Probably more than any other type of wildflower, native bulbs have been completely eclipsed by commercial varieties in our gardens.
This has put some of our wildflowers under pressure in the wild. In particular, populations of English Bluebell are affected by cross-pollination from the invasive Spanish Bluebell.
Spring bulbs plug a vital gap in the nectar calendar, between Jan and May. Most other wildflowers are not flowering at this time, but there are plenty of pollinators in need of a feed. Bumblebees come out early in the season, as do some species of Butterfly (i.e. Brimstone). All will feed from spring wildflower bulbs.
All of our bulbs except from Snake's Head Fritillary are woodland bulbs, so are more than happy under trees. Snake's Head Fritillary likes damp and full sun.
We sell a collection to cover the full winter and spring:
Snowdrop (Jan-Feb)
Wild Tulip (Mar-Apr)
Wood Anemone (Mar-May)
Snake's Head Fritillary (Apr-May)
English Bluebell (May-Jun)
When buying bulbs you have two choices, once you decide upon native wildflowers (which we urge you to).
Buying dry is cheapest, from 25p - 50p per bulb depending on variety and number ordered. It is perfectly possible to be successful with dry bulbs but many do fail, and they can be weaklings in their first year.
Buying 'in the green' means already rooting and shooting when you buy them. This way they establish much better, and will be strong in their first year and start spreading in year 2. They can also be purchased much later in the season (dry bulbs need planting in Autumn, ours can be planted up until the end of March). They cost a little more as they've been raised for you, from 60p per bulbs depending on variety and number.
Bulbs are virtually zero-maintenance once established. Let the flowers die back and the green leaves soak up the sun for 4-6 weeks after flowering, before cutting back / mowing. From year 3 they will start to almost double in number each year.