The Best Flower Bulbs for Naturalising

Naturalising bulbs is an easy way to create a pretty and organic display of flowers in the more understated areas of your garden. Drifts of spring flowers are low maintenance and look beautiful, adding pops of colour to your lawn.

For the best results, naturalise bulbs in autumn, planting them three times their depth beneath the surface, and be sure to choose bulbs that are well-suited to the conditions of your garden. If you would like to mimic the natural beauty of spring in your own garden, read on to find out which are the best bulbs for naturalising.

Snowdrops

The snowdrop is a small genus of approximately 20 species of bulbous perennial herbaceous plants, with delicate white flowers.

Perfect for naturalising, snowdrops are hardy and synonymous with early spring. The most reliable species are Galanthus nivalis, G. nivalis ‘Flore Pleno’, or the giant snowdrop, Galanthus elwesii.

These snowdrops should be planted in spring rather than autumn, and in shady areas with moist but well-drained soil.

Crocuses

Comprising 90 species of perennials, crocus is a genus of flowering plants in the iris family. Many types of crocuses are suitable for naturalising.

Crocuses are often cultivated for their flowers which appear in spring, autumn, or winter. Crocus sieberi will flower in the spring, whereas Crocus speciosus will flower in the autumn.

They are best planted in a sunny garden in short grass, or under deciduous trees or shrubs.

Daffodils

Narcissus, commonly known as daffodils, are predominantly spring-flowering perennial plants.

Many daffodils are great for naturalising. Wild daffodils, such as Narcissus obvallaris and Narcissus pseudonarcissus, offer a lovely natural springtime look.

Daffodils thrive in the grass and beneath trees, and single daffodil bulbs should be planted in autumn.

Tulips

A popular spring-blooming perennial, tulips are usually large and brightly coloured, making them great for injecting vibrance into gardens.

Naturalise tulips in free-draining soil in a sunny area. Tulipa humilis, T. clusiana, T. tarda and red T. sprengeri flower between March and June, and they should come back each year if you plant them 15cm beneath the surface of the soil.

Cyclamens

Cyclamens are perennial flowering plants with pretty white, pink or purple petals.

Grow both Cyclamen hederifolium and Cyclamen coum for beautiful sweeps of colour across your garden in spring and autumn. These cyclamen thrive in humus-rich soil in partially shaded areas.

Winter Aconites

Widely naturalised in Europe, the winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family which is native to woodland habitats.

Winter aconites may be slow to grow initially, but they will soon bloom in the right conditions. Plant these in autumn under deciduous trees and shrubs, where they will be cool and dry in summer.

For help with selecting the best bulbs for naturalising in your garden, get in touch with our expert team on 01775 769333 or via sales@bostonbulbswholesale.co.uk.

The Boston Bulb Company has over 40 years of experience in supplying only the finest quality horticultural products from farmers and growers throughout the UK and Europe.