Illuminating the darker months
Bulbs are not just for spring – several are programmed to pop up in the autumn as well, says LOUISE MIDGLEY
AUTUMN-FLOWERING bulbs are perfect for injecting colour into areas of the garden that may have lost their summer sparkle.they are widely used in professionally maintained gardens that are open to the public as they can be relied upon to give fantastic displays during late August, September and October, when visitor numbers are still high.
Cyclamen hederifolium is one such late flowering species and is often seen planted en masse around the base of deciduous trees, something you could easily replicate in your own garden. Dry, shady areas have limitations for many plants but this pretty little, low-growing cyclamen, with its delicate flowers in shades of pink or white will quickly colonise ground that lacks moisture and light.
Silvery, marbled, heart-shaped leaves, a feature in themselves, follow the flowers and remain intact over the winter months. It’s a prolific self-seeder; it’s sticky seeds are effectively distributed within a wide radius by ants.
There are some interesting forms of crocus in autumn too.the goblets of Sternbergia lutea closely resemble their spring flowering cousins but sport distinctive buttercup yellow blooms.they prefer to be planted in relatively poor to moderately fertile soil that has fierce drainage and receives maximum sunshine. Grow them in pots of gritty compost if your garden gets waterlogged in winter.
C. speciosus is perhaps the most commonly seen autumn crocus because it tolerates a broad range of conditions. Its pretty flowers in shades of deep purple to pale lilac are a welcome sight when allowed to naturalise in grass, although be careful not to mow in late summer or you will behead the emerging flowers.
THE saffron crocus, C sativus is a trickier plant to grow because it needs very specific conditions to thrive, namely a sheltered, sunny plot in exceptionally well-drained soil. For best results plant in a container that is filled with a soil-based compost with plenty of grit incorporated into the mix and raise it off the ground to ensure excess water can constantly drain away.
For sheer wow factor, invest in Colchicums, often sold as autumn crocus but while their flowers may bear a great resemblance to oversized crocuses, they are actually members of the lily family.
They are often referred to as naked ladies because the large blooms appear through the ground on slender stems, bereft of any modesty leaves, like mini Lady Godivas.
They produce an abundance of foliage in spring which will have long gone by the time summer arrives. Bulbs for sale in garden centres are often found already beginning to sprout flowers.