The Joy Of Planting Fall Bulbs!
The Joy of Planting Fall Bulbs for a Spectacular Spring Garden
Ahh, the joy of planting fall bulbs! It's one of the most exciting times for us at The Starter Farm in Santa Ynez, California. We plant thousands of bulbs, tubers and corms each fall and wait with baited breath for the explosion of color that will burst forth, like a floral firework display, in late winter through early spring.
Narcissus
Let's start with Narcissus! While commonly known as Daffodils, these varieties are not your common supermarket offerings. Narcissus are the workhorse of the spring garden and one of the earliest flowers to emerge from the ground.
Pink Charm is a fantastic early blooming large-cupped white petaled daffodil that has the loveliest pink salmon inner cup that presents a unique color in the narcissus world. Florists go crazy for them!
If you want a similar variety that has even a softer hue, I would suggest British Gamble. This girl is a bit taller with a frilly edge to her darkened cup with a lighter apricot hue inside.
Barrett Browning is an old timey, small-cupped Narcissus. Large white petals with the most interesting red fringed cup that fades to orange at the center.
Replete is a must grow. This double flowered daffodil is like a firework exploding with its ruffled petal display.
Geranium appears like a soft cloud with perfect small orange cups that look like painted eyes peeping out over the garden.
Golden Echo is new to me. A slightly larger flower with one to three flowers.
For years I had a mysterious single bunch of nameless narcissus. I was thrilled to unearth their name, Narcissus 'Thalia'.
Ranunculus
Ranunculus are our most anticipated flowers for the season! Ranunculus are often called spring's peony, with their similarly shallow-cup-shaped flowers that spills forth layers and layers of petals.
LaBelle Champagne is amazing for color. It offers a selection of apricots, light rose, muted yellow and the very occasional hot pink.
Amandine Scarlet is a vibrant replacement for that signature red rose and in some areas will bloom close to Valentine's Day.
Tecolote Salmon has that peachy/salmon color that florists and gardeners alike adore.
Tecolote Café is an absolute favorite with burnished red and deep terra cotta coloring.
Half Clone Iceberg will always be my go-to white ranunculus. It is an outstanding plant with the most amazing pillowy white flowers.
Half Clone Marshmallow is almost her twin but in a soft pink with a hint of green at its center.
Half Clone Juliette is a bolder pink, and perfect for any dreamhouse.
Half Clone Wedding Pastel was just released this year with soft and glamorous wedding tones.
Building Structure Around Spring Bulbs
While spring bulbs provide the seasonal drama, evergreen shrubs help carry the garden through the quieter months. Hebe speciosa Showy Hebe is a compact evergreen that maintains rich foliage structure long after narcissus and ranunculus have faded. In late spring and summer, it produces soft spikes of violet flowers that are highly attractive to bees, extending the pollinator season just as the bulb display begins to wind down.
Butterfly Ranunculus
Butterfly Ranunculus produce multiple flowers on a single branching stem that dances on the breeze. A couple of stems will give you a full bouquet.
Hades is a brilliant multi-petaled red that just screams red rose love.
Musa a slightly duskier red that fades and softens like a pair of perfectly, well-worn jeans.
Minoan is a single petaled orange that has this great contrasting darker eye that adds depth to the flower.
Thiva is simultaneously muted yet a richly hued mauvy purple. I can't wait to grow her myself!
Mark Donofrio, Founder and Head Farmer at The Starter Farm
