Shade Perennials Zone 5

Most flowering bulbs are perennials that come up year after year. A few, not being hardy, must be taken up and stored away from the cold over winter. Some of these tender bulbs are most desirable for summer bloom. They give effects not obtainable from other plants. The bulk of the spring-flowering hardy bulbs must be fall-planted before the ground freezes. A few of the smaller ones, such as winter aconite, anemone, and some squills, should be planted as early as possible before they dry out and become worthless—by late September or early October. Lilies dry out easily, too, and should be planted as soon as they are received. Although planting depths are given for all kinds of bulbs, it is more impor­tant to have good top soil beneath the bulb where the roots grow than to set the bulb at exactly the correct depth. 

Places where bulbs may be used in the average garden are limitless. Some kinds, such as crocus and scillas, may be tucked in any place where they can grow and will not interfere with mowing. Others, like daffodils, can be put under ground covers, such as periwinkle, around the bases of trees, and in front of and in between shrubs and evergreens. Most bulbs are suited to planting all through any and all beds and borders. The little bulbs are fine in the wild garden, around a pool, and in the rock or wall garden. Bulbs will even bloom in planter boxes. Once planted, leave the bulbs alone as they continue to bloom regularly. This will vary with the place and the kind of bulb, from several years to as many as ten or more. Daffodils can keep it up for a quarter of a century at least. Bulb foliage is sometimes unattractive after bloom. Tulips can be cut back to the bottom three leaves, and daffodils can be cut back half way without ap­parently affecting the next year's bloom. In small plantings, some prefer to braid daffodil foliage or tie it in a knot, to make it less floppy, so that other flowers can be planted in between. Still others dig their tulips after blooming and heel them in to mature and cure in some other bed. This is a lot of work and may harm the bulbs if not carefully done. 

It is amazing how long a period of bloom is possible from spring-flowering bulbs if they are selected with this in mind. For instance, daffo­dils can be in bloom for five to six weeks by the use of early, midseason and late varieties. Tulips, by the use of species, double and single early, May - flowering and double late varieties, give us as much as two months of bloom. Starting with winter aconites and snowdrops, using all the other spring bulbs, and then including a collection of lilies, one can have bloom until Septem­ber. Using gladiolus planted every two weeks from March to early July, tuberous begonias, dahlias, hardy amaryllis and tigridia, there would be bloom from this group alone from early July to frost.

Shade Perennials Zone 5