Pest-proof Spring-blooming Bulbs

Daffodils are the most versatile of spring-blooming bulbs. (Photos #1 & #2) Choices vary from large classic yellow ‘King Alfred’ daffodils to antique “Poet’s Narcissus” like ‘Pheasant’s Eye.’

All daffodils are Narcissus, botanically speaking, regardless of any cultivar (cultivated variety) names or common nicknames. Daffodil is the familiar (vernacular) name for all members of the genus Narcissus. The American Daffodil Society recommends using the word daffodil, instead of nicknames like Jonquil, at all times other than in scientific writing.

Minor Bulbs

“Minor Bulbs” is the unofficial label for groups of spring-blooming bulbs other than daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths. This label comes from tendencies to only think of spring-blooming bulbs as the previous three familiar, larger-flowered and conspicious bloomers. These three also account for most of the Dutch bulb production.

The minor bulbs look small, sometimes shriveled and sometimes may only produce small flowers. However, most are pest-resistant, naturalize, and spread well when planted in favorable plant hardiness zones. They are stunning when planted in combination with pest-resistant daffodils.

These special bulbs demand major attention in designing pest-proof spring-blooming bulb displays, says Sally Ferguson from The Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center. They include:

• Allium (ornamental onion),
• Anemone blanda (Grecian Windflower),
• Camassia leichtlinii (Wild Hyacinth, Quamash) (Photo #3),
• Chionodoxa luciliae (Glory of the Snow) (Photo #4),
• Crocus tommasinianus (Tommy Crocus),
• Eranthis hymalis (Winter Aconite),
• Fritillaria meleagris (Snake’s Head Fritillary),
• Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrop),
• Hyacinthoides hispanica (Spanish Bluebell),
• Iphelion uniflorum (Spring Starflower, Triteleia),
• Leucojum aestivum (Spring Snowflake), and
• Scilla siberica (Wood Squill) (Photo #5).

Pest Proof or Pest Resistant?

No spring-blooming bulb is one-hundred-percent pest proof , says Timothy Schipper of Colorblends Bulbs. Two factors that regulate the resistance of spring-blooming bulbs to local deer and rodent populations in garden landscapes are:

• numbers of animals in the population, and
• amounts and kinds of food available to them.

Hyacinthus (hyacinths) and Muscari (grape hyacinths), though often considered pest-resistant, are not considered by this writer to be pest-proof because experience of some landscape designers shows these two plants make choice eating for stressed and hungry deer.

Tips for Designing with Pest-resistant Narcissus and Minor Bulbs

• Choose bulbs rated for your Plant Hardiness Zone;
• Plan to plant bulbs in environments for which they are suited;
• Purchase from dealers who sell fresh, firm and unblemished large bulbs: and
• Store bulbs in cool, semi-moist conditions and handle carefully before planting.

More about Spring-blooming Bulb Gardens

• Spring-Blooming Bulb Designs Now: Midsummer Planning for Pest-free Bulb Combinations
• 2008 Catalogs of Spring-blooming Bulbs::Quality Bulbs Insure Superior Spring-blooming Bulb Gardens

©Text by Georgene A. Bramlage 2008. Reproduction without permission prohibited