Spring-flowering bulbs for colorful accents

When it comes to planting schemes, flower bulbs are a useful addition to extend the flowering period. With their vibrant colors and wide variety, they have great ornamental value and create color accents in green cities from early spring onwards. Flower bulbs also boost biodiversity and contribute to people’s well-being.

Biodiversity

Flower bulbs increase the quality of urban green spaces, from verges, parks, and gardens to bowls or containers at prominent points in neighborhoods or shopping streets. In green connection zones, bulb types with plenty of nectar and pollen are particularly welcome, such as Galanthus nivalis (snowdrop), Eranthis hyemalis (winter aconite), and Crocus tommasinianus (early crocus). After all, some bumblebee species appear as early as February.

Bulbs for naturalising

Bulbs that are suitable for naturalizing, such as Fritillaria meleagris (snake’s head fritillary), Scilla, Muscari (grape hyacinth), and Allium work well in combination with perennials. Plantings of this type will grow to cover a planting bed in a single season and come back for years. They require hardly any maintenance: mowing once in spring and then only checking for litter and weeds along the edges. Naturalizing bulbs also thrive in grass. There are special planting machines for this very purpose.

An explosion of color

You could plant just a single variety, or a mix of varieties on every site. The latter will result in months of flowering with ever-changing shapes, heights, and colors. After that, summer bulbs will take over the task of providing the explosion of color. Research has shown that plants with striking colors, fragrances, shapes, and structures positively affect our health and well-being.

Tip

The growing conditions in tree beds are not suitable for many plants since the tree drains water and nutrients. However, flower bulbs will thrive there, resulting in small oases dotted around the city. Combine them with seeds to extend flowering in summer.