SUMMER BLOOMING BULBS

Barbara J. Bromley, Mercer County Horticulturist 2004

 

Crocosmia, dahlias, gladiolas, Acidanthera and the other summer bulbs are a welcome addition to annuals and perennials that bloom in hot weather. To be able to enjoy these blooms this summer, spring is the time to select new bulbs and prepare the soil.

TYPES OF BULBS

These five different structures are all storage organs for both spring and summer blooming plants that vary slightly in origin or components. For simplicity they will all be referred to as "bulbs" except when discussing planting depth.

• True bulb (enlarged, vertical, modified bud): lily, allium
• Corm (vertical stem swollen with food -storage tissue): crocus, gladiolus, freesia, montbretia
• Tuber (underground, horizontal, food-storing stem): anemone, tuberous begonia (tuberous stem)
• Tuberous root (roots with fleshy food-storing parts): dahlia, ranunculus
• Rhizome (horizontal stem, roots from lower side and stems or leaves from the tip): iris, lily-of-the-valley

 

BULB SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS

1. Height: Keep low plants to the front of the bed. Taller plants form the background.
2. Color: Experiment with the wide range of colors available. Use just one color, (such as a mass of red dahlias), a subtle blend of tones or a wild splash of color.
3. Pest Resistance: Deer, rabbits, insects and others eat the foliage, flowers, and bulbs of some plants.
4. Time of bloom: Select a variety of bulbs that will bloom from late spring to fall.

SITE SELECTION

For most bulbs select an area that has well-drained soil and full sun to very light shade. To increase the visual impact of smaller bulbs, plant them where they can be easily seen. Plant large numbers (200 or more) if the area is more than 30 feet from where people walk or from a window. Possible areas are: next to entry ways, under deciduous trees, in front of evergreens, in open flower beds, and among ground covers and perennials that will hide yellowing bulb foliage.

PREPARATION

1. Order mail order bulbs as soon as catalogs arrive. When buying from local suppliers, purchase bulbs as soon as they come into the store, if possible. Not only will there be a better selection, but they will be less likely to desiccate (dry out) from improper storage.
2. Have a soil test run to determine soil reaction (pH). A pH of 6.0 to 7.0 is desirable for most bulbs. Add limestone or wood ash to the soil to raise pH, if required.
3. Remove and compost grass covering the area and dig out stumps, large roots, and other obstructions. Spread 2-3" of compost, leaf mold, or other organic matter over the bed area. Add sand to improve texture of heavy clay soils.
4. Fertilize using one or more of the following:
   • Bone meal (1-11-0 to 4-12-0) Use 4-6 lbs./100 sq. ft. when used as the only fertilizer. For individual bulbs the rate is 1 teaspoon per hole for minor (small) bulbs, and 1 tablespoon per hole for major (large) bulbs. Be sure to mix into soil thoroughly so the bulb does not have direct contact with the bone meal.
   • 5-10-5 at 3-lbs/100 sq. ft. or another analysis and rate as recommended by soil test.
   • Dehydrated or well-rotted manure (2-1-1). Spread a 1-inch layer over planting bed.
   • Specially formulated bulb fertilizers: Follow label directions.
5. Spade or rototill needed amounts of lime, organic matter, fertilizer, and sand into the soil to a depth of 8 to 12 inches. (This depth allows at least 3" of improved soil below the bulb for root development.) Rake smooth.

PLANTING

1. Plant as soon as bulbs are purchased or received from the supplier to prevent drying out, or plant as soon as conditions permit. If warm soil is necessary, wait until mid May or so.
2. Depth of planting is about 2 ˝ to 3 times the diameter of the bulb measured to the bulb's shoulder; deeper in sandy soil, shallower in heavy soils. Recommendations for tubers, tuberous roots, and rhizomes do not follow this rule.
3. Plant in clumps, not lines; in groupings, not as individuals for the best display. Plant bulbs like gladiolus over several weeks if an extended bloom period is desired.
4. Planting large numbers of bulbs of the same size is easier if an area is excavated to the proper depth, bulbs are laid out, and then improved soil is filled in around them. Bulbs planted among other plants and groups of bulbs of different sizes are better planted individually.
5. Water thoroughly. It takes a lot of water to reach bulbs planted 6 to 8 inches deep. Do not allow the soil to dry out during dry periods since roots are forming.

AFTER PLANTING CARE:

1. Mulching: Most summer blooming bulbs are not hardy and are dug in the fall for winter storage indoors. Those that are marginally winter hardy can be mulched heavily after the ground is frozen to a depth of at least 2" to protect from deep freezes, from heaving caused by alternate freezing and thawing and from premature emergence during warm spells in winter. Mulches during the growing season are useful for weed suppression, moisture retention, and soil temperature moderation.
2. "Deadheading" Spent, withered flowers should be removed to prevent the bulb from putting its energy into seed production instead of bulb development for the next year.
3. Foliage Removal: Cut off the foliage only after the leaves have yellowed and withered. Leaves are necessary for photosynthesis (food production that feeds the bulb) to occur.
4. Winter Storage: After bulbs are dug, rinsed, and allowed to dry for several days, they are stored indoors in a box or paper or plastic bag containing dry peat. Store in a cool, dry, dark area and check occasionally to be sure they haven’t started to rot or to grow. If they are growing relocate to a cooler, darker spot. Check references for specific storage requirements of different bulbs.

PROPAGATION

Propagation techniques useful for making new plants include scoring, seeding, scaling, bulb cuttings, rhizome division, stem cuttings, division of tuberous roots, and propagation of structures that develop from the mother bulb. Bulbs multiply from the following structures:

• Offsets (splits or spoons) - develop within the mother bulb, and then break away.
• Bulblets - develop just above or below the mother bulb.
• Bulbils - tiny bulbs that develop along the stem above ground.
• Cormels - small offsets that develop around the edge of a corm.
• Pips - underground rootstalks or shoots produced by rhizomes.

PESTS

Fortunately, many summer bulbs are fairly resistant, but possible pests include earwigs, slugs, mites, aphids, thrips, wireworms, nematodes, viral and fungal diseases, and animal pests (deer, rabbits, voles, squirrels). Consult your local Cooperative Extension office for up-to-date pest control.

 

Summer Blooming Bulb list for New Jersey Gardens

Botanical Name	Common Name	Type-Zone	Comments WD=well drained
Acidanthera bicolor	Abyssinian gladiolus	Corm/7	Sunny WD site
Agapanthus africanus	African lily	Rhizome/9	Full sun, high organic, WD, light watering no feeding in winter.
Allium aflatunense	Ornamental onion	Bulb/4	Purple, 2-5’ tall, plant in fall
Allium caeruleum	Blue allium	Bulb/4	1-2’ tall, sky-blue flower
Allium gigantium	Giant allium	Bulb/4	1-6’ tall, purple giant flowers
Allium sphaerocephalum	Drumstick allium	True bulb/4	WD, best in full sun
Allium tuberosum	Garlic chive	Bulb/4	Reseeds excessively, WD, sun
Alstroemeria aurantiaca	Peruvian lily	Tuberous root/6	WD, sandy soil, FS/LS, few flowers first year
Amaryllis belladonna	Belladonna lily	True bulb/5	Flower appears after foliage dies fragrant, mulch well
Anemone coronaria	Poppy anemone	Tuber/7
Begonia grandis	Hardy begonia	Tuber/6	Heavy winter mulch
Begonia x tuberhybridis	Tuberous begonia	Tuber/9	LS best, moist organic soil, dig in fall, start early indoors
Belamcanda chinensis	Blackberry lily	Rhizome, tuberous root/5	FS/LS, WD, Humusy rich soil
Bletilla striata	Chinese ground orchid	Pseudobulb/5	Loam/compost/sand mix
Caladium x hortulanum	Fancy-leaved caladium	Tuber/10	Shade, moist, start indoors, slugs a problem
Canna generalis	Common garden canna	Rhizome/7	sun, humus-rich soil, dig in fall
Cardiocrinum giganteum	Giant Himalayan lily	True bulb/7	WD, moisture retentive, LS, cool soil, organic
Colchicum autumnale	Autumn crocus	Corm/4	WD, humus-rich, sun/LS, plant in fall, poisonous if eaten
Colocasia spp.	Elephant ear, taro	Tuberous root/9	FS/LS, moist organic mix, pots
Crinum powellii	Crinum lily	True bulb/8	WD, moisture-retentive, south sun, white-pink
Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora	Montbretia	Corm/7	Sheltered sun-LS, WD, humus-rich, heavy winter mulch
Crocus speciosus	Autumn flowering crocus	Corm/6	WD, sun or LS, moist year round
Cyclamen spp.	Hardy cyclamen (not florist’s cyclamen)	Tuber (corm)/5	WD, humus-rich, partial shade
Dahlia pinnata	Dahlia hyb: Single, anemone, water-lily, semi-cactus, ball, decorative, cactus, misc.	Tuberous root/8	WD, 1-7’ tall, at least a few hours of sun. Divide every two years, support tall varieties.
Dierama spp.	Fairy wand	Corm/7	WD, sun, to 6’ tall, delicate
Eremurus bungei	Foxtail lily, desert candle	Tuberous root/4	WD, lot of sun, sandy soil, 3-7’
Galtonia candicans	Summer hyacinth	True bulb/5	WD, sun, moist organic, heavy winter mulch, fragrant, white
Gladiolus spp. G. byzantinus, G. illyricus, G. tristis,G.x gandavensis G x hortulanus, G.x Colvillei, et. al.	Gladiolus	Corm/5-7	Plant every 7-10 days until about 2 months before the first fall frost. Best to dig in fall and reset each spring. Fertilize as spikes appear and after bloom. Support with stakes or hilled soil. Thrips a pest.
Gloriosa rothschildiana	Glory-lily	Tuber/8	4-8’ vining stem, LS, enriched soil, pot, yellow-edged crimson
Gloriosa superba	Glory lily	Tuber/8	Container best
Hemerocallis fulva	Tawny daylily	Tuberous root/4	FS/shade, WD, very tolerant
Hemerocallis hyb.	Daylily hybrids	Tuberous root/4	FS/PS, moist soil, some fragrant
Hymenocallis narcissiflora	Peruvian daffodil, spider lily	Bulb/8	Fragrant, white, keep moist, pots, organic, store 65° in winter
Ixia spp.	African corn lily	Corm/8	Prefers dry US west and southwest, WD
Leucojum autumnale	Autumn snowflake	Bulb/5	Plant in fall, prefers sandy soil, FS, WD
Lilium spp. and hyb.	True lilies	Bulb/4-7	Plant in fall or spring, stake tall varieties, good cut, discard virused plants, WD
Lilium trumpet hyb	Aurelian lily		4-6’, July/Aug bloom
Lilium candidum hyb	Candidum lily		3-4’, Jun/July
Lilium oriental hyb	Oriental lily hyb.		Aug, 2-8’, fragrant
Lilium martagon hyb	Turk’s cap, Martagon lily		3-6’, pink, Jun/Jul
Lilium Asiatic hyb	Asiatic lily		2-5’, many colors, compact growth
Lilium longiflorum hyb	Easter lily, white trumpet lily		2-3’, Jul/Aug, fragrant, isolate from other lilies
Lilium auratum	Gold band lily		5-6’, July/Aug
Lilium canadense	Meadow lily
Lilium candidum	Madonna lily		2-4’, cover with 1" of soil, late Jun/Jul, plant in late summer
Lilium chalcedonicum	Scarlet Turk’s cap		2-4’, July
Lilium lancifolium (L. tigrinum)	Tiger lily		2-4’, Jul/Aug, orange with black spots, FS/LS
Lilium regale	Regal lily		3-6’, white, July/Aug
Lilium speciosum	Japanese lily		4-6’, Aug/Sept
Lilium superbum	American Turk’s cap		3-8’, late Jul/early Sept, orange to scarlet
Lycoris radiata	Red spider lily	Bulb/8	FS/LS, fragrant, best in pots
Nerine bowdenii	Nerine lily	Bulb/9	Container
Ornithogalum thyrsoides	Wonder flower, chincherinchee	Bulb/7	Sun/LS, any soil, white, 1 ˝’
Oxalis adenophylla	Chilean oxalis	Bulb/4	Hardy, lilac pink flowers
Oxalis regnellii	Shamrock oxalis	Bulb/9	FS, dry off during dormancy, white flowers
Pancratium spp.	pancratium	Bulb/9	Just like Hymenocallis
Polyanthes tuberosa	Tuberose	Bulb/9	Very fragrant, FS, 60° night, start indoors in containers
Sparaxis tricolor	Harlequin flower	Corm/9	5-6 bulbs per 6"pots, FS, allow to dry out after bloom.
Sprekelia formosissima	Aztec lily, Jacobean lily	Bulb/8	FS, orchid-like, 12", dry after flowering
Sternbergia lutea	Lily-of-the-field	Bulb/6	Gold, crocus-like, winter mulch, bloom Sept.
Tigridia pavonia	Tiger flower, shellflower	Bulb/9	Many colors, FS, sandy moist organic soil. Store cold in winter
Triteleia hyacinthine (Brodiaea)	Wild hyacinth, white brodiaea	Corm/6	Sun, very WD, plant in fall, mulch, purple-white
Tritonia crocata	Montbretia, saffron tritonia	Corm/7	FS, many colors, good cut
Vallota speciosa (Cyrtanthus purpurea)	Scarborough lily	Bulb/10	Containers, blooms best when potbound
Watsonia beatricis	Bugle-lily	Corm/8	Pink or red, containers, good cut
Zantedescia aethiopica	Calla lily	Rhizome/9	Keep moist or boggy during growth and bloom, then dry off.
Zephranthes spp.	Zephyr lily	Bulb/7	6-8" tall, solitary bloom, mostly white or pink

 

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