Woodland Bulbs, Winter Charms

The Pacific Northwest coastal habitat provides an excellent setting for many Woodland Bulbs. This diverse group of plants are often the first flowers we see in the late winter and early spring.

Woodland bulbs generally thrive under the protective cover of the typical Westcoast Rainforest, and the rich, moist humus layer underfoot. These plants blooms vary from bells to star shapes and their colour range includes white, yellow, pink and blue.

One the of earliest flowering woodland bulbs is the Common Snow Drop(Galanthus), which bloom from January to February. There are several species of this Genus widely cultivated in the region, including G. nivalis and G. Gracilis.





Galanthus nivalis










All Snow Drops do well in full sun to part-shade and well-drained soils. They are also adaptable to dry shade. These bulbs should be planted close together to create dense clumps or small masses of early spring flowers. While fitting in garden beds and rock gardens Snow Drops can be naturalized in lawns, as they are going dormant by the time lawns are ready for mowing.





Galanthus gracilis









Another early flowering bulb is the tiny Hardy Cyclamen (Cyclamen coum). This plant's dainty, shooting star-like blooms are a delightful addition to the winter woodland garden. The slender flower stems are only 4" high above a tight mat of boldly patterned basal leaves.


Cyclamen coum

Flowers vary from bright pink to mauve and appear in January and February. The tubers are summer dormant, and they naturalize easily, but without becoming invasive.


Hardy Cyclamen in full bloom

Some of the most recognizable woodland bulbs are members of the Crocus genus. The Woodland Crocus (C. tommasinianus) appears in January with a small lilac flower on a short, slender stem.
Crocus is a natural spreader and thrives in rich, moist soil under part-shade to full sun.







Woodland Crocus








There are also many woodland bulbs that belong to the Lily Family. Some are native to the pacific Northwest and some are European in origin. They all naturalize readily in our westcoast climate.

Prized among woodland bulbs is the native Western Trillium (Trillium ovatum). These plants are easily recognizable by their three petaled flowers blooming just above three flat green triangle leaves. They are rhizomes and they do not naturalize as rapidly as many other woodland bulbs. In our region they bloom February to April with white blooms maturing to pink, then purple.

Another much loved woodland bulb is the checkered lily or snake's head lily (Frittilaria meleagris). It is native to Great Britain and at home in woodsy Pacific Northwest. The checkered chocolate-brown and greenish-yellow flowers are 12-18" tall and appear March to May in full sun to part-shade.

The pretty native Easter Lily (Erythronium californicum) is admired by horticulturalists for its beauty and hardiness. This bulb has unique mottled shiny basal foliage below a slender stalk holding beautiful yellow with mottled brown flowers. These graceful bulbs bloom March to April and naturalize readily in protected part-shady and moist settings.

Hyacinthoides non-scripta and H. hispanica are known as Common and Spanish Bluebells. These are very popular spring flowering woodland bulbs. They are prolific bloomers and spreaders to the point of becoming invasive in cultivated landscapes. The Spanish Bluebell is lighter coloured, taller and larger than the Common Bluebell. Both species have white, pink, lavender and blue cultivars available. They bloom April to May in full sun to part-shade above rich masses of bright green upright to nodding leaves.

A close cousin of the Bluebell is Grape Hyacinth (Muscari boyryanthus). So named for it's musky scent and it's flower's resemblance to tiny grape clusters. Bright blue (or white) bell shaped flowers cling to slim stems, beginning as closed and eventually opening up as they mature. They bloom April to May and fast spreading and potentially invasive.

A bright yellow flowering bulb, Eranthus hyemalis (Winter Aconite), is a cheerful welcome in the early woodland garden. This clump forming tuber hosts a mass of 6" high yellow composite flowers from late January to March.

Eranthus hyemalis

Iris reticulata (Dwarf Iris), is a miniture form of Iris that blooms in February to March. Purple, blue or mauve flowers stand only 4-6" tall, above dark green erect leaves. These are bulb irises (as opposed to common rhizomes) which like full sun, but still bloom in part-shade with
well-drained soil.








Iris reticulata









Anenome nemorosa (Wood Anenome) is a vigorous spreading rhizome that thrives in our woodlands. It produces a carpet of deeply edged feathery foliage with masses of star-shaped single flowers. The species is pure white, but a wide range of cultivars have been established with an array of bloom colour and double petals. Wood Anenomes bloom from late March to May, and like many early bulbs it is summer dormant.

Woodland bulbs are excellent companion plants to rhododendrons, azaleas, ornamental deciduous trees (Japanese Maple, Star Magnolias), Hellebores, Native Conifers (Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock, Grand Firs) and a plethora of Herbaceous Perennials.

-written by Allison Marr