Spring-Blooming Bulbs for Shady Gardens

Brighten Shady Areas With Colorful Spring Flowers

At the end of winter, long before the earliest perennials begin to stir, spring bulbs are already in action. Snow, bitter cold and even frozen soil won’t keep these determined plants from their rush to bloom. Their cheery blossoms brighten even the dreariest days, banishing memories of winter and heralding the start of spring.

Where to Plant Spring Bulbs

Spring bulbs will bloom in both sun and shade. Because they flower so early, the plants can get most of the sunlight they need before the trees leaf out and shade the ground. This makes spring bulbs suitable for planting almost anywhere in your garden and landscape:

• Flower gardens
• Beneath shrubs and trees
• Lawns
• Meadows
• Woodlands
• Roadways and fence lines
• Beside streams and ponds

Bulbs grow best in fertile, well-drained soil, but they perform beautifully in a wide range of different soil types – from clay to sand. Though spring-blooming bulbs require moisture in the spring, during the rest of the year they need very little water and no attention whatsoever.

Bulbs that Bloom in Shade

• Snowdrops
• Crocus
• Scilla
• Chionodoxa
• Daffodils
• Tulips
• Muscari
• Fritillaria
• Anemone blanda
• Leucojum
• Lily of the valley
• Camassia

Combining Spring Bulbs with Shrubs, Annuals and Perennials

When spring bulbs have finished blooming, they gradually fade away and disappear entirely until the following year. This makes them ideal companions for shade loving perennials that are at their best from early summer through fall. As the perennials develop, their foliage hides the spring bulbs’ dying leaves.

The small spring bulbs, such as Snowdrops, Crocus, Scilla siberica and Chionodoxa are ideal for planting in shady areas at the base of shrubs, beneath large shade trees and along woodland paths. They are the earliest bulbs to bloom and their foliage disappears quickly. Over time, these little bulbs will multiply, creating splashes of color throughout your yard.

Tulips are a perfect choice for flowerbeds where you may also be planting annuals such as impatiens, begonias and caladiums. Simply remove the tulips after they have flowered and replace them with the annuals. In the fall, remove the annuals and plant a fresh batch of tulip bulbs.

Spring-flowering bulbs are compatible with almost every type of garden perennial. Here are some combinations that have proven to be particularly effective:

• Scilla with Vinca or Pachysandra
• Camassia with Hostas
• Daffodils with Alchemilla mollis (Lady’s Mantle)
• Anemone blanda with Astilbe
• Muscari with Lamium
• Fritillaria with Heuchera