People ask me so often; which flower bulbs come back well? A good question, and no, this does not sound to me like you are a lazy gardener. Really lazy gardeners plant paving stones and concrete. Flower bulbs that come back year after year are for people who have the garden to enjoy.

In answer to the question, here are my top 5 most reliable flower bulbs that will not leave your garden until you dig them up.

The Bluebell (Hyacinthoides)

This is at the back of my orchard. When I moved here 30 years ago there weren't nearly as many and there are still more every year. Whether you plant the pink, white or blue bluebells, they all do equally well and will rarely let you down.

The Crocus

It is truly fantastic how the early flowering Crocus can cover entire lawns and borders with its soft lilac over the years. As soon as the weather warms up a bit in spring, it appears. As soon as the snowdrop has finished blooming, the Crocus takes its place. A delicious amuse-bouche of spring.

The Snowdrop Galanthus

One of the most famous bulb crops, at nursery school the teacher already told me that if you were very very quiet you could hear the snowdrops chiming. It is not always easy to get them going, if you plant 10 bulbs a few will definitely fall away. But once settled they are like diamonds: forever. If you get the chance to buy them somewhere “in the green” in the spring you should do so immediately. You will have better results than with planting dry Galanthus bulbs in the fall.

The Narcissus

Under optimal conditions, the daffodil is almost indestructible. What you do need to keep in mind is that the daffodil is in full bloom for at least half the day and then in the months after flowering, approximately until mid-July, does not have too much competition from other plants. If you can create these conditions for the daffodil, along the ditch, the driveway or in the border, then you have one of the most grateful flower bulbs in the daffodil.

The Camassia

You can safely place the Camassia in a border between the perennials, it will feel completely at home there. Just like the Narcissus, a problem-free bulbous plant without disease or pain. Give it a spot where it has at least half a day of sun and it will reward you every year in the first weeks of May with its sky-blue floral splendor.

Kind regards.
Carlos van der Veek