5 Spring Bulbs Garden Experts Say Aren’t Worth the Trouble – and What to Plant Instead
These bulbs can be unreliable and hard to manage
Fall means just one thing to us garden enthusiasts: it's time to get spring bulbs in the ground. But, before you head out to the garden center, garden experts urge you to think twice about your selection.
While the classic spring bulbs will always be cheerful with colorful blooms that have become synonymous with the start of the season, the experts say it can make planting feel a little predictable. Likewise, hybrid varieties that don't reliably return each year can be a costly habit that some find not worth it. They also advise to avoid planting any bulbs that spread so aggressively they become unmanageable.
It's for these reasons the experts avoid certain bulbs and rather opt for choices that elevate the garden, are easier to maintain, and only need planting once for multiple years of blooms. Here, they talk through five bulbs they never plant, plus what to grow instead (Burpee's range of spring bulbs is a good place to start browsing, and don't forget to stock up on essential bulb planting tools to get the job done).
1. Grape Hyacinth
Grape hyacinth, or Muscari, is a charming miniature bulb with bunches of florets that look like grapes, hence its name. However, Ian Mendoza, horticulture expert from the Botan app, says to plant them with caution.
‘Grape hyacinth spreads readily by seed and offsets and can also invade lawns if left unchecked,’ says Ian.
Muscari botryoides is even listed in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States and has been reported as invasive in natural areas in several states.
One of the ways to avoid this naturalizing bulb spreading is by growing it in pots, or even forcing these bulbs indoors for Christmas displays. Keeping it contained can help avoid unwanted spreading, so you can enjoy these blooms without the hassle later on.
You can pick up grape hyacinth bulbs to grow in pots on Burpee.
Ian Mendoza is a horticulture expert, Licensed Forester and President of Native Ground Forestry and Consulting, with 8+ years in forestry, native planting, and ecological design.
2. Crocus
For Lindsey Chastain, homesteader and founder at The Waddle and Cluck, crocus is a spring bulb she doesn't bother with anymore.
'That's not to say everyone should avoid planting them. I have a lot of wildlife where I live, and the squirrels and mice get to the crocus bulbs before they have a chance to bloom,' she explains.
'Of course, you can plant them and stop squirrels digging up bulbs and eating them by using protective measures like wire mesh cloches (like these from Amazon),' Lindsey adds.
However, if you want something more reliable that doesn't require these extra precautions, opt for bulbs squirrels don't eat instead. This includes winter aconite, camassia, and daffodils (see the range at Plant Addicts).
Lindsey Chastain, a dedicated homesteader and skilled writer, is the driving force behind The Waddle and Cluck, a platform that celebrates sustainable living, gardening, and responsible farming
3. Hybrid Tulips
There are so many different types of tulip to choose from for spring, but many are not reliable perennials. For Lindsey, it's not worth the money to keep purchasing these hybrid varieties.
'While hybrid tulips are absolutely gorgeous, most of them really decline after a year or two. It means you have to keep replanting them each year, which gets pretty expensive considering they aren't the most affordable bulbs in the first place,' Lindsey says.
'I prefer just regular tulips. I find the wildlife tends to leave those alone a little bit more, and they're much more affordable. My tulips come back year after year, yet the hybrids I've previously planted never came back more than one year after,' she continues.
Explore the tulip bulbs available at True Leaf Market.
4. Giant Allium
Peggy Anne Montgomery, horticulturist from Flowerbulb.eu, notes that while tulips and daffodils are always beautiful to grow, her spring garden wouldn't be complete with alliums. However, instead of opting for the popular and common Allium giganteum (Giant Allium), she'd rather plant something more unexpected.
'While Giant Allium might seem common, it’s a stunner in my pollinator garden and brings that garden to life long before the perennials bloom. But, there is an allium I believe is relatively unknown and sorely underused: Allium schubertii (Tumbleweed Onion),' she says.
'Few flowers are as memorable as Tumbleweed Onion. Its spectacular blooms resemble exploding fireworks, 9-12” in diameter, with rosy-purple florets radiating from the center on long stalks to create an eye-catching starburst effect. I value the dried flower heads as much as the blooms,' Peggy Anne describes.
You can find tumbleweed onion allium bulbs on Amazon.
Peggy Anne Montgomery is a horticulturist with more than 35 years of experience in the industry in the Netherlands and the U.S. Her home garden has appeared on television, in several gardening books, and in many magazines. Today, she is an executive account manager at the Garden Media Group, where she represents Dutch Royal Anthos, the largest consortium of Dutch bulb growers and exporters in the U.S. and Canada.
5. Star of Bethlehem
Another bulb the experts say to avoid is Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum), which is native to Europe, north-west Africa, and south-west Asia.
‘I will avoid planting this anywhere and everywhere because they spread aggressively and they're hard to get under control. Every bulb you plant and leave in the ground will produce another plant,’ says Lindsey. ‘There are so many other bulbs that are much better behaved,’ she adds.
In many parts of the US, Star of Bethlehem is considered an invasive bulb, where it can quickly naturalize and form dense colonies. It can dominate woodlands, meadows, and prairies, and is difficult to remove once established. For this reason, it's best to avoid and opt for native alternatives with a similar appearance.
A top choice is wood anemone (Anemonoides quinquefolia). This North American native has delicate, star-shaped white flowers and spreads naturally by underground rhizomes, making it a good choice for a woodland-style planting.
Plant Addicts has a wide range of spring flowering bulbs to explore.
What to Shop
There are quite a few bulb planting mistakes to be aware of before you get started with planting this season. It's important to space the bulbs correctly to ensure they can grow to their full potential. Likewise, ensure your soil is well-draining and nutrient-rich to give your bulbs the best chance.
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