Spring bulb and perennial mix: bloom from February to June

The perfect partnership

Flower bulbs are the sprinters of the garden: in early spring they shoot up, bloom spectacularly and then retreat. Perennials are the marathon runners: they build slowly and take over the baton. Combine them and you have uninterrupted colour from February to June.

With GardenWorld, upload a photo and see how these combinations look in your own garden.

Combination 1: Snowdrops to tulips

Start with Galanthus nivalis (snowdrop, 15 cm, February) and Crocus tommasinianus (crocus, 10 cm, light purple, March). Then Narcissus 'Thalia' (daffodil, 35 cm, white, April) and finally Tulipa 'Queen of Night' (tulip, 55 cm, deep purple, May).

Plant the bulbs among Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' (Siberian bugloss, 30 cm, silver foliage) and Geranium macrorrhizum (cranesbill, 30 cm). When the bulbs finish flowering, the growing perennial foliage hides the yellowing leaves.

Combination 2: Alliums and ornamental grasses

Allium 'Purple Sensation' (ornamental onion, 80 cm, purple, May) and Allium 'Mount Everest' (ornamental onion, 100 cm, white, June) among Stipa tenuissima (feather grass, 50 cm). The round allium globes above the swaying grass — one of the most photographed garden scenes.

Add Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' (sage, 50 cm, dark violet) as a vertical accent. The purple-white-green colour scheme is refined and timeless.

Combination 3: Botanical tulips with ground cover

Tulipa turkestanica (species tulip, 25 cm, white with yellow heart, March) and Tulipa tarda (star tulip, 15 cm, yellow-white, April) above a carpet of Vinca minor (lesser periwinkle, 15 cm, blue flowers).

Botanical tulips naturalise — they return every year without any effort. Unlike large hybrid tulips they improve with age. The periwinkle provides greenery for the rest of the year.

Combination 4: Daffodils and hostas

Narcissus 'Jetfire' (daffodil, 25 cm, yellow-orange, March) and Narcissus poeticus 'Actaea' (poet's daffodil, 40 cm, white with red eye, May) planted through a bed of Hosta 'Sum and Substance' (hosta, 80 cm, large yellow-green leaves).

The daffodils flower when the hostas are barely visible. By the time the daffodils finish, the enormous hosta leaves unfurl and elegantly hide the spent bulb foliage.

Planting tips

Always plant bulbs at two to three times the bulb height deep. Group in clusters of at least seven for a natural effect. Avoid straight rows — they look artificial.

Buy bulbs in September-October and plant immediately. Choose quality bulbs: the bigger the bulb, the better the flower. Feed after flowering with a potassium-rich fertiliser to fuel next year's display.

Your spring mix

The secret of a blooming spring garden is layers. Bulbs beneath perennials, early flowerers next to late ones. Upload your photo at gardenworld.app and see what continuous spring bloom looks like in your garden.