Bulbous plant
Encyclopedia
In horticulture
, a bulbous plant is an ornamental plant
, herbaceous or perennial species
which produce fleshly storage organs including true bulb
s as well as corm
s, tuber
s, rhizome
s, and tuberous roots. These subterranean organs store moisture and nutrients and are used by bulbous plants to survive winter or other adverse conditions such as summer drought and heat (estivation
) in a dormant state. The resting period may be in winter or summer, depending on the species under consideration.
is an underground vertical shoot
that has modified leaves
(or thickened leaf bases) that are used as food
storage organ
s by the plant
. A bulb's leaf bases generally do not support leaves, but contain food reserves to enable the plant to survive adverse conditions. The leaf bases may resemble scales, or they may overlap and surround the center of the bulb as with the onion
. A modified stem
forms the base of the bulb, and plant growth occurs from this basal plate
. Root
s emerge from the underside of the base, and new stems and leaves from the upper side.
Most true bulbs have their scales closely packed together (Hyacinthus) but some types, such as the Lily (Lilium
), they are loose and swollen. Most popular bulbs have a papery skin, the tunic, whose function is to protect the tissues within. Some true bulbs such as the Lily do not have a tunic and are therefore easily damaged by rough handling. Cardiocrinum
s dies after flowering but other bulbs are perennial. Vegetative reproduction
in true bulbs is by means of offsets called bulblets. Examples of species with true bulbs, apart from the already mentioned, are Muscari, Tulipa, Narcissus and Allium
.
is a short, vertical, swollen underground plant
stem
consisting of one or more internodes with at least one growing point, with protective leaves modified into skins or tunics. The thin tunic leaves are dry papery, dead petiole sheaths, formed from the leaves produced the year before, which act as a covering that protects the corm from insects and water loss. Internally a corm is mostly made of starch-containing parenchyma
cells above a circular basal node that grows roots. Corms are sometimes confused with true bulb
s; they are often similar in appearance to bulbs externally, but corms are internally structured with solid tissues, which distinguishes them from bulbs, which are mostly made up of layered fleshy scales that are modified leaves. As a result, when a corm is cut in half it is solid, but when a true bulb is cut in half it is made up of layers.
that growth underground, often sending out root
s and shoot
s from its nodes. Some plants have rhizomes that grow above ground or that lie at the soil surface, including some Iris
species. Usually, rhizomes have short internodes; they send out roots from the bottom of the nodes and new upward-growing shoots from the top of the nodes. For many plants, the rhizome is used by farmers and gardeners to propagate the plants by a process known as vegetative reproduction
. Examples of plants that are propagated this way include iris
es, Lily of the Valley
, Cannas
.
s or stolon
s. The tops or sides of the tuber produce shoots that grow into typical stems and leaves and the under sides produce root
s. They tend to form at the sides of the parent plant and are most often located near the soil surface. The below-ground stem tuber is normally a short-lived storage and regenerative organ developing from a shoot that branches off a mature plant. The offspring or new tubers, are attached to a parent tuber or form at the end of a hypogeogenous rhizome. In the fall the plant dies except for the new offspring stem tubers which have one dominant bud, which in spring regrows a new shoot producing stems and leaves, in summer the tubers decay and new tubers begin to grow. Some plants also form smaller tubers and/or tubercules which act like seed
s, producing small plants that resemble (in morphology and size) seedlings. Some stem tubers are long lived such as those of tuberous begonia
but many tuberous plants have tubers that survive only until the plants have fully leafed out, at which point the tuber is reduced to a shriveled up husk.
setting. Many are suitable for the kind of thin, dry and nutrient deficient soil found at the foot of a hot and sunny wall. Others can cope with dry shade and are therefore ideal for planting under deciduous or evergreen trees, where nutrients and soil moisture are deficient.
Spring-flowering, summer-flowering and autumn-flowering bulbs provide the opportunity to add extra color to any garden. They can be planted under shrubs or between perennials in the flower border or can be naturalized informally in lawns and orchards, or formally in seasonal bedding display. For splashes of color all around the garden, bulbous plants can also be planted in pots.
Bulbous plants ring the seasonal changes throughout the year with glorious flower display. Some possess handsome foliage, others are valued for their flagrance, but above all, their blooms are the most essential. They offer a wide variety of color and form, from bright, primary shades to delicate, pastel hues.
s and herbaceous border
s. The choice of the species depends on a number of factors, among them, the site in the garden (shady or sunny) and the type of soil, the color and the effect that is pursued in the garden and the part of the year when the flowering is wanted. Some examples of bulbous plant genera and their flowering season are given below.
Bulbs for different sites:
Many species of bulbous plants have woodland or shady places as their natural habitats. In the garden they are specially valuable, ornamenting places which may otherwise be difficult to plant. Some species for shade are Allium ursinum, Anemone blanda
, Anemone nemorosa
, Arum italicum
, Convallaria majalis, Corydalis flexuosa
, Cyclamen purpurascens
, Disporum flavescens, Erythronium
, Fritillaria pallidiflora
, Galanthus, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Iris douglasiana, Leucojum vernum, Lilium martagon
, Ranunculus ficaria, Sanguinaria canadensis, Smilacina racemosa, Trillium
and Uvularia grandiflora.
, also known as a rockery or an alpine garden, is a type of garden that features extensive use of rock
s or stone
s, along with plants native to rocky or alpine
environments. It is possible to cultivate a great number of species in it. The only limitation is the size of the plants, they must be small. Some of the genera of bulbous plants with species well suited for the rock garden are: Allium
, Anemone
, Anthericum
, Bulbocodium, Chionodoxa
, Cyclamen
, Eranthis
, Erythronium
, Galanthus, Ipheion
, Muscari, Ornithogalum, Oxalis
, Romulea
, Rhodohypoxis and Scilla
.
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
, a bulbous plant is an ornamental plant
Ornamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
, herbaceous or perennial species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
which produce fleshly storage organs including true bulb
Bulb
A bulb is a short stem with fleshy leaves or leaf bases. The leaves often function as food storage organs during dormancy.A bulb's leaf bases, known as scales, generally do not support leaves, but contain food reserves to enable the plant to survive adverse conditions. At the center of the bulb is...
s as well as corm
Corm
A corm is a short, vertical, swollen underground plant stem that serves as a storage organ used by some plants to survive winter or other adverse conditions such as summer drought and heat ....
s, tuber
Tuber
Tubers are various types of modified plant structures that are enlarged to store nutrients. They are used by plants to survive the winter or dry months and provide energy and nutrients for regrowth during the next growing season and they are a means of asexual reproduction...
s, rhizome
Rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
s, and tuberous roots. These subterranean organs store moisture and nutrients and are used by bulbous plants to survive winter or other adverse conditions such as summer drought and heat (estivation
Estivation
Aestivation is a state of animal dormancy, characterized by inactivity and a lowered metabolic rate, that is entered in response to high temperatures and arid conditions...
) in a dormant state. The resting period may be in winter or summer, depending on the species under consideration.
Bulbs
A bulbBulb
A bulb is a short stem with fleshy leaves or leaf bases. The leaves often function as food storage organs during dormancy.A bulb's leaf bases, known as scales, generally do not support leaves, but contain food reserves to enable the plant to survive adverse conditions. At the center of the bulb is...
is an underground vertical shoot
Shoot
Shoots are new plant growth, they can include stems, flowering stems with flower buds, and leaves. The new growth from seed germination that grows upward is a shoot where leaves will develop...
that has modified leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
(or thickened leaf bases) that are used as food
Food
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
storage organ
Storage organ
A storage organ is a part of a plant specifically modified for storage of energy or water. Storage organs often grow underground, where they are better protected from attack by herbivores. Plants that have an underground storage organ are called geophytes in the Raunkiær plant life-form...
s by the plant
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
. A bulb's leaf bases generally do not support leaves, but contain food reserves to enable the plant to survive adverse conditions. The leaf bases may resemble scales, or they may overlap and surround the center of the bulb as with the onion
Onion
The onion , also known as the bulb onion, common onion and garden onion, is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. The genus Allium also contains a number of other species variously referred to as onions and cultivated for food, such as the Japanese bunching onion The onion...
. A modified stem
Plant stem
A stem is one of two main structural axes of a vascular plant. The stem is normally divided into nodes and internodes, the nodes hold buds which grow into one or more leaves, inflorescence , conifer cones, roots, other stems etc. The internodes distance one node from another...
forms the base of the bulb, and plant growth occurs from this basal plate
Basal plate
Basal plate may refer to:* Basal plate , the region of the neural tube ventral to the sulcus limitans* Basal plate , between this plate and the uterine muscular fibres are the stratum spongiosum and the boundary layer...
. Root
Root
In vascular plants, the root is the organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. This is not always the case, however, since a root can also be aerial or aerating . Furthermore, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either...
s emerge from the underside of the base, and new stems and leaves from the upper side.
Most true bulbs have their scales closely packed together (Hyacinthus) but some types, such as the Lily (Lilium
Lilium
Lilium is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs. Most species are native to the temperate northern hemisphere, though the range extends into the northern subtropics...
), they are loose and swollen. Most popular bulbs have a papery skin, the tunic, whose function is to protect the tissues within. Some true bulbs such as the Lily do not have a tunic and are therefore easily damaged by rough handling. Cardiocrinum
Cardiocrinum
Cardiocrinum is a genus of three or four species of bulbous plants of the family Liliaceae. They are native to the Himalaya, montane China, and Japan. The bulbs are usually formed at the soil surface. The preferred habitat is woodland...
s dies after flowering but other bulbs are perennial. Vegetative reproduction
Vegetative reproduction
Vegetative reproduction is a form of asexual reproduction in plants. It is a process by which new individuals arise without production of seeds or spores...
in true bulbs is by means of offsets called bulblets. Examples of species with true bulbs, apart from the already mentioned, are Muscari, Tulipa, Narcissus and Allium
Allium
Allium is a monocot genus of flowering plants, informally referred to as the onion genus. The generic name Allium is the Latin word for garlic....
.
Corms
A cormCorm
A corm is a short, vertical, swollen underground plant stem that serves as a storage organ used by some plants to survive winter or other adverse conditions such as summer drought and heat ....
is a short, vertical, swollen underground plant
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
stem
Plant stem
A stem is one of two main structural axes of a vascular plant. The stem is normally divided into nodes and internodes, the nodes hold buds which grow into one or more leaves, inflorescence , conifer cones, roots, other stems etc. The internodes distance one node from another...
consisting of one or more internodes with at least one growing point, with protective leaves modified into skins or tunics. The thin tunic leaves are dry papery, dead petiole sheaths, formed from the leaves produced the year before, which act as a covering that protects the corm from insects and water loss. Internally a corm is mostly made of starch-containing parenchyma
Parenchyma
Parenchyma is a term used to describe a bulk of a substance. It is used in different ways in animals and in plants.The term is New Latin, f. Greek παρέγχυμα - parenkhuma, "visceral flesh", f. παρεγχεῖν - parenkhein, "to pour in" f. para-, "beside" + en-, "in" + khein, "to pour"...
cells above a circular basal node that grows roots. Corms are sometimes confused with true bulb
Bulb
A bulb is a short stem with fleshy leaves or leaf bases. The leaves often function as food storage organs during dormancy.A bulb's leaf bases, known as scales, generally do not support leaves, but contain food reserves to enable the plant to survive adverse conditions. At the center of the bulb is...
s; they are often similar in appearance to bulbs externally, but corms are internally structured with solid tissues, which distinguishes them from bulbs, which are mostly made up of layered fleshy scales that are modified leaves. As a result, when a corm is cut in half it is solid, but when a true bulb is cut in half it is made up of layers.
Rhizomes
A rhizome is a horizontal stemPlant stem
A stem is one of two main structural axes of a vascular plant. The stem is normally divided into nodes and internodes, the nodes hold buds which grow into one or more leaves, inflorescence , conifer cones, roots, other stems etc. The internodes distance one node from another...
that growth underground, often sending out root
Root
In vascular plants, the root is the organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. This is not always the case, however, since a root can also be aerial or aerating . Furthermore, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either...
s and shoot
Shoot
Shoots are new plant growth, they can include stems, flowering stems with flower buds, and leaves. The new growth from seed germination that grows upward is a shoot where leaves will develop...
s from its nodes. Some plants have rhizomes that grow above ground or that lie at the soil surface, including some Iris
Iris (plant)
Iris is a genus of 260-300species of flowering plants with showy flowers. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species...
species. Usually, rhizomes have short internodes; they send out roots from the bottom of the nodes and new upward-growing shoots from the top of the nodes. For many plants, the rhizome is used by farmers and gardeners to propagate the plants by a process known as vegetative reproduction
Vegetative reproduction
Vegetative reproduction is a form of asexual reproduction in plants. It is a process by which new individuals arise without production of seeds or spores...
. Examples of plants that are propagated this way include iris
Iris (plant)
Iris is a genus of 260-300species of flowering plants with showy flowers. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species...
es, Lily of the Valley
Lily of the Valley
Convallaria majalis , commonly known as the lily-of-the-valley, is a poisonous woodland flowering plant native throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere in Asia and Europe....
, Cannas
Canna (plant)
Canna is a genus of nineteen species of flowering plants. The closest living relations to cannas are the other plant families of the order Zingiberales, that is the gingers, bananas, marantas, heliconias, strelitzias, etc.Canna is the only genus in the family Cannaceae...
.
Tubers
A stem tuber forms from thickened rhizomeRhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
s or stolon
Stolon
In biology, stolons are horizontal connections between organisms. They may be part of the organism, or of its skeleton; typically, animal stolons are external skeletons.-In botany:...
s. The tops or sides of the tuber produce shoots that grow into typical stems and leaves and the under sides produce root
Root
In vascular plants, the root is the organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. This is not always the case, however, since a root can also be aerial or aerating . Furthermore, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either...
s. They tend to form at the sides of the parent plant and are most often located near the soil surface. The below-ground stem tuber is normally a short-lived storage and regenerative organ developing from a shoot that branches off a mature plant. The offspring or new tubers, are attached to a parent tuber or form at the end of a hypogeogenous rhizome. In the fall the plant dies except for the new offspring stem tubers which have one dominant bud, which in spring regrows a new shoot producing stems and leaves, in summer the tubers decay and new tubers begin to grow. Some plants also form smaller tubers and/or tubercules which act like seed
Seed
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
s, producing small plants that resemble (in morphology and size) seedlings. Some stem tubers are long lived such as those of tuberous begonia
Begonia
Begonia is a genus in the flowering plant family Begoniaceae and is a perennial. The only other members of the family Begoniaceae are Hillebrandia, a genus with a single species in the Hawaiian Islands, and the genus Symbegonia which more recently was included in Begonia...
but many tuberous plants have tubers that survive only until the plants have fully leafed out, at which point the tuber is reduced to a shriveled up husk.
Bulbous plants in the garden
Adaptation to tough environments makes bulbous plants invaluable in a gardenGarden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form today is known as a residential garden, but the term garden has...
setting. Many are suitable for the kind of thin, dry and nutrient deficient soil found at the foot of a hot and sunny wall. Others can cope with dry shade and are therefore ideal for planting under deciduous or evergreen trees, where nutrients and soil moisture are deficient.
Spring-flowering, summer-flowering and autumn-flowering bulbs provide the opportunity to add extra color to any garden. They can be planted under shrubs or between perennials in the flower border or can be naturalized informally in lawns and orchards, or formally in seasonal bedding display. For splashes of color all around the garden, bulbous plants can also be planted in pots.
Bulbous plants ring the seasonal changes throughout the year with glorious flower display. Some possess handsome foliage, others are valued for their flagrance, but above all, their blooms are the most essential. They offer a wide variety of color and form, from bright, primary shades to delicate, pastel hues.
Parterre and herbaceous border
Traditionally, bulbous plants are cultivated in parterreParterre
A parterre is a formal garden construction on a level surface consisting of planting beds, edged in stone or tightly clipped hedging, and gravel paths arranged to form a pleasing, usually symmetrical pattern. Parterres need not have any flowers at all...
s and herbaceous border
Herbaceous border
A herbaceous border is a collection of perennial herbaceous plants arranged closely together, usually to create a dramatic effect through colour, shape or large scale. The term herbaceous border is mostly in use in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth...
s. The choice of the species depends on a number of factors, among them, the site in the garden (shady or sunny) and the type of soil, the color and the effect that is pursued in the garden and the part of the year when the flowering is wanted. Some examples of bulbous plant genera and their flowering season are given below.
- Spring flowering species belong to the genera AlliumAlliumAllium is a monocot genus of flowering plants, informally referred to as the onion genus. The generic name Allium is the Latin word for garlic....
, ArumArumArum is a genus of about 25 species of flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia, with the highest species diversity in the Mediterranean region....
, AsphodelusAsphodelusAsphodelus is a genus of mainly perennial plants native to western, central and southern Europe, but now spread worldwide. Asphodels are popular garden plants, which grow in well-drained soils with abundant natural light...
, CamassiaCamassiaCamassia is a genus of six species native to western North America, from southern British Columbia to northern California, and east to Utah, Wyoming and Montana...
, ConvallariaConvallariaConvallaria majalis , commonly known as the lily-of-the-valley, is a poisonous woodland flowering plant native throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere in Asia and Europe....
, CrocusCrocusCrocus is a genus in the iris family comprising about 80 species of perennials growing from corms. Many are cultivated for their flowers appearing in autumn, winter, or spring...
, CyclamenCyclamenCyclamen is a genus of 23 species of perennials growing from tubers, valued for their flowers with upswept petals and variably patterned leaves...
, EranthisEranthisEranthis is a genus of eight species of flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae , native to southern Europe and east across Asia to Japan....
, FreesiaFreesiaFreesia Ecklon ex Klatt is a genus of 14–16 species of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, native to Africa. Of the 14 species, 12 are native to Cape Province, South Africa, the remaining two to tropical Africa, one species extending north of the equator to Sudan.The genus was named in honor...
, Fritillaria, Galanthus, Hyacinthus, HippeastrumHippeastrumHippeastrum is a genus of about 90 species and 600+ hybrids and cultivars of bulbous plants in the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas from Argentina north to Mexico and the Caribbean. Some species are grown for their large...
, IrisIris (plant)Iris is a genus of 260-300species of flowering plants with showy flowers. It takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, referring to the wide variety of flower colors found among the many species...
, IxiaIxiaThe genus Ixia consists of a number of cormous plants native to South Africa from the Iridaceae family and Ixioideae subfamily. Some of them are known as the corn lily. Some distinctive traits include: sword-like leaves, and long wiry stems with star-shaped flowers. It usually prefers well-drained...
, Leucojum, Muscari, Narcissus, Ornithogalum, RanunculusRanunculusRanunculus is a large genus of about 600 species of plants in the Ranunculaceae. Members of the genus include the buttercups, spearworts, water crowfoots and the lesser celandine....
, ScillaScillaScilla is a genus of about 50 bulb-forming perennial herbs in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, native to woodlands, subalpine meadows, and seashores throughout Europe and Asia...
, TrilliumTrilliumTrillium is a genus of about 40–50 species of spring ephemeral perennials, native to temperate regions of North America and Asia....
, Tulipa and ZephyranthesZephyranthesZephyranthes is a genus of 71 species in the Amaryllis family . There are numerous hybrids and cultivars. Common names for species in this genus include fairy lily, rainflower, zephyr lily, magic lily, Atamasco lily, and rain lily.The name is derived from Ζέφυρος , the Greek god of the west...
.
- Summer flowering species are included in the genera AchimenesAchimenesAchimenes is a genus of about 25 species of tropical and subtropical rhizomatous perennial herbs in the flowering plant family Gesneriaceae...
, AgapanthusAgapanthusAgapanthus is the only genus in the subfamily Agapanthoideae of the flowering plant family Amaryllidaceae. The family is in the monocot order Asparagales....
, AlliumAlliumAllium is a monocot genus of flowering plants, informally referred to as the onion genus. The generic name Allium is the Latin word for garlic....
, AlstroemeriaAlstroemeriaAlstroemeria , commonly called the Peruvian Lily or Lily of the Incas, is a South American genus of about 120 species of flowering plants. Almost all of the species are restricted to one of two distinct centers of diversity, one in central Chile, the other in eastern Brazil...
, AmaryllisAmaryllisAmaryllis is a small genus of flowering bulbs, with two species. The better known of the two, Amaryllis belladonna, is a native of South Africa, particularly the rocky southwest region near the Cape...
, AnemoneAnemoneAnemone , is a genus of about 120 species of flowering plants in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae in the north and south temperate zones...
, BegoniaBegoniaBegonia is a genus in the flowering plant family Begoniaceae and is a perennial. The only other members of the family Begoniaceae are Hillebrandia, a genus with a single species in the Hawaiian Islands, and the genus Symbegonia which more recently was included in Begonia...
, CalochortusCalochortusCalochortus is a genus of bulbous plants that includes 70 species from British Columbia to Guatemala and east to Nebraska. Calochortus is the most widely dispersed genus of Liliaceae on the North American Pacific coast. Of these, 28 species are endemic to California...
, CannaCanna (plant)Canna is a genus of nineteen species of flowering plants. The closest living relations to cannas are the other plant families of the order Zingiberales, that is the gingers, bananas, marantas, heliconias, strelitzias, etc.Canna is the only genus in the family Cannaceae...
, CrinumCrinumCrinum is a genus of about 180 species of perennial plants that have large showy flowers on leafless stems, and develop from bulbs. They are found along the sides of streams and lakes in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide, including South Africa....
, CrocosmiaCrocosmiaCrocosmia is a small perennial genus in the iris family Iridaceae, native to the grasslands of Cape Floristic Region, South Africa.They can be evergreen or deciduous perennial herbs, that grow from basal underground corms. The basal, alternate leaves are cauline and distichous...
, DahliaDahliaDahlia is a genus of bushy, tuberous, perennial plants native to Mexico, Central America, and Colombia. There are at least 36 species of dahlia, some like D. imperialis up to 10 metres tall. Dahlia hybrids are commonly grown as garden plants...
, DieramaDieramaDierama is a genus in the Iridaceae. Its common names are not stably established, but various species are loosely known by names such as as Fairy's Fishing Rods, Fairy's Wands, Fairy Bells, Wedding Bells, Hairbells, Harebells...
, EucomisEucomisEucomis is a genus of African bulbs in the asparagus family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae. Most species of this genus are commonly referred to as pineapple flowers or pineapple lilies.-Etymology:...
, GaltoniaGaltoniaGaltonia is genus of plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae; native to South Africa they are named after Sir Francis Galton. G. candicans, also known as Cape Hyacinth, is much propagated as a garden plant. Another species is the pale green flowering G. viridiflora....
, GladiolusGladiolusGladiolus is a genus of perennial bulbous flowering plants in the iris family...
, Gloriosa, HaemanthusHaemanthusHaemanthus is a Southern African genus of Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae, with some 22 known species, endemic to South Africa, Namibia and the kingdoms of Lesotho and Swaziland...
, HymenocallisHymenocallisHymenocallis is a genus of plants in the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae. It contains more than 60 species native to tropical and subtropical America. Hymenocallis are bulbous perennial herbs. The flowers have their stamens united to a characteristic corona...
, LiliumLiliumLilium is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs. Most species are native to the temperate northern hemisphere, though the range extends into the northern subtropics...
, OxalisOxalisOxalis is by far the largest genus in the wood-sorrel family Oxalidaceae: of the approximately 900 known species in the Oxalidaceae, 800 belong here...
, Pancratium, ParadiseaParadiseaParadisea is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae. It was formerly classified in the family Anthericaceae or earlier in the Liliaceae. The genus includes several species which were formerly classed as part of the genus Anthericum....
, PolianthesPolianthesPolianthes is a genus of plants in family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. It includes tuberose , a plant that is commonly used in perfume making...
, SprekeliaSprekeliaSprekelia is a genus of at least three bulbous plants in the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae. They are native to Central America. Like Hippeastrum, these plants were known as Amaryllis. Sprekelia plants are sometimes called "Aztec lilies", although they are not true lilies...
, TritoniaTritonia (plant)Tritonia is a genus of flowering plants in the iris family with around 28 species. They are wildly distributed mainly in South Africa and are close related to the genus Ixia. Small Bulbous plant up to 8 cm. Appears in great numbers in spring. Leaves fan-Shaped...
, WatsoniaWatsonia (plant)Watsonia is a genus of plants in the iris family, subfamily Crocoideae, native to South Africa. The genus is named after Sir William Watson, an 18th century British botanist....
, ZantedeschiaZantedeschiaZantedeschia is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to southern Africa from South Africa north to Malawi. The name of the genus was given as a tribute to Italian botanist Giovanni Zantedeschi by the German botanist Kurt Sprengel . Common names include arum lily...
.
- Genera that usually flower in the fall: CrocusCrocusCrocus is a genus in the iris family comprising about 80 species of perennials growing from corms. Many are cultivated for their flowers appearing in autumn, winter, or spring...
, ColchicumColchicumColchicum is a genus of flowering plants containing around sixty species of perennial plants which grow from corms. It is a member of family Colchicaceae, and is native to West Asia, Europe and parts of the Mediterranean coast....
, CyclamenCyclamenCyclamen is a genus of 23 species of perennials growing from tubers, valued for their flowers with upswept petals and variably patterned leaves...
, Lycoris, NerineNerineNerine is a genus of plants belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family, subfamily Amaryllidoideae Native to South Africa, there are about 30 different species in the genus. Nerine have been widely cultivated and much hybridized and are now spread world wide....
, SternbergiaSternbergiaSternbergia is a genus in the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae, of around 8 species that show a broad distribution throughout Mediterranean Europe and Asia. It was first described by Clusius in 1601 as Narcissus, before being redescribed by Carl Linnaeus as Amaryllis in 1753...
.
- Winter flowering genera of bulbous plants are Galanthus, CrocusCrocusCrocus is a genus in the iris family comprising about 80 species of perennials growing from corms. Many are cultivated for their flowers appearing in autumn, winter, or spring...
, CyclamenCyclamenCyclamen is a genus of 23 species of perennials growing from tubers, valued for their flowers with upswept petals and variably patterned leaves...
and EranthisEranthisEranthis is a genus of eight species of flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae , native to southern Europe and east across Asia to Japan....
.
Bulbs for different sites:
- Bulbous plants for shade.
Many species of bulbous plants have woodland or shady places as their natural habitats. In the garden they are specially valuable, ornamenting places which may otherwise be difficult to plant. Some species for shade are Allium ursinum, Anemone blanda
Anemone blanda
Anemone blanda is a tuberous perennial valued for its daisy-like spring-blooming flowers, native to southeastern Europe, Turkey, Lebanon, and Syria.-External links:**...
, Anemone nemorosa
Anemone nemorosa
Anemone nemorosa is an early-spring flowering plant in the genus Anemone in the family Ranunculaceae, native to Europe. Common names include wood anemone, windflower, thimbleweed and smell fox, an allusion to the musky smell of the leaves...
, Arum italicum
Arum italicum
Arum italicum is a member the plant family Araceae, also known as Italian arum and Italian Lords-and-Ladies. The plant is native to southern and western Europe...
, Convallaria majalis, Corydalis flexuosa
Corydalis flexuosa
Corydalis flexuosa is a species of Corydalis, in the Fumariaceae family. It is a shade-loving perennial plant originating in woodland and mountainous areas in China.- Cultivation :...
, Cyclamen purpurascens
Cyclamen purpurascens
Cyclamen purpurascens is a perennial growing from a tuber, native to continental Europe. It is the cyclamen with the northmost natural range and one of the hardiest, grown outdoors as far north as Calgary, Alberta.-Etymology:The species name purpurāscēns is a present participle from the Latin verb...
, Disporum flavescens, Erythronium
Erythronium
Erythronium is a genus of 20-30 species of spring-flowering perennial plants with long, tooth-like bulbs and attractive pendant flowers, native to forest and meadow in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.-Species:-Uses:The bulb is edible as a root vegetable, cooked or dried, and can be...
, Fritillaria pallidiflora
Fritillaria pallidiflora
Fritillaria pallidiflora is a plant of the genus Fritillaria and native to China and Siberia.Fritillaria pallidiflora can reach around 38 cm height. It has yellow flowers....
, Galanthus, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Iris douglasiana, Leucojum vernum, Lilium martagon
Lilium martagon
Lilium martagon is a species of lily. It has a widespread native region extending from central Europe east through northern Asia to Mongolia and Korea. Several subspecies have been named. Horticulturally it is in Division 9, It is stem-rooting, growing between 1m and 2m tall...
, Ranunculus ficaria, Sanguinaria canadensis, Smilacina racemosa, Trillium
Trillium
Trillium is a genus of about 40–50 species of spring ephemeral perennials, native to temperate regions of North America and Asia....
and Uvularia grandiflora.
Rock garden
A rock gardenRock Garden
The Rock Garden or Rock Garden of Chandigarh is a Sculpture garden in Chandigarh, India, also known as Nek Chand's Rock Garden after its founder Nek Chand, a government official who started the garden secretly in his spare time in 1957. Today it is spread over an area of forty-acres , it is...
, also known as a rockery or an alpine garden, is a type of garden that features extensive use of rock
Rock (geology)
In geology, rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic...
s or stone
Rock (geology)
In geology, rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic...
s, along with plants native to rocky or alpine
Alpine climate
Alpine climate is the average weather for a region above the tree line. This climate is also referred to as mountain climate or highland climate....
environments. It is possible to cultivate a great number of species in it. The only limitation is the size of the plants, they must be small. Some of the genera of bulbous plants with species well suited for the rock garden are: Allium
Allium
Allium is a monocot genus of flowering plants, informally referred to as the onion genus. The generic name Allium is the Latin word for garlic....
, Anemone
Anemone
Anemone , is a genus of about 120 species of flowering plants in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae in the north and south temperate zones...
, Anthericum
Anthericum
Anthericum is a genus of about 300 species, rhizomatous perennial plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. It was formerly placed in its own family, Anthericeae. The species have rhizomatous or tuberous roots, long narrow leaves and branched stems carrying starry white flowers...
, Bulbocodium, Chionodoxa
Chionodoxa
Chionodoxa ' is a small genus of bulbous perennials in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae. The genus is endemic to the eastern Mediterranean region, specifically Crete, Cyprus and Turkey. The blue, white or pink flowers appear early in the year making them valuable garden ornamentals...
, Cyclamen
Cyclamen
Cyclamen is a genus of 23 species of perennials growing from tubers, valued for their flowers with upswept petals and variably patterned leaves...
, Eranthis
Eranthis
Eranthis is a genus of eight species of flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae , native to southern Europe and east across Asia to Japan....
, Erythronium
Erythronium
Erythronium is a genus of 20-30 species of spring-flowering perennial plants with long, tooth-like bulbs and attractive pendant flowers, native to forest and meadow in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.-Species:-Uses:The bulb is edible as a root vegetable, cooked or dried, and can be...
, Galanthus, Ipheion
Ipheion
The plant genus Ipheion belongs to Allioideae subfamily of the Amaryllidaceae family. There has been uncertainty as to the limits of the genus; research published in 2010 suggests that although related to genera such as Tristagma and Nothoscordum, it is a distinct genus of 3 species.The genus...
, Muscari, Ornithogalum, Oxalis
Oxalis
Oxalis is by far the largest genus in the wood-sorrel family Oxalidaceae: of the approximately 900 known species in the Oxalidaceae, 800 belong here...
, Romulea
Romulea
Romulea is a genus of about 80 species of flowering plants in the iris family distributed in Europe, the Mediterranean, and South Africa. The genus name refers to the legendary Rome founder Romulus, and alludes to the abundance of one of the species in the Roman countryside.Some of the species:*...
, Rhodohypoxis and Scilla
Scilla
Scilla is a genus of about 50 bulb-forming perennial herbs in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, native to woodlands, subalpine meadows, and seashores throughout Europe and Asia...
.