Flower bulbs for late-winter colour

Credit: GardenWise

Q: I’ve planted daffodils and tulips in the past, but I wonder what other bulbs you might suggest for late-winter colour?

Winter crocuses

Winter aconites

Snowdrops

Undaunted by late-winter snow flurries, three little beauties peep out of the ground before many of their showier cohorts. Plant them in a location you’ll travel past in winter – along a path or close to your door.

Among the earliest crocuses are cultivars of Crocus chrysanthus, whose goblet-shaped flowers might be white, yellow, blue or purple, often with contrasting veining. C. tommasinianus is also an early riser and noted for vigour. Crocus corms need sharp drainage. Full sun is best; a bit of summer drought is acceptable.

Winter aconites (Eranthis hyemalis) are European woodland plants that grow from lumpy tubers. Their bright-yellow flowers appear in late winter, each set off with a ruff of glossy green leaves. Keep them happy with generous applications of dolomite lime and moist soil, including extra water in summer. They’ll quickly spread, in both full sun or dappled shade.

The various snowdrops (Galanthus) are charming additions to the winter garden. They like light shade and humus-rich, well-drained soil. Like winter aconites, snowdrops will perish if they dry out in summer. Tuck them above a wall under deciduous trees so you can see up into their nodding flowers.