‘Minor bulbs’ can add plenty to the garden

It is spring bulb planting season, and local nurseries are stocking the best and brightest tulips, daffodils, crocus, hyacinths and more. These bulbs are the showy spring bloomers. But, if you noodle around a bit, you might find some delightful minor bulbs. Consider the following:

Erythronium Pagoda: Also called dogtooth violet, this little treasure is a woodland jewel that has dainty, lily-like flowers on slender stems. Flowers are yellow. Foliage is lush. Plants need dappled woodland sunlight along with rich, moist soil. It grows 12 to 14 inches tall and will naturalize into a carpet with time.

Anemone Blanda: Grecian wallflower is a deerand rodent-resistant naturalizer that easily makes a carpet of attractive green foliage topped with daisy-like flowers. Bees love this one. Flowers come in hues of lavender, white, pink and blue. Plant in sun or part shade. It averages 4 to 6 inches tall.

Dichlostemma IdaMaia (California firecracker): This Humboldt County native produces stunning clusters of red flowers on long stems in the late spring and summer. Planted in full sun, it will grow up to 24 inches tall. It’s quite tolerant of hot, dry, summer soil.

Camassia quamash (Camas): This is a North American native bulb that does well in sun or shade. Growing up to 14 inches tall, it sends up spikes of star-shaped flower clusters atop long stems. It’s good for naturalizing and butterflies love it.

Ipheion Uniflorum (Spring Starflower): This diminutive, sweet flower is a must for the springtime rock garden. Growing a mere 3 to 6 inches tall, the flower’s pale to dark blue fragrant flowers appear mid-spring. It’s totally deer proof since it is in the onion family and smells like garlic when the foliage is crushed.

Terry Kramer is the site manager for the Humboldt Botanical Garden and a trained horticulturist and journalist. She has been writing a garden column for the Times-Standard since 1982. Contact her at terrykramer90@gmail. com.