Which country producers most of the world’s tulips? If you guessed Holland, you’d be right!

Tulips are spring-blooming perennials. Their roots develop in the early fall and then go dormant until early spring. Leaves can start emerging from the soil as early as February or as late as May. These come in a variety of shapes including ruffled, single, double, fringed, and more.

Planting tips: plant bulbs about 5-7” deep and 4-5” apart, placing them in the ground with their pointy ends up. Water well once and wait until spring. After flowers have bloomed, do not trim foliage.

Allium flowers grow on the end of leafless stalks. Alliums are close relatives to onion, garlic and scallion. They are also known as “ornamental onions.” The clumps of bulbs can also be separated and replanted separately to multiply after flowering is over. These bulbs are relatively low maintenance and could be grown in a deep pot when needed, too.

Planting tips: plant bulbs about 4-8” deep and 6-8” apart. They thrive in full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Alliums are not fussy about soil, but they will not survive in soggy conditions.

Crocuses grow 2 to 4 inches tall. Their blooms offer a variety of different vibrant colours. Many produce strong fragrances that attracts pollinators. They are small clump-forming perennials. Saffron spice comes from saffron crocus flowers. The spice is the red stigmas of the flower. Each flower will only produce approximately 3 stigmas. These flowers generally come up 6-8 weeks after planting, but occasionally wait until the 2nd fall to appear.

Planting tips: plant bulbs 3-4” deep, pointy end up. After planting, water well. Plant them in groups or clusters rather than in a single line, about 3-4” apart.

Narcissus flowers, commonly known as daffodils are one of the most popular bulbs. They bloom for weeks on end, aren’t bothered by deer, thrive in both the garden and in pots, and are easy to plant and care for. These flowers are named after the Greek mythological story of Narcissus who fell madly in love with his reflection in the water. He was found next to a bright yellow flower, which later was named after him.

Planting tips: plant bulbs about 3-6” deep and 4-5” apart, placing them in the ground with their pointy ends up. Water well once and wait for spring. Do not cut foliage once they have bloomed.

Did you know Hyacinths belong to the same family as asparagus? It was also named after the Greek god Hyakinthos. These fragrant flowers make a great addition to flower beds and tend to be avoided by rabbits.

Planting tips: plant bulbs about 4-6” deep and 6” apart. They thrive in full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Ensure that soil is well-draining. After the flower has bloomed, cut off the stalk of the flower.

Muscari are commonly known as grape hyacinths due to the clusters of bell-shaped flowers. Rarely disrupted by deer and rodents, these make a great choice if you live near a forest or river valley. Muscari typically flower mid- to late-spring. These will multiply on their own.

Planting tips: plant bulbs about 4” deep and 3” apart. These can be planted in full sun or partial shade. Only water if conditions are particularly dry.

The variety Fritillaria Meleagris is also known as Guinea Hen Flower or Snake’s head fritillary. These varieties need only be planted a couple inches deep. It is important to note that the planting depth and spacing varies among some varieties. For larger varieties like Crown Imperials, plant 6″-8″ deep and about 12″ apart. On the other hand, the Fritillaria Michailowsky should only be planted about 4″ deep and 6″-8″ apart.

Since fritillarias vary so much in their planting instructions, a good habit is to plant them about 3 times deeper than the size of the bulb. Space these apart more than you would other bulbs. Just about double the planting depth should suffice.

‘Galanthus’ means milk flower in Greek and gracefully describes these drooping, delicate flowers. Interestingly, a compound called galantamine can be extracted from these flowers. This is used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

Planting tips: plant bulbs about 3″ apart and 3″ deep. These may take over a year to be established, so don’t fret if your snowdrop does not flower for a while.  Choose a spot that is partially sunny to shaded.