Breck's Bulb Planting Guide
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| Flowering Time | Planting Depth | Spacing | Flowering Height | Suitable for naturalizing | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VERY EARLY SPRING | |||||
| Miniature Iris | 3" | 2-3" | 4-6" | Y | Good for borders |
| Snow Crocus | 3" | 2-3" | 3" | Y | Multiplies annually |
| Snowdrops | 3" | 2-3" | 5" | Y | Long-lasting |
| Snow Glories | 3" | 2-3" | 4-5" | Y | Long-lasting |
| Stardrift | 3" | 2-3" | 4-5" | Y | Long-lasting |
| Winter Aconite | 3" | 2-3" | 3-4" | Y | Ground Cover |
| EARLY SPRING | |||||
| Emperor Tulips | 6" | 3-6" | 14-16" | N | Cut flowers |
| Giant Crocus | 3" | 2-3" | 5" | Y | Borders |
| Hyacinths | 6" | 4-6" | 8-10" | N | Fragrant |
| Jumbo Crocus | 3" | 3-4" | 4-5" | Y | Borders |
| Kaufmanniana Tulips | 6" | 3-6" | 5-15" | N | Borders |
| Mardi Gras | 6" | 2-4" | 7-8" | Y | Rock gardens |
| Star of Holland | 3" | 2-3" | 6" | Y | Long-lasting |
| Trumpet Daffodils | 6" | 4-6" | 14-20" | Y | Cut flowers |
| Grecian Windflowers | 3" | 2-3" | 3-6" | Y | Ground cover |
| MID-SPRING | |||||
| Crown Imperials | 8" | 8-12" | 36" | N | Prevents rodents |
| Double Early Tulips | 6" | 3-6" | 8" | N | Borders |
| Fritillaria Persica | 4" | 4-8" | 3-4" | N | Borders |
| Grape Hyacinths | 3" | 2-3" | 6-8" | Y | Ground Cover |
| Greigii Tulips | 6" | 3-6" | 10-14" | N | Borders |
| Multi-Floral Tulips | 6" | 3-6" | 4-20" | N | Long-lasting |
| Perennial Tulips | 6-9" | 3-6" | 16-26" | Y | Borders |
| Spring Star Flower | 3" | 2-3" | 5" | Y | Multiplies annually |
| Summer Snowflake | 4" | 4" | 8-14" | Y | Long-lasting |
| Triumph Tulips | 6" | 3-6" | 14-22" | N | Cut flowers |
| LATE SPRING | |||||
| Arum dracunculus | 5-6" | 10-12" | 14-20" | Y | Long-lasting |
| Arum italicum | 5-6" | 4-6" | 10-15" | Y | Good in shade |
| English Bluebells | 2" | 2-3" | 10-14" | Y | Ground cover |
| Double Late Tulips | 6" | 3-6" | 18-22" | N | Cut flowers |
| Fringed Tulips | 6" | 3-6" | 22-30" | N | Border |
| Lily-Flowering Tulips | 6" | 3-6" | 20-26" | N | Cut flowers |
| Parrot Tulips | 6" | 3-6" | 20-28" | N | Bouquets |
| Peony-Flowering Tulips | 6" | 3-6" | 18-22" | N | Bouquets |
| Rembrandt Tulips | 6" | 3-6" | 20-24" | N | Bouquets |
| Wood Hyacinths | 4" | 3-4" | 8" | Y | Ground cover |
| LATE SPRING - EARLY SUMMER | |||||
| Giant Allium | 3-8" | 2-6" | 22-36" | Y | Dried arrangements |
| Calochortus | 3-5" | 6" | 24" | N | Resemble tulips |
| Camassia | 3-4" | 6" | 15" | Y | Ground cover in shade |
| Dichelostemma | 3-5" | 4" | 24-30" | N | Also known as Firecracker Flower |
| Hardy Glads | 6" | 3-6" | 20-24" | N | Bloom in early summer |
| Iris Bearded | 2-4" | 12-18" | 28-40" | N | Blooms in late spring/early summer |
| Dwarf Reblooming | 2-4" | 6-12" | 10-15" | N | Blooms in spring |
| 2-4" | 12-24" | 28-40" | N | Blooms mid-spring/early summer and again in mid-summer/early fall | |
| Mountain Bells | 3" | 2-3" | 10-14" | Y | Borders |
| Mountain Lilies | 4" | 3-4" | 15" | Y | Cut flowers |
| Pink Buttercups | 2" | 3-4" | 3" | Y | Long blooming season |
| Poppy Anemones | 2" | 2-4" | 10-14" | N | Not winter hardy; plant in spring |
| Tall Dutch Iris | 4" | 3-4" | 16-24" | Y | Cut flowers |
| MID - LATE SUMMER | |||||
| Astilbe | 1-2" | 2" | 24" | N | Flower plumes continue to add interest as dried flowers after colour has faded. |
| Begonias | 1-2" | * | 6-14" | N | 10-12"apart in garden; 4-6" in containers |
| Calla | 3" | 12-15" | 18-24" | N | Keep moist in summer. Good for pots too. Lift before frost. |
| Canna | 3" | 15-24" | 2-4" | N | Start indoors in very cold climates. Lift before frost. |
| Crocosmia | 5" | 4-6" | 2-3' | N | Fall-lifting is only necessary in northern climates. |
| Dahlias | |||||
| Dinnerplate | 2" | 2-3" | 3-4" | M | Provide moisture and lots of sun. Your dahlias will reward you with lots of blooms. Lift before frost. |
| Dwarf | 2" | 12-18" | 12" | " | same as above |
| Mixed | 2" | 24-36" | 3-5' | N | same as above |
| Pompon | 2" | 12-18" | 3-4' | N | same as above |
| Windowbox | 2" | 12-18" | 12" | same as above | |
| Daylilies | 2-3" | 15-24" | 18-36" | Y | Enjoy a steady succession of bell-shaped blooms all summer. |
| Gladiolus | |||||
| Hardy (Nanus) | 6" | 4-6" | 3-5' | N | Plant at one-to-two wk intervals. Begin after last frost and continue until about two mos. before first fall frost. |
| Orchidola | 6" | 4-6" | 20-24" | N | same as above |
| Dwarf | 6" | 4-6" | 18-24" | N | same as above |
| Hardy Cyclamen | 4" | 12" | 4-6" | Y | Bloom in late summer |
| Lilies | 6-9" | 6-9" | 1 1/2 - 4' | Y | Fragrant, cut flower |
| Peony | 1-2" | 3' | 27-48" | N | Planting depth refers to maximum distance eyes on tubers should be placed below the surface. |
| Phlox | |||||
| Tall Hybrid | 1" | 18-24" | 2-3" | N | Great as a backdrop to lower growing plants. |
| creeping | 1" | 8-12" | 3-6" | N | Hardy ground cover. Mass of blooms in late spring. |