While most of the classic spring-flowering bulbs you think of perform best in full sun, that doesn’t mean you have to forgo early blooms if you have a shaded garden. Here are a few planting ideas to brighten your spring palette.
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Try these Beautiful Spring-Flowering Bulbs for Shade
Under deciduous trees, some bulbs can get in enough photosynthesis before the canopy leafs out in spring. Snowdrops perform well in these conditions, as do grape hyacinths. Other bulbs prefer a shaded spot, since they grow in woodlands in their native habitats.
Fumewort (Corydalis solida and cvs., Zones 3–9) is a wonderful early bulb for shade. Trout lilies (Erythronium americanum and cvs., Zones 3–8) are tulip relatives that bloom in soft tints of yellow. Masses of English bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta, Zones 5–8) or Spanish bluebells (H. hispanica, Zones 3–8) create pure shade-garden magic.
Spring-blooming native woodland ephemerals are a reliable choice for shade gardeners
These spring-flowering bulbs are naturally adapted to thrive in shade, and your local pollinators will thank you for adding them too, as they provide an important nectar source early in the season.
- White trillium (Trillium grandiflorum, Zones 4–7)
- Virginia bluebell (Mertensia virginica, Zones 3–8)
- Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria, Zones 3–7)
Learn More
4 Native Plants for the Spring Garden
Unusual Flowering Bulbs to Plant this Fall
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Joseph Tychonievich is an independent plant breeder and author who lives and gardens in South Bend, Indiana.
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