A sea of color in early spring or late autumn—this is what flower bulbs in a wildflower meadow can create. Stinzen bulbs (naturalizing bulbs) bring forward the blooming period in early spring, but there are also beautiful autumn bulbs. By planting flower bulbs in your native planting or wildflower meadow, you support wild bees and insects during periods when nectar is scarce, thus contributing to increasing biodiversity.

What does “native” mean?

“Native” refers to a species that naturally occurs in a particular area. A native plant species has arrived in an area by its own means, not brought here by explorers from distant forests (exotic species), but by wind or over thousands of years through climate shifts.

Are there native flower bulbs in our European countries?

The short answer: no, hardly any. However, there are many flower bulbs that are excellent for pollinators and contribute to biodiversity. These (naturalizing) flower bulbs are officially not native but are wild plants that have been planted in gardens since the 16th century. They have been used in Europe for so long that native insects now happily visit these plants.

True native bulb plants for some European countries available as flower bulbs include the snake’s head fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris), wild garlic (Allium ursinum), and lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis).

Flower Bulbs for Native Plantings

Naturalizing bulbs, such as crocus (Crocus), squill (Scilla), and glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa), are ideal for naturalizing in wildflower meadows and perennial beds. Most of these bloom in early spring. By planting bulbs in a native planting or meadow that blooms from April, the bloom periods follow one another beautifully. These bulbs are subtly colored, naturalize after a few years, and generally produce little foliage, so they do not compete with the existing native plants.

Other examples include snowdrops (Galanthus), summer snowflakes (Leucojum aestivum), anemones (Anemone), bluebell (Scilla non-scripta), and broad-leaved star-of-Bethlehem (Ornithogalum balansae).

In the autumn, autumn crocus and autumn colchicum are real eye-catchers in natural plantings or wildflower meadows. The idea is to extend the bloom period of the wildflower meadow into the autumn, and possibly even into winter.

Wild Narcissus: Narcissus pseudonarcissus subsp. pseudonarcissus or lobularis

You won’t find many bees on the narcissus, as it is self-pollinating. Its nectar and pollen are only accessible to insects with very long tongues. However, we now know that the (wild) narcissus is pollinated by parasitic wasps and flies, which play a role in controlling the oak processionary caterpillar. So, plant those useful narcissus!

Which Bulbs and Tubers Really Contribute to Biodiversity?

Many bees begin flying at temperatures of 6 to 7 degrees Celsius, searching for food for their larvae. Even in February, many butterflies emerge from hibernation, looking for sunny spots to warm up and host plants to lay their eggs on. The fuel they need is nectar. This is exactly when the first bulb plants begin to bloom! So, there is every reason to plant more of these.

The final choice of flower bulbs for your natural plantings and wildflower meadows will depend on soil type, other site factors (light, moisture), and management. All these bulbs need to be left undisturbed for an extended period after blooming for optimal distribution in the following years (via seed or bulb). If you have questions, contact your regional sales representative (https://www.ververexport.com/contact/) at Verver Export.