The best miniature bulbs are those that appear early and help us get through the short days of a cold and soggy winter. Nothing quite raises the spirits like the emergence of the first bulbs, and there are dwarf spring bulbs that fit in anywhere, whatever size your yard
Although fall is the traditional time for spring bulb planting, if you miss the window there’s two reasons for thinking about dwarf bulbs in late winter and even early spring, too. First, more and more spring bulbs are sold in pots, in bud or in flower, at your local garden center. Slip them into window boxes, mixed containers, as specimens in containers large and small, and then when the flowers fade, plant the bulbs out in the yard. Fertilize and water them well and then as the buds open next spring you'll thank your good sense in buying them this year.
You can also plant miniature spring bulbs directly into flower beds and borders during winter and early spring and, because the buds will already be showing color, or the flowers may even be open, they add instant color.
Graham trained at the prestigious Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, England, and since then has written more than 20 books on plants and gardening and been a judge at the Chelsea Flower Show. He gardened in Pennsylvania for 20 years, but has recently returned to his native England, where he often grows a wide mix of spring bulbs in his garden, including dwarf varieties.
15 miniature bulbs with instant appeal
Even if you're not currently thinking about planting bulbs in your garden, if you see a miniature variety in flower that you really like, make a note and keep a record for 'traditional' bulb ordering time in late summer and the fall.
Here are some of my favorites:
1. Alliums (ornamental onions)
The flowers of the miniature yellow allium 'Jeannine'
- Hardiness: USDA Z4
- Height: 6-15in
Most dwarf alliums are late spring bloomers with clusters of starry flowers on short vertical stems. ‘Jeannine’ is bright yellow, with two flower stems per bulb, Allium christophii is like an exploding, metallic blue firework.
They will grow best in a sunny and well-drained situation, preferably one that dries out in the summer. They work well when planting alongside blue-grey leaved euphorbias such as Euphorbia mysinites.
2. Anemone (wood anemone)
Double blue and white wood anemone 'Blue Eyes', which thrives in a wooded area
- Hardiness: USDA Z4
- Height: 6-12in
Sold in bud or in flower in spring, these pretty carpeters are one of the best woodland plants for shady areas and mingle well with other spring flowers. ‘Blue Eyes’ is a blue-eyed white double, ‘Virescens’ is a lacy double green.
They will grow best in good, but well-drained, soil in light or partial shade. If you're looking for good planting partners, wood anemones will work their way around bergenias, hellebores, and hostas and mingle with primroses and corydalis.
3. Hardy cyclamen
The pink flowers and patterned leaves of hardy Cyclamen coum brighten shady areas of the yard
- Hardiness: USDA Z4
- Height: 3-6in
Dainty, but tough, spring-flowering Cyclamen coum has pink, white or bicolored backswept flowers set against neat, rounded, silver, green or patterned foliage. It spreads steadily by seed.
Happy in sun and also one of the best plants for partial shade, cyclamen like humus-rich, but well drained soil, and will also grow in planters.
Plant it alongside other small plants in the spring tapestry including crocuses, wood anemones, and primroses, plus heucheras and smaller hellebores varieties.
4. Eranthis (Winter aconite)
Yellow winter aconites produce cheery clumps of yellow flowers
- Hardiness: USDA Z4
- Height: 3-4in
In winter, golden cups of Eranthis hyemalis, each backed by a green ruff, look up at you from short, vertical stems. These miniature bulbs will spread steadily when happy and, along with snowdrops, reminds us that the seasons have turned.
Happiest in partial shade and rich, well-drained soil that is not parched in summer. Winter aconites look their best when planted around clumps of snowdrops.
5. Galanthus (Snowdrop)
Snowdrops are one of the first spring bulbs to emerge – this one is Galanthus nivalis 'Flore Pleno'
- Hardiness: USDA Z4
- Height: 4-8in
Pendulous white flowers dance in the breeze and once planted, they will spread over the years until your yard has a pretty springtime carpet of white.
There are lots of different types of snowdrops to grow, with different shapes and markings. Start with ‘Atkinsii’ (early and fragrant), and ‘Flore Pleno’ (double-flowers). Buy in flower in pots, or by mail order in winter and spring. They prefer partial shade in rich, fertile soil and are happy in dry summer situations.
When planting snowdrops, combine with bergenias, hellebores, year-round heucheras plus early bulbs such as winter aconites for a pretty scheme.
6. Ipheion (Spring starflower)
Blue and white flowers of Ipheion ‘Rolf Fiedler’ or star flower
- Hardiness: USDA Z5
- Height: 4-8in
Starry six-petalled, sweetly scented flowers can almost hide the slender, fresh green, slightly oniony foliage. Look for ‘Rolf Fiedler’ (blue) and ‘Alberto Castillo’ (white).
These dwarf bulbs will do best in rich, moist, well-drained soil in full sun or in pots. It develops a colorful dome of flowers.
It will work well when planted in front of peonies, with medium height daffodils or as a specimen in pots.
7. Dwarf irises
Iris reticulata varieties such as 'Katherine Hodgkin' are now coming in an increasing range of colors
- Hardiness: USDA Z5
- Height: 3-6in
Dwarf irises come in an increasing range of pretty colors and color combinations. Try ‘Katherine Hodgkin’ (greeny yellow and pale blue) and ‘Pauline’ (purple and white).
Plant deeply in full sun and well-drained, neutral or slightly limy soil types. Also looks delightful in pots. It's also very pretty flowering through a gravel mulch, as part of a gravel garden or as the top layer of a bulb lasagne pot.
8. Muscari (Grape hyacinth)
Grape hyacinth 'Blue Ocean' is a pretty two-tone variety
- Hardiness: USDA Z4-5
- Height: 4-8in
Small, bell-shaped, usually blue flowers open from the bottom of crowded, pointed spikes. Try ‘Ocean Magic’ (two-tone blue) and ‘Jenny Robinson’ (pale blue).
Best in full sun in well-drained but fertile soil. When the clumps become crowded, lift, divide plants and replant the bulbs after the leaves have died down.
Good planting partners include dwarf wallflowers, violas and double daises. It will also work well in a wide range of container gardening ideas.
9. Chionodoxa (Glory of the snow)
The striking blue and white flowers of Chionodoxa luciliae
- Hardiness: USDA Z4
- Height: 4-8in
Short stems carry flared, upward facing, white-eyed, pale blue flowers in early spring, showing their bright coloring off well. Chionodoxa luciliae is blue-and-white, C. sardensis is pure blue. Sometimes labelled Scilla.
Suitable for any good, well-drained soil in partial shade or naturalized in grass. You can plant them both in clumps and scattered singly for a natural look, and they will usually spread steadily.
These miniature bulbs work well with many other spring bulbs including crocus and dwarf daffodils.
10. Puschkinia (Russian snowdrop)
Russian snowdrops (Puschkinia scilloides) have distinctive white flowers with a bold central stripe
- Hardiness: USDA Z4
- Height: 4-6in
Similar to Chionodoxa and Scilla, Puschkinia scilloides var. Libanotica carries clusters of up to a dozen flaring, bell-shaped, ice blue flowers each with a slender dark blue stripe in every petal.
Plant these miniature bulbs in clumps, in sun or part shade, in well-drained soil. They will usually soon spread. Naturalized crocus bulbs, dark blue scilla, primroses, and double flowered celandines all make ideal planting partners.
11. Scilla (Squill)
The vivid star-shaped flowers of Scilla
- Hardiness: USDA Z2
- Height: 4-8in
Nodding, often dark blue, bell-shaped to star-shaped flowers dance just above the dark green foliage. Look for the robust, deep blue ‘Spring Beauty’ and the pretty pink, but slow growing, ‘Rosea’.
Happy in most well-drained fertile soils in sun or partial shade. If you're planting bulbs in pots, these are a pretty option to include in your mix, plus they are very winter hardy.
Ideal when planted alongside spring cyclamen, crocuses and dwarf daffodils.
12. Crocus
Crocuses are extremely popular and easy to grow
- Hardiness: USDA Z4
- Height: 4-6in
Easy and well known, choose the dainty and delicately coloured ‘Blue Pearl’ (delicate blue) for pots or ‘Whitewell Purple’ (reddish purple), shown, to naturalize. The goblet shaped flowers flare in sunshine.
Crocus grow best in sun or partial shade in fertile but well-drained soil, plus they will also grow well in pots. Feed in late fall.
Hellebores, bergenias and other evergreen spring perennials, plus other dwarf spring bulbs such as cyclamen, will make effective planting partners.
13. Hyacinthus (Hyacinth)
Hyacinths smell wonderful and can be grown inside and out, in pots and the soil
- Hardiness: USDA Z4
- Height: 8-12in
Bold cylindrical heads are packed with flared, super-scented flowers to create a dramatic and fragrant display. Comes in a very wide range of colors, including some double flowered varieties.
If you force bulbs for indoor scent in winter, they can be planted out when they finish flowering for early color in the yard. They may not flower brilliantly in their first year, but their performance will improve as the bulbs mature.
Best grown in containers or in patio gardens. Sun or partial shade suits them, and do not allow containers to become waterlogged. Ideal when planted with pansies or violas around them.
14. Narcissus (Dwarf daffodils)
Dwarf daffodils, or Narcissus, come in many colors and reliably flower year after year
- Hardiness: USDA Z4
- Height: 6-12in
Reliable and often spreading steadily, there are many dwarf daffodils so pick the colors you like.
Try ‘Tête-à-tête’ (two-tone yellow, up to three flowers per stem), shown, and ‘Dove Wings’ (creamy yellow and pale lemon).
These plants are fairly adaptable but will do best in sun or partial shade, and in fertile well-drained soil that does not dry out in spring. They are ideal grown between hostas, naturalized in grass and in containers.
15. Tulipa (Dwarf tulips)
Unlike bedding tulips that can fade after a few seasons, dwarf variety tulips such as 'Red Riding Hood' will flower for years
- Hardiness: USDA Z4
- Height: 6-12in
Listed under Greigii and Kauffmanniana tulips, many feature bold brownish-purple leaf markings. Try ‘Red Riding Hood’ (very early, scarlet flowers), and ‘Hearts Delight’ (two-tone carmine and yellow).
Best in full sun, and in well-drained soil, or in pots or other containers. Fertilize with liquid feed as the flowers fade. Often best planted on their own without other plants in the pot so you can really show off the flower/foliage combinations.
Why did none of my newly planted dwarf bulbs come up?
They were probably dug up and eaten by chipmunks or squirrels, maybe even later in the same day that you planted them! These critters are very clever and can detect the scent of the bulbs under the soil.
There are three solutions. One is to take advantage of the fact that chipmunks and squirrels dislike the taste of some dwarf bulbs and do not eat them. So choose varieties of allium, chionodoxa, daffodils, hyacinths, muscari, scillas and snowdrops.
Another approach is to avoid the dwarf bulbs that they especially do like, so do not plant their favorites – crocuses and tulips.
Finally, plant whichever dwarf bulbs you like but only plant them in clumps and lay a piece of fine wire mesh over the bulbs before filling in the hole. Then the critters will not be able to reach the bulbs to dig them up.
Which miniature spring bulbs are the most deer resistant?
Some dwarf spring bulbs are popular with deer, some are rarely touched and can be considered good deer-resistant plants.
The New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station has a program in which they test garden flowers for deer resistance and consult with horticultural professionals about which plants deer eat and which they leave alone.
The dwarf spring bulbs that they rate 'rarely damaged', the top rating out of four for deer resistance, are: alliums, bluebells, daffodils, scillas, snowdrops and winter aconites.
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