Bulbs to light up the spring

The waxy petals of highly perfumed hyacinths need to be displayed close to the house so that you get full benefit from their beauty and heady scent.

Likewise, tulips that bloom in May are just a nuisance in flower borders when you're itching to clear the bed ready for summer flowers.

Because different varieties of tulips bloom at different times, mixing them up is not the way to achieve the optimum display. Plant a single variety in separate containers and move the pots around so that those in flower take pride of place.

Variety names of tulips seem to develop year after year, so recommending varieties become more and more difficult.

Early flowering starts in March or April with dwarf Greigii and Kaufmanniana tulips, such as 'Red Riding Hood', 'Cape Cod' (red with yellow flushed edges) and 'Pinocchio' (red with white edges).

Depending on the number of containers you have to fill, you could continue with the May-blooming Darwin Hybrids such as 'Apeldoorn' (red), 'Apeldoorn Delight' (yellow flushed with red) or 'Olympic Flame' (bright yellow streaked with red).

Latest of all are the lily-flowered tulips that have reflexed and pointed petals that form urn-shaped flowers on tall wiry stems. 'Queen of Sheba' is red with white highlights, while 'Maytime' is lilac mauve with the same white edges. Perhaps most attractive of all is the soft pink blooms of 'China Pink'.

After planting your spring bulbs, it's well worth topping off the container with spring bedding such as wallflowers, winter pansies or double daisies (bellis). These will not only provide a contrasting flower form but will also give some support to the tall stems of some of the tulips.

YP MAG 18/9/10