Bulbs that not only come back, but multiply!!!

Who can’t love the site of hundreds of well placed tulips in a display? Its just as easy to fall in love with daffodils that are naturalized on a hillside. Luckily for those in the northern zones, we can grow these beautiful plants. Unfortunately for quite a few of us, our soils are less than ideal. Truth be told, those large tulip displays are painstakingly replanted every year – with new bulbs taboot. What? Don’t have the time and money to plant hundreds if not thousands of tulip bulbs every year? Neither do I.


Have you planted tulips only to have them not return the following year? Modern day tulips aren’t the best for naturalizing or multiplying to begin with (although some have sickeningly great success). Throw in waterlogged winter soil and a high lime content, and you really won’t see your bulbs return. As usual, bed preparation is essential. Make a raised bed, (mine are probably mounded up to 12”) and amend your topsoil well with compost and peat. To get even better results, select bulbs that actually have naturalizing tendencies to begin with. Just any tulip or daffodil won’t do. You have to research what types will spread, naturalize, perennialize. Luckily, I have done a little research for you. Here is what I have found:

Daffodils, Jonquils, and Narcissi are the best for those with heavy, calciferous soils. But go a step further. Choose this natural hybrid antique: Narcissus tazetta ‘Grand Monarque’. Try these jonquil hybrid: ‘Trevithian’ and ‘Golden Sceptre’. Daffodils that will do well are: ‘Fortune’ and ‘Carlton’. Keep in mind that generally daffodils and the like will need a periodic division and replanting so that they will continue to bloom well.

Tulips are perennial plants that should come back every year; but due to extensive breeding and less than ideal soil and climate conditions (and maybe a few squirrels), many tulips not only fail to multiply, but also fail to come back entirely. Try planting your bulbs in a sunny spot, in a well prepared bed. Don’t let your flower go to seed and don’t remove the foliage until it is good and dead. This will be a good start, but selecting the right plant is an even better one: Tulipa ‘Red Hunter’, ‘Clusiana Tubergen's Gem’, and ‘Clusiana Lady Jane’. Most of the original tulips come from Iran, Turkey, and Afghanistan. The original tulips are less ornamental than modern day hybrids, unless of course you have a dramatic naturalized display!

With the soils many of us have, bed preparation and the careful choosing of plants will help prevent failures, heartbreak and wasted money. Take your time and plan ahead. You may not be able to get the plants you need at the home improvement store. Order some catalogs specifically from companies specializing in bulbs. Take a bubble bath while you pick out your flowers. You will wish you were back in the bath when your planting your 40th of 500 daffodil bulbs!