A wonderful addition to the front of a border or lawn, bulbs in the green are great naturalising bulbs and in spring will provide your garden with a carpet of colour. Our selection of spectacular bulbs in the green are a lovely way to introduce some traditional charm and elegance to your garden.

The main advantage of planting bulbs in the green is that you can be sure that the plants are alive and healthy when you plant them. Planting in the green helps them absorb moisture quickly after they have been planted, as dry, rootless bulbs do not re-establish as well.

Probably one of the easiest bulbs to grow, at J. Parker’s we lift bulbs in the green with their foliage intact, so all you will need to do is replant them on arrival. All our bulbs in the green are supplied from nursery raised stock, and not from the wild.

HOW TO PLANT

For the best chance of success, small spring-flowering bulbs should be planted whilst they have leaves in early spring immediately after they have flowered with their foliage intact. Small bulbs can dry out easily while in storage, so are better lifted while in growth then replanted immediately, rather than as dormant bulbs.

Bluebells, Snowdrops and Eranthis need soil that doesn’t dry out. Therefore, they prefer a location which is sunny in winter but shaded in summer. An ideal place to plant them is under a deciduous tree.

Preparation:

• Prepare your chosen planting site before delivery of your plants so that you can plant them as quickly as possible upon arrival.
• The ground where they are to be planted should be enriched with compost or well-rotted organic matter.

Planting:

• When your plants arrive in a bundle, gently tease them apart taking care not to damage the roots. Plant within 3 days of delivery.
• Plant the bulbs at the same depth they were growing before they were lifted; you can see where this was form the level at which the leaves change from white to green. Everything that was below soil level before lifting is white, but if you’re unsure approximately 8-10cm will be okay.
• Back fill the hole and around the bulbs, compacting lightly. Water the plants immediately.

BLUEBELLS

The original much-loved English Bluebell naturalises bountifully, particularly in the shade of trees where other plants would struggle. These flowers are extremely distinctive in their lilac-blue colour and bell shaped blooms, and due to their fragrance are wonderful for attracting bees, moths and butterflies. Reaching a height of 20-25cm they can also be grown in containers, and so are suitable for gardens of all sizes.

SNOWDROPS

The arrival of snowdrops poking up through the ground is one of the first signs that spring is around the corner. This beautifully traditional plant produces delicate bell-shaped, pure white flowers. Plant in drifts beneath a deciduous tree to give your garden a whimsically woodland feel. Snowdrops reach an approximate height of 10cm and bloom from January through to March.

ERANTHIS

Eranthis, also known as Winter Aconites, are a relative of the buttercup and add a lovely burst of vibrant yellow to the garden in early spring. Their attractive green flower-shaped foliage grows around the yellow petals and covers the ground long after the flowers have disappeared. These flowers are easy plants to grow: flowering reliably and often the earliest to bloom in spring.

Shop our full range of bulbs in the green here.