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9 Bulbs to Plant Now for Spring

9 Bulbs to Plant Now for Spring

By Gene B Bussell

September 10, 2012

Credit: Ralph Lee Anderson

The perfect time to plant spring-blooming bulbs is right now. But with so many bulbs to choose from, which ones should you plant?

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Garden Now, Enjoy Later

Credit: Photo: Ralph Lee Anderson

Bulbs are some of the best perennials for Southern gardens. They work well planted en masse and are good for naturalizing. They like soil that is loose and well-drained. Plant in a location that gets lots of sun from January through early May.

Buy Them Now! Several of these bulbs are in the Southern Living Plant Collection. Look for them at your local nursery, or order online at southernbulbs.com. Other great mail-order sources for bulbs include oldhousegardens.com or brentandbeckybulbs.com.

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'Grand Primo' Daffodils

Credit: Photo: Ralph Lee Anderson

One bulb produces two or three stalks, each bearing multiple flowers. Creamy white petals with a yellow center cup. Extremely fragrant. Good multiplier. Blooms beginning in late February.

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Jonquils

Credit: Photo: Ralph Lee Anderson

Small, dime-size blooms with grassy foliage. Amazing sweet fragrance. Naturalizes. One of the first flowers to bloom, late February.

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Snowflake

Credit: Photo: Ralph Lee Anderson

Airy clouds of little white bells with a green dot at the end of each petal. Beautiful upright, silvery-green foliage. Good multiplier. Blooms early March.

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'Golden Dawn' Daffodil

Credit: Photo: Ralph Lee Anderson

One bulb produces two or three stalks, each bearing multiple flowers with yellow petals and a golden center cup. Sweetly scented. Good multiplier. Blooms mid-March to early April.

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Grape Hyacinth

Credit: Photo: Ralph Lee Anderson

Blue clusters of tiny bell-shaped blooms. Not fragrant. Good for naturalizing and for rock gardens. Blooms mid-March.

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'Lady Jane' Tulip

Credit: Photo: Ralph Lee Anderson

Elegant pink-and-white blooms that will remind you of peppermint candy. Best planted en masse. Blooms late March.

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Campernelle

Credit: Photo: Ralph Lee Anderson

Each bulb produces two or three stalks with multiple golden trumpet-shaped blooms per stalk. Sweetly fragrant. Grows in clumps. Blooms late February.

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Byzantine Gladiolus

Credit: Photo: Ralph Lee Anderson

Brilliant magenta blooms wave from swordlike foliage. Unforgettable in the garden. Forms large clumps with strong stalks. Blooms mid-April.

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'Tinka' Tulip

Credit: Ralph Lee Anderson

Joyful blooms of red and pale yellow. Looks great with grape hyacinths. Best planted en masse. Blooms late March.

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