Chionodoxa spread but in a good way. Not invasive.

I am new to perennial types of tulips and since this is the perennial forum I thought it was a great subject for a thread. Besides it might give people ideas about what to plant in their own gardens.

Thanks, Susan.

From the previous, I'd definitely disagree with Rita
and say that the blue Chionodoxa is highly invasive (at least in my experience with maintaining several perennial gardens in which I had planted it).

Still, it all depends on what you call invasive, on the growing conditions that lead to something being invasive and on what garden effect you want.

The reason that the blue Chionodoxa spreads (here, at least) so vigorously is its prolific seeding.

Personally, I'd say that one mark of an invasive plant is that it doesn't just stay in the property of the person who planted it, but it goes into the neighbour's property .
I've seen this plant over 15 or so years. It's aggressiveness makes me also wonder if there's going to eventually be local ecological concerns with it.

Well, I agree it spreads but it looks pretty and the ones from the neighbors don't spread to over here. I wish they would. But It all depends on what you want.

Sounds like the same problem we have with the Dead Nettle. It starts blooming in the middle of winter and is already dropping see before I can get out there. I am hand pulling as much as I can. Then do preen in the fall to prevent germination. Like you say the conditions are perfect for prolific seeding.

Maybe I will save my space for those beautiful crocus, the big purple ones?? Whoohoo!!

The crocus do have a nice impact when they are blooming. Crocus are a sure sign of spring comming. Although the Iris reticulata did bloom even earlier than my crocus.

I'm loving it. Thanks for posting the names of these so I can go back later and write them down. Great information for a perennial garden.

I have to agree with Rita, that a lot of it is to do with personal taste (even prejudice!),
but I'm also deeply suspicious of Chionodoxa forbesii/lucilliae.

Last year I saw it turn up in a local park and you could tell the garden it had come from.

I use various spring bulbs before the large bulk of the perennials appear and bloom.
Crocuses are still my favourite spring bulb.
Also like the bulb irises.

Colour preferences are interesting, even with crocuses.

There are lots of spring bulbs that come back year after year after year. And I like the fact that the bulbs disapear during the summer. I have lots of things going on in the summer and don't need them.

Charlie, nice flower bed.

Rita, so far I have not pre-chilled tulips or any of my fall bulbs, but this year we did have quite a spell of cold for down here, in the upper 20s so I'm sure that helped.

Thanks Arlene.
The rootlets of a neighbouring silver maple come up into it.

Have to periodically dig chunks up.
Still I'm sure all gardeners have complaints!

Bummer. But if you didn't keep at it...

Yep, we all have complaints! Weather, too dry, too wet, too cold, too hot, invasive plants/weeds.

So are there perennial flowers in the bed as well?

I have some white tulips in the frig that I did not plant in the fall. Is that chilled enough?

Geez, plant them. They won't hold till next year and you will have to throw them out.

The bed with the Sundance Tulips. Partly open today.


The leftovers of the sundance tulips I planted in the daylily bed in back of the garage.


Darwin tulips are showing buds!


Emperor tulips are not as they are not so far above ground yet.

My Showwinner Kaufmanniana tulips have started to bloom.


They are planted here in this front yard bed.



Low growing and early bloomers. I have these planted between clumps of daylilies. You can actually see some daylily folliage at the side on some of the closeup pictures.

The plan for this garden is the bulbs for early spring color. The daylilies and roses at the end for summer color. And some tall bearded iris and lily bulbs for earlier summer color.

Lovely Rita.

So cheerful to see.
Very late year here.
We haven't got going on the early crocuses yet.

Beautiful Rita, just wondering...do you have any grass left?? I hope my whole yard will be flowers one day!!

No much grass but I do have some. Enough so that it has to be mowed all season. I actually do like the look of a sweeping lawn. And I would have a sweeping lawn with lots of flower beds if I had the room. As it is I have lots of flower beds and just a small amount of lawn.