Spruce up Shady Spots with Easy-Care Bulbs
Planting spring bulbs in shady spaces might possibly be the easiest way to spruce up the often-forgotten areas of the landscape with colour, form and texture. They are just as easy to plant as their sun-loving companions, but they seem to deliver so much more impact to their site. At Breck’s, we take great pride in offering the best bulbs for shade available for fall planting and spring delight. Just take a look at all the options you have to give the darkened areas of your property a big beauty boost.
How Much Shade is Too Much?
It is important to note that all plants need at least a little sun in order to grow and thrive. Bulbs, especially, should not be planted where they receive absolutely no light. For instance, avoid siting them beneath evergreen shrubs and dense tree lines. They can, however, develop nicely under deciduous varieties because the bulbs begin flowering before the foliage appears on the trees and/or shrubbery.
Bulbs for shade do not need direct sunlight unless they are shaded by any additional sources, such as an outbuilding or a thick stand of bushes. Some will prefer a dry shade, while others will thrive in moist sites where the soil does not completely dry out. Below, we have selected some of our favourite shade lovers that are sure to become garden must-haves for your landscape.
The dainty violet-blue blooms of English Bluebells create a living carpet of colour and beauty for shady sites in late spring. Naturalizing beautifully, the impressive plants spread easily and increase yearly. Plus, the flowers continue to appear for up to four weeks in borders, rock gardens and mixed beds.
Another petite beauty to brighten shadowy garden beds is Spanish Bells (also known as Wood Hyacinth). Clusters of tiny, bell shaped blooms hang delicately from arching stems above glossy, green foliage. The flowers come in blue, white or pink, so there is a variety to suit everyone’s aesthetic. Plant them along tree lines or between shrubs for a colourful late-spring display.
Snowdrops add a touch of bright white to sun-dappled borders and beds. They are available in both single and double forms—each one bears unique, creamy white blooms that dangle delicately from strong stems in the very early days of spring. The low growing plants are ideal for flanking shrubbery or adorning the area beneath deciduous trees.
For adding colour and beautiful form to dry shade, consider Hardy Cyclamen. Late summer brings up to 30 blooms per mature plant—each with a unique butterfly shape and a lush rose-pink hue. But even after the flowers fade from view, the marbled, heart-shaped foliage will remain throughout the winter months. We love hardy cyclamen for rock gardens and shadowed borders.
Our garden pros love adding texture and light to moist, shady sites, such as wooded areas or near a shadowy waterside. One of our favourite choices for this is Fair Maids of France. This unusual cultivar features white, fully double flowers that float above mounding foliage that stays green year round. Seldom seen in the U.S.
One of the most unique and eye-catching bulb plants you can choose is Arum italicum. This three-season choice delivers exotic green blooms in early summer, followed by clusters of orange-red berries later in the season, while the marbled, silvery veined foliage remains through the fall. Gardeners on the West Coast beware—this bulb can become invasive.
We love what the lovely, yet totally unexpected, blooms of Dog’s Tooth Violet (also known as Erythronium) do for the part-shade landscape. Whether planted in large groups or as a solo focal point planting, they really wow in early spring when they give these shadowy sites a colourful pop! The blooms are small, measuring a mere 1–2 inches across, and wear a cloak of rich rose-mauve accented with sunny yellow at their centre. Glossy green foliage with rich bronze freckles brightens up darkened spaces nicely.
Whether you choose to plant these shade lovers alone or with companion bulbs, you are sure to be blessed with tons of style, colour and beauty year after year. Try combining the above selections with other varieties, such as Crocus, Wood Anemones, Corydalis, Early Snow Glories or Trilliums, among others. Remember that when you buy from Breck’s, your purchases are backed by our No-Risk Guarantee, so you can rest assured you’ll get the best and brightest shade loving bulbs available.
