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PLS350: Herbaceous Garden Plants
Anemone blanda
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Grecian Windflower
Ranunculaceae
Southeastern Europe, Turkey
To 8
Plant many bulbs together in fall
Spring blooming. 1-2
Finely cut , ferny foliage, typical buttercup type
Perennial
Zone: N/A
Full sun to part shade. Best in light, sandy soil with sun. Frost hardy. Self
seeds in moist shaded soils.
L-Scape: Woodland gardens, naturalizing
Pests: Rusts, mildews, leaf spots
Cultivars: "Atrocaerulea" (deep blue) "Blue Star" (pale blue) "Radar" (magenta with
white center)
Chionodoxa luciliae
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Glory-of-the-snow
Hyacinthaceae
Crete, Turkey, Asia Minor
3 to 6
Spring blooming, 6-10 flowered racemes of star-shaped flowers, vivid blue
with white centers
Leaves: Mid-green, basal leaves to 11
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Habitat: Bulbs / allies
Habit:
Type: Perennial
Zone: 3b
Culture: Plant 50 to 100 bulbs 3" deep in fall, in well-drained soil, full sun.
Chionodoxa seeds itself and will spread
L-Scape: Rock gardens, troughs, under planting, naturalizing
Pests: Chipmunks and mice
Cultivars:
Study Card
PLS350: Herbaceous Garden Plants
Crocus vernus
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Dutch Crocus
Iridaceae
Italy to Western Russia
4-5
Large flowers, 1-2
Grass-like with silver stripe down each leaf
BULBS/ALLIES
Low, vigorous, hybridizes easily; zones 3-8
Perennial
Zone: N/A
Plant in large groups. Full sun, will tolerate poor soils, and prefer
well-drained soil. Flowers will not open on cloudy days or in deep shade.
Do not mow foliage until it senesces.
L-Scape: Naturalizing in grass, rock gardens, beneath trees
Pests: Mice, voles, squirrels eat corms.
Cultivars: 'Jeanne dí Arc' = white; 'Yellow Mammoth' 'Pickwick' = silver lilac;
'Remembrance' = early purple
Galanthus nivalis
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Common Snowdrop
Amaryllidaceae
Europe
4-6
Space closely for best effect
Small white honey-scented drooping flowers with green marks over a
Basal, narrow glaucous, 2-6
Bulbs / allies
Vigorous, hybridizes easily; Bulbous perennial
Perennial
Zone: N/A
Humus-rich, well-drained soil, moisture, part shade. Top dress with
compost each year.
L-Scape: Naturalizing, rock gardens, borders. Among the first bulbs to bloom in
spring
Pests: Botrytis (grey mold)
Cultivars: 'Flore Pleno' double flowers 'Howick Yellow' 'Pusey Green Tip'; Galanthus
elwesii = Giant Snowdrop.
Study Card
PLS350: Herbaceous Garden Plants
Hyacinthus orientalis
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Common Hyacinth, Dutch Hyacinth,
Garden Hyacinth
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Hyacinthaceae
Turkey, Syria, Lebanon
8-12 in
Plant bulbs 8 inches apart
Many colors. Early spring blooming. 2 to 50 Closely packed tubular
bell-shaped waxy fragrant flowers on a cylindrical raceme. Single or double
flowers.
Leaves: Basal, linear to lanceolate, bright green, 6-14
Texture:
Habitat: BULBS/ALLIES
Habit: Upright
Type: Perennial
Zone: 4a
Culture: Fertile well-drained (not dry) soil, sun to part shade. Remove spent blooms.
Requires cold vernalization to bloom. Bulb is poisonous.
L-Scape: Spring border, display, forcing.
Pests: Botrytis
Cultivars: 'Amethyst' 'Amsterdam' 'Ben Nevis' many more
Leucojum vernum
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Spring Snowflake
Amaryllidaceae
Southern and Eastern Europe
6 to 12
Closely space
Early spring (as snow melts), 1-2 bell shaped green/yellow tipped pure
white flowers (lightly fragrant) Sepal and petals equal in length
Leaves: Basal, erect, strap-like, glossy dark green leaves to 9
Texture:
Habitat: BULBS/ALLIES
Habit: Pendulous flowers on arching stems; Bulbous perennial
Type: Perennial
Zone: N/A
Culture: Plant bulbs 3-4" deep in fall, reliably moist well-drained soil, part shade to
full sun.
L-Scape: Rock gardens, borders, naturalizing, waterside
Pests: None serious
Cultivars: Also L. aestivum, Summer Snowflake, blooming a few weeks after L.
vernum.
Study Card
PLS350: Herbaceous Garden Plants
Muscari species
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Grape Hyacinth
Hyacinthaceae
Southeastern Europe to Caucasus
To 8
Grape-like blue flowers with white mouth in spikes, early spring blooming
Linear, mid green to 12
BULBS/ALLIES
Spreads
Perennial
Zone: N/A
Plant 4" deep in fall in fertile, moist, well-drained soil, full sun. Divide when
dormant to maintain vigor.
L-Scape: Massing in the border, woodland garden, naturalizing. May be used in
lawns. Bulbs are pickled and eaten in Italy as "lampascioni"
Pests: None serious
Cultivars: Muscari armeniacum - Armenian Grape Hyacinth; M. botryoides =
Common Grape Hyacinth; "Blue Spike" = double blue
Narcissus species
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Daffodil, Jonquil
Amaryllidaceae
Europe and the Mediterranean Region
6-24
Yellow, white, some with red-orange, pink crowns composed of a perianth
and a corona
Leaves: Usually basal, but various among the 100s of species
Texture:
Habitat: BULBS/ALLIES
Habit: Erect foliage and flowers; blooms April - early June
Type: Perennial
Zone: N/A
Culture: Hardy bulb that is easy to grow. Best in full sun and light soils May irritate
skin
L-Scape: Massed in borders, forcing, naturalizing in grass or woodlands, cut flowers.
Pests: Bulb flies, scale mites, nematodes, slugs, rots, fungi, viruses.
Cultivars: Thousands. See Narcissus Page.
Study Card
PLS350: Herbaceous Garden Plants
Pulsatilla species
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Pasque Flower
Ranunculaceae
Europe
10 to 12
White, lavender or purple flowers followed by silky seed heads (like
clematis); early to mid spring
Leaves: Soft pubescent foliage, basal leaves to 6
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Type: Perennial
Zone: N/A
Culture: Full sun, drought tolerant, well drained soil. Frost hardy.
L-Scape: Rock garden, border
Pests: None serious
Cultivars:
Puschkinia scilloides
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Striped Squill
Hyacinthaceae (Liliaceae)
Middle East
6 to 8 inches
Racemes of 4-10 open bell shaped white to pale blue flowers with dark
blue stripes down the back; early spring
Leaves: 2 semi-erect basal leaves
Texture:
Habitat: BULBS/ALLIES
Habit: Small bulb
Type: Perennial
Zone: N/A
Culture: Well-drained soil, full sun to dappled shade
L-Scape: Rock garden, under planting
Pests: Viruses
Cultivars:
Study Card
PLS350: Herbaceous Garden Plants
Scilla sibirica
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Squill
Hyacinthaceae
Ukraine, Russia, Northern Iran
6 inches
Loose racemes of 4-5 pendent, bright blue nodding flowers in early spring
2-4 broadly linear basal leaves, 4-6
BULBS/ALLIES
6
Perennial
Zone: 2b
Plant bulbs 3-4" deep in fall. Rich well-drained soil in full sun to part shade.
Likes cool sites. Ephemeral - disappears by summer.
L-Scape: Naturalizing, under planting. Does well in lawns.
Pests: Viruses
Cultivars: 'Alba' = white; 'Spring Beauty' = large blue flowers and taller
Tulipa species
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Tulip
Liliaceae
Temperate Europe, Asia, Mideast and Central Asia
6 to 36
Plant 8 to 12
Spring, many colors. Deadhead.
Broad and thick, glabrous and glaucous.
BULBS/ALLIES
Shorter types clumping, taller types erect and upright
Perennial
Zone: N/A
Need long winter. Zones 4-6. Fertile, well-drained soil. Full sun. Dislikes
excessive moisture. Like heavier soils
L-Scape: Beds, borders, forcing, rock gardens
Pests: Root and bulb rots in poorly drained soil. Botrytis, slugs, nematodes.
Cultivars: Many. 15 Groups (Divisions) see the Tulip Page
Study Card