An Overview of Spring Bulb Plants

By Dave Pipitone

A spring bulb is one that is usually planted in the fall, and lies dormant and then blooms in the spring. Tulips are one example of a popular flower that blooms in the spring. In order to choose the right spring bulb varieties for your area you may want consider several facts about these types of bulb plants.

One factor that could affect how many flowers are produced after the first year is the site in which they were planted. If the place in which you have planted your flowers is not appropriate for growing certain types of flowers, such as the tulip, you will need to relocate.

You also may need to consider adding a substance such as peat moss to the soil. Another factor that could affect tulip flower production could be that the climate that you are in is either too warm or too cold for producing bulb plants such as tulips.

Either that or they could have been stored in too hot or too dry of a place, or stored for too long, either before or after purchase.

Spring bulb plants that have been produced as force potted plants or hybridized as cut flowers may not grow well in your area. If that is the case, you may want to reconsider your options, and do more research.

With all the varieties of tulip bulbs available you are sure to find one that will grow in your area, if you are within hardiness zones 3 through 7.

One more piece of information you need to know regarding tulip bulbs is that many of the bulbs from them have been commercially produced in the Netherlands, which may be very different from where you are located.

The soil that these Dutch bulbs have been planted in is usually perfectly drained, and it is never too hot or never too cold. Not only that, but they have been planted deep enough, in soil that is fertilized just right.

Not only that, but spring seasons in the Netherlands are long and cool which allows more time for the plant foliage to grow and mature. However, many different varieties of tulips still grow in the United States and other places.

Some examples of spring bulb tulips that thrive very well in the U.S. for at least 3 to 5 years include the Tulipa Tarda, Tulipa Candela, Tulipa "Orange Emperor", Triumph Tulip, and Red Emperor. You can find many more types that will bloom in different areas of the United States as well.

Some of them are single blooming tulips while others are double blooming blossoms. Most of the ones you see in the United States, however, are the single blooming tulips.

In the process of purchasing bulbs size also matters. Although the size may vary according to variety, you always want to choose the biggest ones available of each variety of tulips. These are the ones that are most likely to grow. For more tips on planting tulips, read other articles listed at the bottom of this page.

An Overview of Spring Bulb Plants

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