CROCOSMIA/MONTBRETIA

As easy to grow as gladiolus, crocosmia are longer-blooming, never need staking, and their small, star-like flowers blend well into the garden and bouquets. No wonder so many gardeners today are as excited about them as gardeners were a century ago.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS: We’ll say it again – crocosmias are as easy to grow as glads. Give them well-drained soil and a sunny to lightly shaded site. They’re hardy perennials in zones 7 and warmer, or you can dig and store them like glads. Beware though: all crocosmia can become invasive in warm climates, and the original antique montbretia is especially vigorous – so please handle with care. Learn more

LILIUM/LILIES

Although most of our true lilies are FALL-shipped only (see them here), some are harvested so late that they have to be held in high-tech cold storage for us all winter long, and we ship them in the spring ONLY.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS: Most lilies like their heads in the sun but their feet in the shade to keep their roots cool. Learn more.

POLIANTHES/TUBEROSES

The Aztecs held the tuberose sacred to their goddess of art, beauty, and love. By 1730 it grew in Williamsburg; and in 1893 a Boston gardener wrote that “everyone who has a garden knows the Tuberose.”

TIPS FOR SUCCESS: Tuberoses need full sun, moist soil and plenty of nutrition to do their best. In the NORTH, we recommend growing them in pots , starting them inside and then moving them outside when nights warm up into the 60s. In the SOUTH, you can bloom them successfully in the ground, where singles often do better and bloom earlier. Plant in a hot sunny spot with well-drained soil. Keep soil moist and fertilize regularly.

ZEPHYRANTHES/RAIN LILIES

TIPS FOR SUCCESS: Short and charming, rain lilies are enjoying a resurgence in popularity. To bloom well, they need hot summers. Though they prefer full sun and moist loam, they are very easy to grow in a wide range of conditions, even damp clay. In their native Argentina the white ones actually grow in marshland! In colder areas, they can make interesting plants for summer pots. Learn more.

DIVERSE ARCHIVES — For customer tips and raves, the stories behind the bulbs, links and books, history, news, and more, see our Newsletter Archives.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS — Most of the bulbs in this section are easy to grow, but their needs, of course, are diverse. To help you choose wisely for your garden, here’s our best advice for their planting and care.

CROCOSMIA, MONTBRETIA — CAUTION! In warm climates, Crocosmia multiply vigorously and can easily become INVASIVE. Do NOT grow near water. Do NOT compost corms, plants, or the soil they’ve grown in. Plant in well-drained soil, in full sun in the North or full sun to part-shade in the South, and about 8-10” apart. Learn more.

RAIN LILIES — To bloom well, rain lilies need hot summers. Though they prefer full sun and moist loam, they are very easy to grow in a wide range of conditions, even damp clay. In their native Argentina the white ones actually grow in marshland! In colder areas, they make interesting plants for summer pots. Learn more.

TUBEROSES — Tuberoses need full sun, moist soil and plenty of nutrition to do their best. In the North, we recommend growing them in pots, starting them inside and then moving them outside when nights warm up into the 60s. In the SOUTH, you can bloom them successfully in the ground, where singles often do better and bloom earlier. Plant in a hot, sunny spot with well-drained soil. Keep soil moist and fertilize regularly. Learn more.