Rembrandt tulips produce striped or “broken” blooms. The white, yellow, or red petals are striped (flamed) with red, bronze, or purple. Rembrandt tulips were sold for huge sums during “tulip mania” in Holland in the seventeenth and…
Plant spring-flowering bulbs at a depth equal to 3 to 4 times their maximum bulb diameter. Accordingly, daffodils and tulips should be planted 6 to 8 inches deep, crocuses and grape hyacinths 3 to 4 inches deep. Large bulbs, such as…
Planting depth varies with the size of the bulb (corm). Large corms should be planted 4 to 6 inches deep and 6 inches apart. Small corms should be planted at a depth of 3 inches. Gladioli require well-drained soils and perform…
Plant spring-flowering bulbs at a depth equal to 3 to 4 times their maximum bulb diameter. Accordingly, tulips and daffodils should be planted 6 to 8 inches deep, crocuses and grape hyacinths 3 to 4 inches deep. Large bulbs, such as…
Plant bulbs at a depth equal to two or three times their maximum bulb diameter. Larger bulbs like tulips, daffodils and hyacinths are often planted 6-8 inches deep. The smaller bulbs like squill, snowdrops and crocus are…
Many lily enthusiasts don’t grow tiger lilies (Lilium tigrinum) because they are often infected with lily mosaic virus. Lily mosaic virus causes little harm to tiger lilies. Oftentimes, you can’t tell that they have the…
Deadheading is the removal of spent flowers. While tulips should be deadheaded immediately after flowering, it is not necessary to deadhead daffodils. The vigor of tulip bulbs quickly declines if tulips are not promptly deadheaded and…
Most modern tulip cultivars bloom well for 3 to 5 years. Tulip bulbs decline in vigor rather quickly. Weak bulbs produce large, floppy leaves, but no flowers.
To maximize the number of years tulips are in bloom, choose…
After flowering, daffodil foliage typically persists for 4 to 6 weeks. Daffodil foliage tends to get floppy and look a little unruly. However, it’s best to leave the foliage alone and not tie or braid the leaves. The daffodil…
Tulips perform best in partial to full sun. Planting sites should receive at least 6 hours of direct sun per day. Tulip bulbs also need a well-drained, fertile soil.
The Martagon lily (Lilium martagon) is one of the most widely distributed lilies in the world. It grows naturally in most of Europe and parts of Asia. It is also referred to as Turk’s cap lily.
Some perennials emerge early in the spring. In Iowa, it’s common to have relatively warm days in early or mid-March and it is equally common to have below freezing temperatures in April or even early May. In most cases, early leaf…
The small, blue-flowering plant is probably Siberian squill (Scilla sibirica). Siberian squill is an early spring flowering bulb. Plants typically bloom in early to mid-April in Iowa. Bright blue flowers are produced on…
When plants produce a chemical that prevents the growth of other plants, it is called allelopathy.
Black walnut is a common woodland and landscape tree in the Midwest that produces an allelopathic compound called juglone which is…
There are a number of species and varieties of bulbs and bulb-like structures like corms and tubers that grow well in Iowa. Some of these species are readily available from retailers and others may have to be purchased from specialty producers or…
The magic lily (Lycoris squamigera) is a rather intriguing plant. Other common names include resurrection lily, surprise lily, hardy amaryllis, and naked lady. The life cycle of Lycoris squamigera is different from…
Daffodils can be dug up and replanted as soon as the foliage dies back (turns brown) in early summer. Daffodils can also be dug up and replanted in fall (October). If you would like to move daffodil bulbs in fall, mark the site when…
The amaryllis can be moved outdoors in late May. When the amaryllis is moved outdoors, harden or acclimate the plant to the outdoor environment by initially placing it in a shady, protected area for 2 or 3 days and then gradually expose it…
Daffodil foliage should not be removed until it has turned brown and died. The length of time it takes the foliage to die back depends on bulb type, weather, and other factors. The foliage of daffodils usually doesn’t die back until…
October is the ideal time to plant spring-flowering bulbs in Iowa. This allows bulbs to establish and develop good roots before winter. Planting bulbs too early in the season in September when soil temperatures have not yet cooled may cause some…
Gladiolus bulbs (corms) should be planted after the danger of frost is past. In Iowa, it’s generally safe to begin planting gladioli in early to mid-May. Make successive plantings every 2 weeks for continuous bloom from mid-summer to…
Most bulbs should be planted in a full or part-sun location. Early blooming bulbs are often successful beneath a high branched deciduous tree because they usually flower before the tree fully leafs out. After the bulbs…
If the daffodils aren’t blooming, the plants weren’t able to store enough food in their bulbs in the previous year. Daffodil foliage typically persists for 4 to 6 weeks after blooming. During this 4 to 6 week period, the daffodil…
