When it comes to planting schemes, flower bulbs are a useful addition to extend the flowering period. With their vibrant colours and wide variety, they have great ornamental value and create colour accents in green cities from early spring onwards. Flower bulbs also boost biodiversity and contribute to people’s well-being.
Biodiversity
Flower bulbs increase the quality of urban green spaces, from verges, parks and gardens to bowls or containers at prominent points in neighbourhoods or shopping streets. In green connection zones, bulb types with plenty of nectar and pollen are particularly welcome, such as Galanthus nivalis (snowdrop), Eranthis hyemalis (winter aconite) and Crocus tommasinianus (early crocus). After all, some bumblebee species appear as early as February.
Bulbs for naturalising
Bulbs that are suitable for naturalising, such as Fritillaria meleagris (snake’s head fritillary), Scilla, Muscari (grape hyacinth) and Allium work well in combination with perennials. Plantings of this type will grow to cover a planting bed in a single season and come back for years. They require hardly any maintenance: mowing once in spring and then only checking for litter and weeds along the edges. Naturalising bulbs also thrive in grass. There are special planting machines for this very purpose.
An explosion of colour
You could plant just a single variety, or a mix of varieties on every site. The latter will result in months of flowering with ever-changing shapes, heights and colours. After that, summer bulbs will take over the task of providing the explosion of colour. Research has shown that plants with striking colours, fragrances, shapes and structures positively affect our health and well-being.
Tip
The growing conditions in tree beds are not suitable for many plants since the tree drains water and nutrients. However, flower bulbs will thrive there, resulting in small oases dotted around the city. Combine them with seeds to extend flowering in summer.
