall with spring color.
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.
(Blue Squill, page 123, is the ideal partner.)
DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No 3021
Bulb Size 12–14cm
Height 7–9”
108
Elka
Elka is a darling daffodil that stands no more than 8 inches tall. Its petals are white, its cup soft yellow upon opening. At maturity, the flowers are pure white. They twinkle above the grassy foliage like a galaxy of little stars. DEER AND RODENT PROOF
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 3532
Bulb Size 12–14cm
Height 12–14"
Mary Poppins
Mary Poppins is a cute little thing, but one might ask: What’s it doing in the daffodil list? Well, believe it or not, it is a daffodil, a bulbocodium daffodil. It bears a profusion of bell-shaped flowers that start creamy yellow and turn almost pure white. DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No 3107
Bulb Size 5-7cm
Height 9-11"
Item No 3320
Bulb Size 8–10cm
Height 6–8”
109
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
Baby Boomer
A great name for a great little daffodil. Baby Boomer is a child of Avalanche (page 105) 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 3544
Bulb Size 12–14cm
Height 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 3202
Bulb Size 12–14cm
Height 10–12"
Item No 3047
Bulb Size 12–14cm
Height 8–10”
110
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
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 127), and magic happens. DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No 3046
Bulb Size 14–16cm
Height 10–12"
Item No 3595
Bulb Size 12–14cm
Height 10–12"
111
Budget Daffodils
Fortune LS
Yellow with a soft orange cup that turns yellow as the flowers mature. When it was introduced 100 years ago, Fortune was one of the most coveted daffodils in the world. Now available for a song. (Also good in the South.) DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Small bulbs sometimes make cents
SpringDisplays prides itself on shipping big bulbs for maximum impact. But if the budget is tight, these smaller, Landscape Size (LS) bulbs can be a great value.
Item No 3007
Bulb Size 12–14cm
Height 14–16"
112
Dutch Master LS
Dutch Master is the most widely grown of the yellow trumpets. Like King Alfred before it, it has become the standard early yellow daffodil. For jumbo-size bulbs see page 79.
DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No 3631
Bulb Size 12–14cm
Height 16–18"
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 85. (Also performs well in the South.)
DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No 3853
Bulb Size 12–14cm
Height 16–18”
Carlton LS
An adaptable and enduring two-tone yellow. Blooms a little later than the other big yellows. Jumbo-size bulbs available at springdisplays.com. (Also performs well in the South.)
DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No 3852
Bulb Size 12–14cm
Height 14–16"
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 87. (Also performs well in the South.) DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Item No 3854
Bulb Size 12 – 14cm
Height 14 – 16”
113
Hyacinths
After a winter spent breathing stale indoor air, you can’t help but revel in the sweet scent of hyacinths. But wear gloves when planting the bulbs in the fall. They can make you itch!
Punch Bowl
Some like it sweet. Apricot, cherry, and banana, with a splash of pink grapefruit. Spiked, for good measure, with a scent that will make you giddy. Grab a ladle and call the dentist. You’re going to need to move up your appointment. Introduced 2021
Item No 4002
Bulb Size 16 – 17cm
Height 8 – 10”
114
Scentsimilla
Pastel blue, pink, and yellow. The softness of the colors belies the intensity of the fragrance. A hundred flowers can perfume a garden; a handful can freshen a room. And don’t worry: It’s perfectly OK to let them go to your head. Introduced 2020
Saints Parade
Not so long ago, hyacinths were almost always sold and planted separately. Today, you can choose from beautiful and incredibly fragrant blends like this one. Soft pink, purple-blue, and white. Better together. Introduced 2014
Item No 4001
Bulb Size 16–17cm
Height 8–10”
Item No 4057
Bulb Size 16–17cm
Height 8–10”
115
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
Item No 4055
Bulb Size 16–17cm
Height 8–10”
116
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 early yellow daffodils like Marieke (page 80). Smells as good as it looks.
Yellowstone
Yellowstone has, arguably, the best yellow color in a hyacinth to date. It’s a rich butter yellow that sings with any other color a hyacinth can make. It does fade as the flowers age, but having started darker, it ends darker, never blanching completely, as some varieties do.
Item No 4068
Bulb Size 16–17cm
Height 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 4045
Bulb Size 16–17cm
Height 8–10"
Item No 4049
Bulb Size 16–17cm
Height 8–10”
117
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 4047
Bulb Size 16–17cm
Height 8–10"
Purple Sensation
Dense clusters of fragrant, rich purple blooms—lighter at the margins—on thick stems. There’s no need to stoop to detect the scent of a hyacinth; it comes to you.
Item No 4048
Bulb Size 16–17cm
Height 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 4050
Bulb Size 16–17cm
Height 8–10"
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 4044
Bulb Size 16–17cm
Height 8–10"
Carnegie
118
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
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 4052
Bulb Size 16–17cm
Height 8–10”
Item No 4053
Bulb Size 16–17cm
Height 8–10”
119
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.
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, where it looks perfectly natural. It needs full sun and thrives in moist, or even wet, soil. DEER RESISTANT
Item No 6033
Bulb Size 14cm+
Height 34–38”
Camassia Camassia leichtlinii ‘Caerulea’
120
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
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 5020
Bulb Size 9–10cm
Height 4–6”
Item No 5021
Bulb Size 9–10cm
Height 4–6”
121
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. White starts first, followed by creamy yellow, and finally rich purple. Hello, spring! Introduced 2015
Item No 5050
Bulb Size 5cm+
Height 3–4”
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”
122
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 5–7”
Iris Harmony
Iris reticulata
Harmony is a diminutive and very early lavender-blue iris that grows from a bulb. Its display is brief, but if the bulbs are planted thickly, they put on a memorable show. Best in full sun and in soil that is very well drained. DEER RESISTANT
Item No 6064
Bulb Size 6cm+
Height 4–6”
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"
Blue Squill
Scilla siberica
Blue squill is great 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 108). DEER RESISTANT
Item No 6009
Bulb Size 7–8cm
Height 5–7”
123
Woodland Blend
A blend of five early bloomers that 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
Item No 6051
Bulb Size Topsize
Height 3–9”
124
Snake’s
Head
Fritillaria meleagris
Pointed buds open to maroon (occasionally white), bell-shaped blooms. Snake’s Head looks like a wildflower and is best used as such—in a meadow, under trees, around shrubs. Happiest in part shade and evenly moist soil. DEER RESISTANT
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 3–5”
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”
Item No 6039
Bulb Size 6cm+
Height 10–12”
125
Cobalt Sea
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
Item No 6004
Bulb Size 6–10cm
Height 5–7”
126
Grape
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.
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 6005
Bulb Size 9–10cm
Height 5–7”
Item No 6003
Bulb Size 7–8cm
Height 7–14”
Hyacinth Muscari armeniacum
127
The Bulb Grower’s Year
1 October: Planting 2 November: Putting on winter cover 3 March–April: Crop inspection 4 April–May: Cutting flowers 5 May–June: Bulbs growing 6 July: Digging 7 July–August: Grading by size 8 Drying and curing 9 August: Bulbs ready for packing 10 August–September: Checking and packing 11 Crates ready for export 12 Export inspection by USDA 13 Loading “reefer” container 14 Container being hoisted aboard ship in Rotterdam 15 September–December: Re-inspection before delivery.
6 15 10 11 5 7 8 1 3 4 9 12 13 14 2
128
Snowflake Leucojum aestivum ‘Gravetye Giant’
White bells line arching stems. Snowflake prefers full sun but tolerates some shade and thrives in soil too wet for most other bulbs. In a spot it likes, it can take up permanent residence. Performs well North and South. DEER AND RODENT PROOF
Spanish Bluebells Hyacinthoides ‘Excelsior’
A shade-tolerant plant that bears spikes of lightly fragrant, lavender-blue, bell-shaped flowers toward the end of the bulb season. Ideal for naturalizing below shade trees. Grows well North and South—California, too.
Item No 6015
Bulb Size 14cm+
Height 24–28”
Item No 6028
Bulb Size 10cm+
Height 14–18”
129
COLOR YOUR GRASS
A great way to add spring color to a lawn or meadow
Impression Springtime™ is a collection of six bulbs: Snowdrops (page 123), the three crocuses in Hokus Crocus (page 121), White Squill (available at springdisplays.com), and Glory of the Snow (page 125).
130
In the SpringDisplays garden, which was originally laid out by renowned Dutch designer Jacqueline van der Kloet, the emphasis is on naturalistic plantings: bulbs planted the way nature might do it. To keep maintenance to a minimum and mimic how bulbs often grow in the wild, most of the plantings are in turf. And to provide a long season of interest, they typically consist of bulbs that bloom in succession.
Visitors’ response to Jacqueline’s plantings has been so enthusiastic we decided to offer several as complete kits. You can see all five at springdisplays.com.
The bulbs are ordered and shipped as full crates, with each variety bagged separately and labeled. Basic instructions are included. Prefer to tweak the recipe or order the bulbs in different quantities? All of the components can be purchased on their own, along with other bulbs that naturalize in turf.
For more information on the Color Your Grass™ product line, visit springdisplays.com. These collections are a whole new way to celebrate spring. Take a look and see what you think.
Please note: The bulbs don’t have to be planted in grass, but if that’s how you plant them, you must wait to mow until late spring or early summer, when the bulb foliage has completely yellowed. This means waiting to mow until the grass is very tall. If you cut the grass while the bulb foliage is still green, you are effectively cutting off next spring’s flowers.
And to customers in warm climates: Some of the bulbs in these collections require prechilling and are unlikely to perform well beyond the first spring. Please call us for suggestions of bulbs that might naturalize in your area.
See the full line of Color Your Grass collections at springdisplays.com.
Impression Springtime™ at the SpringDisplays garden. The snowdrops have come and gone. Crocuses and White Squill are in their prime. Glory of the Snow has yet to make its appearance.
131
Alliums
These relatives of onions bloom in late spring and need sun and good drainage. The leaves yellow as the flowers open: Plant with perennials or low shrubs to disguise the foliage.
Ambassador
Ambassador produces 6-inch balls of tightly packed, purple flowers. Terrific planted in groups or strung like lanterns through a perennial border. One of the last of the large alliums to flower: Blooms with the first wave of roses. DEER RESISTANT
Item No 6061
Bulb Size 24–28cm
Height 44–48"
132
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
Mount Everest
Creamy white, 5-inch globes top long stems as spring shifts to summer. Mount Everest is splendid grown against a dark background, and like all of the big alliums, it makes an impressive cut flower. DEER RESISTANT
Item No 6019
Bulb Size 20–24cm
Height 34–38”
Item No 6018
Bulb Size 20cm+
Height 44–48"
133
Dense 5-inch heads of lilac-pink. They reach their peak just ahead of Mount Everest (page 133). Gladiator is effective when massed or planted in 3’s, 5’s, or 10’s in a flower bed or mixed border. DEER RESISTANT
Item No 6017
Bulb Size 20cm+
Height 42–46"
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 6014
Bulb Size 12–14cm
Height 18–22”
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"
Siculum
Honey garlic. Pendent clusters of cream, green, and maroon bells as spring leans to summer. Unusual, distinctive, architectural, subtle. Also: perennial. “Siculum” means “from Sicily,” and that hints at what this bulb needs: lots of sun and very good drainage. DEER RESISTANT
Item No 6077
Bulb Size 10–12cm
Height 28–32”
Gladiator 134
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
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"
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 22–26"
Item No 6023
Bulb Size 12–14cm
Height 28–32”
135
Amaryllises
Amaryllises 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.
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 7067
Bulb Size 32–34cm
Height 20–30”
136
Amplitude
A sampler of three double amaryllises. Share them with clients or friends, or keep them all for yourself. One each of Double Delicious (page138), Dancing Queen (page 140), and Double Dream (at left). Each bulb labeled. Introduced 2020
GETTING THE MOST FROM
Item No 7402
Bulb Size 32–34cm
Height 20–30”
Amaryllises*
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. Amaryllises 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. Amaryllises may bloom again next winter if they spend summer in the sun.
Amaryllises arrive in our warehouse in midOctober. If you need your outdoor bulbs earlier, please place two separate orders.
*
Doublet
Catchy name. Extraordinary flowers. They consist of a multitude of narrow, reflexed petals that are cream overlaid with a red that starts warm and ends cool. It’s hard to become jaded where amaryllises are concerned, but if you if you feel as though you’ve seen it all, Doublet will make you sit up straight.
Item No 7095
Bulb Size 32–34cm
Height 20–30”
Picotee
Picotee has been in cultivation for over 60 years. During that time, hundreds of varieties have been introduced, had their moment in the sun, and quietly vanished. The secret to Picotee’s staying power? A serene, refined elegance that never goes out of style.
Item No 7010
Bulb Size 32–34cm
Height 20–30”
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.
Item No 7072
Bulb Size 32–34cm
Height 20–30”
Moscow
The comfy couch of white amaryllises. The flowers are large (over 7 inches across), the petals broad and rounded, often curling backward at the tips. You can’t sit on them, of course, but it’s OK to give them a gentle caress.
Item No 7069
Bulb Size 32–34cm
Height 20–30”
138
Candy Cream
This new pink variety improves on the rest. Its rich color is enhanced by a white eye and white filaments and pistils. Its petals have a seersucker texture. Its form is artfully rounded. Candy Cream is, as they say, the complete package.
Rosy Star
Amaryllises do bold, of course, but there is also call for something soothing. White petals brushed with reddish pink meet in a lime green center. Understated though they may be, these large flowers will get plenty of notice.
Item No 7087
Bulb Size 32 – 34cm
Height 20–30”
Silver Dream
Cherry red petals, edged and brushed with white, surround a white-and-green throat. The flowers are attractive, but what sets them apart is their size. They are easily 7 inches wide by 8 tall. “Impressive” hardly does them justice. Full disclosure: If a stem begins to lean, staking will be required.
Item No 7096
Bulb Size 32–34cm
Height 20–30”
Item No 7094
Bulb Size 32–34cm
Height 20–30”
139
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.
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 7008
Bulb Size 32–34cm
Height 20–30”
Magnum
Deep, velvety red flowers with a sheen in the throat. They are accented by golden anthers, a white stigma, and a touch of white at the points of the petals. “Magnum” means “great” in Latin and is at the root of such weighty words as magnanimous, magnitude, and magnificent. Yes, yes, and yes!
Item No 7089
Bulb Size 32–34cm
Height 20–30”
Item No 7029
Bulb Size 32–34cm
Height 20–30”
140
Rapido
A miniature and an early bloomer that produces smaller-than-average 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.
Bulb Size 32–34cm
Height 20–30”
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.
Bulb Size 32–34cm
Height 20–30”
Marilyn
A beautiful platinum blonde. The huge double flowers, which measure fully 8 inches across, are full and rounded. The stems do all they can to hold up the display, but you may need stakes and twine to provide extra support.
Bulb Size 32–34cm
Height 20–30”
Item No 7073
Item No 7019
Item No 7082
141
Paperwhites
Paperwhites are powerfully fragrant daffodils that will bloom indoors in fall and winter without special treatment. Think of them as living air fresheners.
Paperwhite Nir
Nir is one of the best paperwhites introduced to date. Its stems are shorter and therefore much less likely to flop than those of the standard issue; its flowers are larger and showier; and its sweet fragrance, while strong, is not overpowering. Paperwhites are for indoor growing only, except where winters are very mild. Allow 5–6 weeks from planting to bloom. 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 sweetly scented white flowers.
Item No 3404
Bulb Size 16–17cm
Height 18–22”
Late September to December delivery. Growing instructions included.
142
Planting Tools
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.
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.
Heavy-duty plastic handle with a stainless steel blade that is serrated on one side and has depth markings in inches and millimeters.
Hard plastic scabbard included. There are many knock-off hori-horis on the market. None match the quality and utility of this beautiful tool.
Unconditionally guaranteed.
Hand crafted in Japan.
Item No 9034
Length 12½"
Blade Width 1⁵/₈”
Tulip Trowel
A serious hand tool that is perfect for planting tulips. It is made of 16-gauge stainless steel and has a red grip that’s easy to hold and hard to lose track of. The blade has markings in inches and centimeters so you know how deep you’re digging. Can also be used for weeding and for planting annuals. Need a smaller trowel or a larger one?
See the Crocus and Daffodil Trowels at springdisplays.com.
Unconditionally guaranteed.
Made in USA.
Item No 9032
Length 12"
Blade Width 2”
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.
Item No 9036
Length 22"
Blade Width 4⁷/₈”
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. 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. Note: You must have a half-inch drill to use this auger. A variablespeed hammer drill is recommended.
Unconditionally guaranteed.
Made in USA.
Item No 9324
Length 24”
Diameter 3”
Drill Size ½"
143
Ideal fall planting times
In the pink and portions of the purple zone, tulips should be prechilled before planting. Visit springdisplays.com for more information.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
BULBS THAT FLOWER IN SPRING MUST BE PLANTED IN FALL. There is no getting around this requirement.
BULBS SHOULD BE PLANTED WHEN THE SOIL HAS COOLED TO ABOUT 55°F. Bulbs need cool soil to make roots before the onset of winter.
How to Plan
YOU HAVE ABOUT 8 WEEKS TO PLANT AFTER THE FIRST FROST. As long as the ground is not frozen, you can still plant bulbs.
SPRINGDISPLAYS 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. Need help figuring the square footage of the area you want to plant? See How Many Bulbs Do I Need? on our website, springdisplays.com.
LATE SE P T E M B E R & OCTOBER O C T O B E R & NOVEMBER N O V E M B E R & DECEMBER D E C E M B E R & EARLY JANUARY
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
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 × RADIUS ²
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.
IRREGULAR 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 ft. long. For convenience, the axis (A–B) is divided by 6 (to make 10-ft. segments). The measurements of 5 lines drawn perpendicular to the axis at 10-ft. intervals are as follows: C = 19 ft., D = 22 ft., E = 23 ft., F = 19 ft. and G = 13 ft.
Area is: (19 + 22 + 23 + 19 + 13) × 10 = 960 sq. ft.
RADIUS LENGTH WIDTH LENGTH WIDTH A C E D F G B BASE HEIGHT 145
Fall In Winter Wait Spring Enjoy
springdisplays.com PINKSTER PAGE 25