Caladium is grown for its long-stalked, broadly arrow- or lance-shaped leaves which are beautifully variegated white, pink, or red. Caladiums bear greenish-white spathes with green flowers that are followed by white berries. Caladium’s dazzling foliage lasts from spring to early autumn; it then disappears until the following spring. Caladium grows from thick underground tubers. They […] More
Tuberous begonias have beautiful, large and dramatic, usually double flowers in various forms, including rose and camellia-like. Some are fragrant and many have attractive and fancy tear-shaped leaves. Tuberous begonia types range from plants with saucer-size blooms to those covered with small blossoms. Some are upright growers suited for flower beds and borders, others are […] More
The best known members of this genus is the North American wildflower commonly called Jack-in-the-pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum. The tiny flowers are clustered on a central stalk (the “jack”) which is a spadix; the spadix is surrounded by a modified leaf (the “pulpit”) which is a spathe. Commonly the spathe bends over at its tip to […] More
Agapanthus is an evergreen perennial with strap-shaped leaves and spherical heads of commonly deep blue trumpet-shaped flowers. Flowers appear on sturdy unbranched stems during summer. Agapanthus is suitable for mixed or single plantings. They are very showy massed in borders or edging along walks or drives. Dwarf varieties are well-suited for small gardens or containers. […] More
Hippeastrum–commonly called Amaryllis–is a tropical native. It produces blooms up to 8 inches (20cm) across in a wide range of colors, with some varieties in double form. A baseball-size bulb produces flower stalks up to a foot tall surrounded by rich, green strap-like foliage. Hippeastrum is often confused with Amaryllis belladonna. Both are large bulbs […] More
Anemone–commonly called windflower–is an upright perennial with divided, dark green basal leaves. Windflowers produce large daisy-like flowers, some double, from late summer to early fall. Windflowers arise from corms and are slow spreading. Anemone is suitable for the border, wild garden, or rock garden. The most popular types are the autumn-flowering, fibrous-rooted Japanese Anemone, and […] More
Fritillaria–commonly called fritillary–is a bulbous perennial with pendulous bell-shaped, tubular, or saucer-shaped flowers solitary or in umbels. Leaves are lance-shaped and rise from basal bulblets and then continue in whorls with leaf-like bracts above the flowers. Fritillaria is a large genus of about 100 species in the lily family. The genus includes larger plants well […] More
Lilies bear scented, trumpet-shaped flowers in summer. Lilies are perennials that have slim green leaves and tall stems. Bulbs should be planted in spring. Stems are unbranched and usually erect; they should be staked. Leaves are lance-shaped glossy, mid- to dark green leaves. There are 100 species of lilies and many more cultivars. Lilies are […] More
Narcissus is a genus of about 50 species of bulbous perennials. All are grown for their attractive flowers, borne in spring, sometimes in autumn or winter. Narcissus with single, long trumpet-like flowers is called daffodils. Those with clusters of small flowers on each stalk are called narcissi. There is little botanical difference between daffodils and […] More
Tulips are classic spring-blooming bulbs prized for their showy flowers that come in a wide range of colors–nearly all colors except true blue. Many tulips are bicolored. the most familiar tulips have elongated cup-shaped blooms, but there are also tulips with bowl-shaped blossoms and double-flowered cultivars. There are goblet- and star-shaped tulip blooms as well. […] More
Ornamental onions, Alliums, are perennial bulbs that bear gloves of small purple flowers held aloft on sturdy stems in early summer. Flowers are followed by decorative buff-colored seedheads. Strap-shaped leaves fade as the flowers appear—which may detract from the flowers. Allium is a genus of strong-smelling bulbous herbs of the Lily family (including onions, leeks, […] More
Eucharis–commonly called Amazon lily–is a summer-flowering perennial bulb. It bears umbels of fragrant, daffodil-like white flowers. Each flower has 6 spreading tepals around in two rows, the outer ones longer and narrower than the inner one, and 6 stamens fused to form a cup. Eucharis has long-stalked ovate or elliptic to lance-shaped glossy green basal […] More
Stephen Albert