Bulbs under trees

[sarimillie]

I'd like to plant some spring bulbs in our front garden. They'd be in clay soil, under a tall lime tree - so partial shade. I'd like to go for the kind of bulbs that naturalise, maybe a mixture of tulips and grape hyacinths. Can anyone suggest good varieties/ suppliers for these conditions? Thanks!

small bump...

Tulips need sun, so not a good choice under trees. Try snowdrops (traditional woodland plants).

Thanks Tutti - will do. Would be nice to mix some colour in - any ideas for this?

crocuses - get the toughest ones though as they may struggle under a dense canopy of tree. Little daffodils. Grape Hyacinths will do OK with a bit of shade I think but not lots. Anemomes might be ok again if shade is not too dense. Deffo not tulips - they aren't great at naturalising full stop, especially in clay, and especially in shade.

Snowdrops will be better if bought 'in the green' after they stop flowering this coming spring - just buy a gardening mag, there are loads of suppliers. If you plant those dry little bulbs you don't get anything like as good a success rate.

You need to get a move on if you want to put in bulbs this year, not because it's too late for the bulbs but because the nice ones sell out very quickly.

oldenoughtowearpurple (love the name - am wearing purple right now!) - thank you for this. I will put an order in right now for tough crocuses and little daffs, plus a few anenomes and grape hyacinths for luck.

Re. snowdrops - both of you recommend these in this position, so I will try them, but not till the spring...

thanks both!