Spring Bulbs to Plant Before Winter
- Busara Firestone
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
As leaves carpet the ground and the air turns crisp, now is the perfect time to plant spring-flowering bulbs! Because soil in the Bay Area rarely freezes, standard tulips don't receive enough chill time and are often grown as annuals. Daffodils and Mediterranean Tulips, however, are two types of spring flowering bulbs that perform reliably in our climate. By taking some time this season to prep, you will be met with a vibrant, colorful garden come spring!
Daffodils
Daffodils, botanically known as Narcissus, deserve special attention as one of the many bulbs to settle into the soil this time of year. There is a whole world of Narcissus varieties to explore alongside the classic golden daffodil.
Trumpet types feature a large, prominent cup that takes center stage, while smaller-cupped large-cup and small-cup varieties offer a more balanced, graceful look.
For delicate clusters of blooms, tazettas- like the beloved paperwhites- bring a sweet fragrance and often produce multiple flowers per stem.
Poeticus types, with their white petals and tiny, brightly colored cups, bloom later in spring and add a refined touch to the garden.
Trumpet daffodil
Tazetta daffodil
Poeticus daffodil
How deep to plant bulbs?
Plant bulbs at a depth 2 times deeper than their height, with larger bulbs planted around 6 inches deep. Different sizes can be layered for a fuller display!
Click the link on the right to check out videos from our Bulb Series! ➜
Photo credits: Lovely Green Blog
Tulips
Tulips, or Tulipa, are another delightful set of spring bulbs worth planting. While conventional tulips will not re-bloom the next year given our mild winters, species tulips- being smaller, hardier, and closer to their wild ancestors- are better suited to California’s Mediterranean climate.
One standout is Tulipa saxatilis, a charming species of tulip with natural tolerance for mild winters and dry summers. With its soft lilac-pink petals and bright yellow centers, it is the perfect choice for adding color to rock gardens, borders, or any sunny nooks.
Another similar yet remarkable choice is Tulipa humilis. Compact and graceful, it lies closer to the ground and produces richly saturated blooms, also accented with a sunny yellow heart. With its low-growing habit and resilient nature to thrive with minimal fuss, Tulipa humilis brings a touch of brilliance to even the smallest of garden spaces.
The charm of tulips also lies in their ability to thrive in containers. Potted tulips offer that burst of spring color right where you need it- on patios, porches, or tucked beside a front door. Potted Dutch tulips may not return the following year but are well worth the delightful show of color.
Check out this video on how to plant tulip bulbs in containers!
Bo with her Aunt Claudia Photo taken at Filoli Historic House & Garden — filoli.org
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