Each late summer brings its share of bulbs for spring colour, to irresistibly brighten our gardens. At this time of year we are often busy seeking the gems among these essential bulbs that will, in turn, lift us out of winter torpor in a few months. Our teams set out each year in search of new arrivals to appeal to the most discerning among you, from frilled tulips to charming early bulbs.
Here are some spring bulbs entering the Promesse de fleurs catalogue this season. Rare tulips, hardy irises, black hyacinths… Discover the 7 spring bulbs to plant this autumn with our tips on how to pair them harmoniously.
The Tulipa viridiflora 'Blushing Artist': a play of light with pastel notes
Belonging to the large viridiflora family, these beautiful green-flamed tulips, 'Blushing Artist', are among its finest representatives! Not only does it stand out for its pastel colours, combining cream, pink and green in striations, but it also bears variegated leaves edged with cream, of interest in borders or for collectors.
This elegant fluted tulip grows to about 40 cm tall, which predisposes it equally to border plantings, pot culture or a long border. It flowers well in partial shade as in sun, but partial shade enhances its pale colours even more, and it is considered a late tulip, blooming in early May.
We recommend it either for mass planting in an attractive pot display where the delicacy of its hues will strike a chord, or paired with another 'flamed' tulip such as 'Spring Green', or in a border with perennials like Lunaria annua 'Alba'.
Lire aussi notre article Tulipa viridiflora : les plus populaires.
The Hyacinth 'Midnight Sky' : the captivating darkness
Hyacinths lovers and fans of unusual flowering will not be disappointed by this variety, one of the darkest in the genus. 'Midnight Sky' certainly lives up to its name, intriguing with violet hues on the edge of black. It also has the particularity of being fairly resistant to rodents, and releases a subtle, sweet fragrance, especially in the late afternoon sun.
It prefers humus-bearing soils, well-drained, and a full sun or partial shade exposure. It can also be forced indoors to flower as early as February.
We find it stunning in a large container on a terrace or balcony, paired with a few other bulbs in fresh, bright tones that contrast nicely, such as early mini daffodils with yellow centres, like 'Sun Disc' or Topolino, and tri-colour pansies, creating a violet and pale butter-yellow two-tone display.
The Tecophilaea cyanocrocusvar. Leichtlinii: the blue crocus, jewel of sun-drenched rockeries
Also known as the blue crocus of Chile, here is a neat little bulb that we love! Tecophilaea cyanocrocus is a small crocus perfectly suited to dry, sun-drenched rockeries. Growing to a maximum height of 10 cm, it forms pretty tufts and displays its charming sky-blue flowers with a strongly marked white throat, on slender blue-green linear foliage.
A must for this spring bulb: perfectly drained soil, or it will rot. Note that the blue crocus of Chile dislikes scorching summers or temperatures that are too cold (it will still tolerate down to -5°C under good cultivation conditions) and is among bulbs reserved for experienced gardeners.
For its early-season flowering, between February and March, it will enliven a rock garden of alpine type or a scree garden, or join a stone trough, surrounded by sedums and Pulsatilla that will take over, followed in turn by the deep blue bloom of Alpine aquilegia.
Lire aussi : 6 bulbs easy to naturalise.
Allium cernuum 'White Dwarf' : a wild charm for natural borders
What a delightful crowd-pleaser with this pendulous ornamental onion! Here is the white version of Allium cernuum, an onion with a similarly pendulous head, which adds to its charm, much like its Bulgaria-loving cousin.
Emerging its foliage in spring, it is in summer that the Allium cernuum 'White Dwarf' rewards us with its small, white, pendant umbels on curved stems for many weeks. This pure white bloom, formed by around twenty small flowers, is also melliferous.
Adopt this original and compact ornamental onion if you want to fill gaps in natural, English-style or cottage-style borders. It will be perfectly complemented by a handful of taller Galtonias, scabious and Allium millenium, in a rosy-mauve harmony, and by the light foliage of grasses such as Pennisetums or Stipas.
The Tulipa 'Striped Crown' : the sophisticated legacy of tulipomania
Let us finish this selection with another very beautiful tulip, in pink tones this time, with 'Striped Crown'. This tulip is part of full-season tulips, blooming in April, a little earlier or later in the month depending on exposure. It is distinguished by its specific form, in the Coronet group of tulips, with petals that are tweaked and curled.
Its shape, its cream colour enlivened with raspberry pink, varying with bulbs, its originality aimed at reproducing the striped motifs of Dutch tulips from the 17th-century tulipmania... All of this prefigures 'Striped Crown' joining a small, sophisticated and precious garden at the foot of spring-flowering shrubs, but also a well-presented pot where you may prefer to let it dominate without other flowers. You can also simply grow it to use in unique bouquets. Like all tulips, give it well-drained soil so you can enjoy it again year after year.
Lire aussi : Tulipomania: when a tulip was worth the price of a house
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