Guest Author - Kimberly Cassandra Cannon

Having a garden full of exotic plants is a long time dream of mine. With each autumn season, I find ways to re-establish some area of the garden to bring more vivacity to its existence. This gave me an idea of putting together an article on bulbs I discovered that at one particular time gave no attention to but now glad I gave them a chance. There exquisiteness is no longer distant from my approval, instead, they gave me incentive to explore them closer and reverse my decision about them.

These exotic and rare bulbs can be planted into a fresh, newly prepared garden or even something as small as ceramic containers. So take the information given and let me help inspire you to revamp a notch in your garden. Let color become limitless in all that nature has provided in bulb gardening.

Ipheion uniflorum (wisely blue) - This native of Argentina, a place full of beautiful flowers and landscape, has a pale blue color. This color is so catching in a partial shade area of the garden. Its pastelic beauty will bring attention even more so as the sun begins to fade into the afternoon. Which simply means, it truly loves the full sun of the morning but prefers to a shadier light come the afternoon, so plan accordingly. This small baby in diameter will bring many future flowers as it is a naturalizing bulb. It takes full sun and doesn’t require too much water.

Amaryllis belladonna “alba” - better known as the white naked lady like requires full sun with moderately fertile and well-drained soil, slightly acidic. When planting, place just below soil line in spring or late summer and water in thorough, however, keep dry during the winter so they will return with more eye-popping effect.

Amaryllis belladonna - known as “giant amaryllis” will produce up to six flowers on a single stalk with stately beauty. Plant these in mass for a spectacular part of your garden for the passers by your garden. You can plant these in Mar-April, depending on your climate. As the belladonna ‘alba’, it prefers a well-drained, slightly acidic soil as well and with these few requirements, this star performer will steal the show next spring. Be sure to divide amaryllis bulbs once they decline in blooming or become overcrowded.

Crocosmia Lucifer - this native of South Africa has a name that has always kept me away from noticing or even engaging in its beauty but the temptation of its beauty has lured me in. It requires good drainage, as most bulbs do, hot sun and a a showplace on stage. Plant them close to a window to enjoy all the hummingbirds it will draw in. This exotic beauty multiplies and can be clustered together when planting. Its elongated stems will eventually hold up the deepest red, orange and yellow flower petals ever to lay eyes on.

Cyclamen - who doesn’t love the fragrance of this beauty with its variegated foliage? It will flower from Oct.-Mar. and though a native of the Mediterranean, it is now planted in gardens all over America. Its foliage is heart shaped and has flowers that resemble a butterfly. They will grow 6-12 inches. This plant-bulb, too naturalizes in shady areas or partial shade areas in your garden. After amending soil, plant this bulb 3 inches deep at 12 inches apart, feed with a little phosphorus each spring to bring about flowers in the fall/winter.

Christmas bells, better known as the Chinese lantern - this unusual bulb is scarce and rare. Good luck on finding it. It’s native to South Africa and is considered a tuber. It can be planted at least 4 inches in depth and will eventually require a trellis to climb. The flowers are orange in color and resemble a chef’s hat. Just be sure to plant these according to your zone and look for them a few months following. They will flower until first frost occurs.

Nerine bowdenii - also a native of South Africa, you may know by the name Japanese spider lily. This intriguing bulb blooms, some of them, in summer, fall and winter. Some are even evergreen year round. They make long lasting cut flowers. It is very hardy in the colder climates, so that’s a plus for the foliage resembles the liriope ornamental grass for year round, evergreen, beauty. Soon, after planting, pink, crinkles and long lasting flowers will appear depending on the hybrid, giving a display of awe. They look like little stars bursting in color.

Allium vine ale - known as wild garlic is a bulb flower native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia. Its strong garlic scent was too much of a turn off for me, but it has been requested by others. It would remind you of the ornamental grass, society garlic. It flowers in summer and resemble grass with rounded leaves. Later, the stems will put out flowers both slender and waxy like, 1-3 ft., which appears greenish-white and small.

Last but certainly not least, a favorite.

Tiger lily - Not to be confused with the oriental tiger lily, this one in particular is known as a wild flower that cannot produce seed but propagates by its tuberous roots. Though it has medicinal uses, its main purpose in my garden is for its small, yet attention grabbing beauty. It thrives in moist soils and loves to be planted in groups (can’t overcrowd this baby). In early autumn (for the cold climate garden), plant these at least 3 inches in depth and (for the warmer climate garden), plant these at least 2 inches in depth in late autumn. There are no real special requirements, but plant in well-drained soil.

Well, it’s not necessary to plant all of these or even to plant any of these, but to inspire you to revamp that small section in your yard that could stand to have a few attention-grabbers. It’s always amazing how far one’s mind can go in creating a masterpiece in a garden. Whether you are new to bulb gardening or one whose been doing this for years, the creativity seems indefinite in the world of exotic, bulb gardening.