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Four Bulbs, One Pot:  Bulbs that Complement Each Other

Packing bulbs into a single pot always creates a dramatic display of green and blooms right at the start of spring. An array of different types of bulbs takes the look up a notch and gives you the chance to create contrast and interest with color, form and fragrance. Finding the perfect set of bulbs that complement each other is the most important part of making a four bulb pot work so well.  Come spring you can place the plant anywhere in the garden to show off your skill with potting.

 

If you only have the one pot, or want to use a single pot to display a wide variety of bulbs, try this four bulb combination for blooms and foliage that all complement each other.

 

Choosing the Right Pot

To make a large number of bulbs work in a single pot, you need the right pot. You want a wide and deep pot that is the same size throughout, or doesn’t widen at the top and get smaller at the bottom. A pot that is two different sizes, will leave empty soil space at the top of the pot when the blooms finally do come in.

 

Tulips

A sturdy variety of tulips planted in the center portion of the pot, two to three bulbs, will create a backdrop for the rest of the potted combination from all angles. Negrita, Unicum and Montreux are all great varieties for potting. Their colors, magenta, red and white will also contrast well with the other bulbs you are going to be combining in this pot. Make sure to plant to two to three bulbs closely together in the very center of the pot where they can create the most impact.

 

Daffodils

Daffodils are spring’s welcome mat, bursting open with a single or double bloom in whites and yellow, depending on what variety you choose. These bulbs should form a single ring around the tulips planted first. Depending on the size of the pot you are planting, a medium sized pot should be able to fit six to eight daffodils. Any variety works well potted, so choose what you like the look of most.

 

Hyacinth

Grape hyacinth bulbs can be added around the row of daffodils, with bulbs being added in between and further out to form a circle around the daffodil bulbs. Grape Hyacinth will bloom on single stems, but they will be shorter than daffodils and their pink to purple color make a nice contrast that doesn’t compete for space or attention. Eight to ten of these bulbs is enough to intersperse between the larger daffodils and tulips that are already set in the soil.

 

Snowdrops

Finally, the delicate leaves and flowers of snowdrops can be used to fill in the entire border rim of the pot. The delicate white flowers really do spread out once they begin growing so only plant bulbs one row deep, unless there is more than four inches of space, then plant them two deep. Plant the snowdrops close enough to the edge of the pot and the flower will have a tendency to hang and drape over the edges of pot.