Spruce up Shady Spots with Easy-Care Bulbs
Planting fall-planted bulbs in shady spaces might possibly be the easiest way to spruce up the often-forgotten areas of your 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. 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.
Top 6 Fall-Planted Bulbs For Shade
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. Flowering 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. Different varieties bloom in either late winter, late spring, or late summer/fall.
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 bloom in either a lilac-purple variety or a pretty white-flowering variety. Glossy green foliage with rich bronze freckles brightens up darkened spaces nicely.
It is thrilling to watch these eager Dutch wonders emerge out of the snow and signal the spring season. Fabulous sky-blue flowers provide much-needed colour – or grow a mix of flower colors for variety. These low-maintenance bulbs will naturalize and spread over time. They are especially attractive when planted in large groups in the lawn and beneath trees and shrubs.
Looking for bulbs that naturalize in shade?
You’re in the right place. English bluebells, Spanish bells, Snowdrops, Cyclamen, Dog’s Tooth Violets, and Early Snow Glories will all naturalize and spread over time in the right conditions.
What To Plant With Bulbs For Shade
Try combining the above selections with other varieties, such as Crocus, Woodland Anemones, Corydalis, Early Snow Glories or Trilliums, among others.
As experts in all things flower bulbs, Breck’s also offers a Shade Daffodil Mixture, a curated mix that features the most shade-tolerant daffodils based on years of testing. All the varieties have proven to come back year after year in woodland areas.
For even more color in your shade garden, add perennials and spring-planted bulbs too.
Learn More: Best Shade Perennials & Shade Garden Ideas and Best Spring-Planted Bulbs For Shade Gardens & Containers
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. 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.