Introduction
Plant Selection
Hardy, Semi-hardy, Tender
Heat and
Drought Tolerant
Shade Tolerant Annuals
Fragrant Annuals
Ornamental Foliage
Climbing Annuals
Hanging Baskets
Cut Flowers
Planting
Starting Plants
Maintenance
Insects Problems
Disease Problems
Introduction
Plant Selection
Plant Dimension Characteristics
Specific Site Conditions
Classification by Bloom Periods
Perennials That Attract Wildlife
Planting
Starting Plants
Care and Maintenance
Introduction
Plant Selection
Planting Bulbs
Purchasing Bulbs
Care & Maintenance
Introduction
Plant Selection
Mature Size
Grasses for Specific Uses
Planting Ornamental Grasses
Obtaining Plants
Care & Maintenance
Introduction
Container Selection
Soil Mixes
Container Placement
Plant Selection
Plant Care
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Plant Selection
Bulbs can be categorized into groups, based on growth characteristics or intended use, making selection easier. Useful groupings include season of bloom and hardiness.
Daffodils are among the favorite spring bulbs
Season of Bloom
Spring Flowering Bulbs:
When considering bulbs, most people think of the common spring blooming flowers, including the crocus, daffodil, and tulip. These are plants that emerge relatively early in the spring, bloom for a short period of time, then die back and wait for next spring to repeat the process. These bulbs are usually hardy under most Idaho conditions and once planted need minimal care. Spring bulbs suitable for planting in Idaho include:
| Anemone |
Anemone Blanda |
Mid-spring |
N, SW, SC |
| Cammassia |
Cammassia leichtlinii |
Late spring |
N, SW, SC, SE |
| Chionodoxa |
Chionodoxa forbesii |
Early spring |
N, SW, SC, SE, HA |
| Crocus |
Crocus spp. |
Very early to mid-spring |
N, SW, SC, SE, HA |
| Daffodil |
Narcissus spp. |
Early to late spring |
N, SW, SC, SE, HA |
| Fritillaria |
Fritillaria spp. |
Mid-spring |
N, SW, SC, SE |
| Grape Hyacinth |
Muscari armeniacum |
Early to mid-spring |
N, SW, SC, SE, HA |
| Hyacinth |
Hyacithus orientalis |
Early spring |
N, SW, SC |
| Iris |
Iris spp. |
Late spring |
N, SW, SC, SE |
| Leucojum |
Leucojum aestivum |
Mid-springm |
N, SW, SC, SE |
| Ornamental Onion |
Allium spp. |
Late spring |
N, SW, SC, SE |
| Ornithogalum |
Ornithogalum umbellatum |
Late spring |
N, SW, SC |
| Pink Buttercups |
Oxalis adenophylla |
Late spring |
N, SW, SC |
| Puschkinia |
Puschkinia libanotica |
Mid-spring |
N, SW, SC, SE, HA |
| Snowdrops |
Galanthus nivalis |
Very early spring |
N, SW, SC, SE, HA |
| Squill |
scilla siberica |
Early to late spring |
N, SW, SC, SE, HA |
| Tulip |
Tulipa spp. |
Mid to late spring |
N, SW, SC, SE, HA |
| Trout Lily |
Erythronium spp. |
Mid-spring |
N, SW, SC, SE, HA |
| Winter Aconite |
Eranthis cilicium |
Very early spring |
N, SW, SC, SE, HA |
Key to regional adaptation notes:
N = Northern Idaho valley locations in USDA zones 5 & 6, Moscow to Sandpoint.
SE = Southeastern Idaho valley locations in USDA zones 3 & 4 from Rexburg to Pocatello .
SC = South-central Idaho Magic Valley locations in USDA zones 4 & 5, Burley and Twin Falls .
SW = Southwestern Idaho Treasure Valley locations in USDA zones 5 & 6, Boise area (also Lewiston ).
HA = High altitude (>5,000 ft) areas of central, southeastern Idaho and similar locations elsewhere.
A University of Illinois web site provides pictures and descriptions of common spring bulbs at: http://web.aces.uiuc.edu/urban/bulbs/springbulbs.html .
Many lily species grow well in Idaho
Summer Flowering Bulbs:
Summer bulbs provide color after the spring flowers have stopped blooming. Many of them bridge the gap between spring bulbs and other perennials. Others bloom late into the summer. Summer bulbs are a mixture of those hardy in Idaho and those that are not hardy and must be treated as annuals. Non-hardy bulbs can be unearthed and stored for replanting the next year. Most of the tender summer bulbs are not recommended for planting in the shortest season areas of Idaho because of the potential for frost injury.
For more information on storing tender bulbs overwinter, view the North
Dakota Extension article found here
http://www.ext.nodak.edu/county/cass/horticulture/faq/flower/care.htm.
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Relative Bloom Time |
Regional Adaptation |
| Bulbs Hardy in Idaho* |
| Arum |
Arum italicum |
Early Summer |
N, SW |
| Brodiaea |
Brodiaea laxa |
Early summer |
N, SW |
| Foxtail Lily |
Eremurus spp. |
Early summer |
N, SW, SC |
| Hardy Gladiolus |
Gladiolus nanus |
Mid-summer |
N, SW, SC, SE |
| Iris |
Iris spp. |
Early summer |
N, SW, SC, SE |
| Ixiolirion |
Ixiolirion pallasii |
Early summer |
N, SW, SC |
| Lily |
Lillium spp. |
Early to late summer |
N, SW, SC, SE |
| Ornamental Onion |
Alliums spp. |
Early summer |
N, SW, SC, SE |
| Ornithogalum |
Ornithogalum umbellatum |
Early summer |
N, SW, SC |
| Peonies |
Paeonia x hybrida |
Early summer |
N, SW, SC, SE, HA |
| |
| Tender Summer Bulbs Grown as Annuals* |
| Begonia |
Begonia spp. |
Mid to late summer |
N, SW, SC, SE |
| Canna |
Canna spp. |
Late summer |
N, SW, SC, SE |
| Caladium |
Caladium spp. |
(colorful foliage) |
N, SW, SC, SE |
| Dahlia |
Dahlia spp. |
Mid-summer |
N, SW, SC, SE, HA |
| Gladiola |
Gladiolus spp. |
Early summer |
N, SW, SC, SE, HA |
*Hardy summer bulbs can be planted permanently into the garden, tender bulbs must be handled like annuals with the bulbs being harvested and stored indoors during the winter months.
Key to regional adaptation notes:
N = Northern Idaho valley locations in USDA zones 5 & 6, Moscow to Sandpoint.
SE = Southeastern Idaho valley locations in USDA zones 3 & 4 from Rexburg to Pocatello .
SC = South-central Idaho Magic Valley locations in USDA zones 4 & 5, Burley and Twin Falls .
SW = Southwestern Idaho Treasure Valley locations in USDA zones 5 & 6, Boise area (also Lewiston ).
HA = High altitude (>5,000 ft) areas of central, southeastern Idaho and similar locations elsewhere.
Caladiums provide great summer foliage color
Fall Flowering Bulbs:
: A few bulbs bloom during the fall season. Those listed
below are hardy in Idaho and include:
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Relative Bloom Time |
Regional Adaptation |
| Colchicum |
Colchicum autumnalis |
Late Fall |
N, SW, SC |
| Crocus (late types) |
Crocus spp. |
Late Fall |
N, SW, SC, SE |
| Hardy Cyclamen |
Cyclamen spp. |
Mid Fall |
N, SW, SC, SE |
| Lily |
Lillium spp. |
Mid Fall |
N, SW, SC, SE |
Key to regional adaptation notes:
N = Northern Idaho valley locations in USDA zones 5 & 6, Moscow to Sandpoint.
SE = Southeastern Idaho valley locations in USDA zones 3 & 4 from Rexburg to Pocatello .
SC = South-central Idaho Magic Valley locations in USDA zones 4 & 5, Burley and Twin Falls .
SW = Southwestern Idaho Treasure Valley locations in USDA zones 5 & 6, Boise area (also Lewiston ).
HA = High altitude (>5,000 ft) areas of central, southeastern Idaho and similar locations elsewhere.
Some Crocus species bloom in the fall
The International Bulb Society has constructed a picture gallery that includes most of the worlds bulb propagated plants. See this site at:
http://www.bulbsociety.org/GALLERY_OF_THE_WORLDS_BULBS/index.html
Two other sites are available to provide assistance with selection of
bulb plants. From North Carolina State University , a fact sheet:
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/bulbs-spring/bulletin31/gen_aspects.html.
From the University of Illinois , a detailed discussion of how to use bulbs in the landscape:
http://web.aces.uiuc.edu/urban/bulbs/landscaping.html
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