Spring Wildflower Bulbs

Full Sun

• The Drummond wild onion (Allium drummondii) and the wild hyacinth (Camassia scilloides) grow naturally in open prairies and moist, open woodlands that receive at least six hours of sun a day. The typical bloom time for both of these native wildflower bulbs is mid- to late spring. The Drummond wild onion is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 4a through 10b. Wild hyacinth is hardy in USDA zones 4a to 8b. These perennial bulbs come back year after year in the same spot and often spread or naturalize over the course of several years.

Light Shade

• When a tree or other large object filters the amount of light that reaches the ground below, it is considered light shade. Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) and spring beauty (Claytonia virginica) are both spring-blooming native wildflower bulbs that thrive under these conditions. Dutchman’s breeches blooms in April or May. It is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 7. Claytonia virginica blooms from January through May, depending on weather conditions. It is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9.

Intermittent Shade

• The type of shade that occurs when full sun hits the area for part of the day is called intermittent shade. Crested iris (Iris cristata), merrybells or bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora) and the white trout lily (Erythronium albidum) are native perennial bulbs that do quite well in these conditions and bloom from April through June. Plant these three bulbs together, in large patches, to create a riot of spring color. The crested iris and the white trout lily, which prefers morning sun, are hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8. Merrybells is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9.

Dense Shade

• Dense shade, sometimes referred to as woodland shade, is typically seen in a woodland environment. Very little light reaches the ground, thus plants either bloom very early in spring before leaves open up or they adapt to surviving in the lower light conditions. Dogtooth violet (Erythronium grandiflorum) and Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) are native perennials. Dogtooth violet is versatile and thrives in dense shade as well as full sun, provided it is grown in moist soil. It blooms in mid-spring and is hardy in USDA zones 3a through 9b. Jack-in-the-pulpit blooms from March through June and is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9.