Colorblends Wholesale Flowerbulbs 2017 | Landscape Professional Edition

LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONAL EDITION

2 0 1 7 C O L O R B L E N D S C A T A L O G fo r FA L L P L A N T I N G

WHY COLORBLENDS?

Was the tradition of planting tulips in single colors in the garden driven by images

Maybe people thought, “That’s how bulb growers do it, we should do it that way, too.”

Planting Colorblends means letting color go further. Single colors are nice in some scenarios, but blending

of the bulb

colors can make a display sing. As in

growers’ fields?

together can add richness and depth

music, a few instruments or voices

and, in a carefully crafted tune, play off each other. That’s what Colorblends try to achieve: beauty (of course), but also harmony or contrast, calmness or boldness, serenity or just playfulness.

Whatever taste or the situation requires, the goal is always a spring show your clients will enjoy and remember.

In addition to developing and presenting new ideas, Colorblends continues to work hard at providing information about bulbs and delivering great spring displays at competitive prices.

As always we thank all on memorable displays and being prophets of bloom. We hope you find

It’s about Spring!

—the

The effectiveness of your spring displays depends on proven varieties and the quality of the bulbs you plant in the fall.

WHOLESALE PRICES

No gimmicky pricing.

No scrappy-sized bulbs. Just wholesale all the time.

All we ask is a $60 minimum order.

DECADES OF EXPERIENCE

We have been supplying the trade for more than 50 years.

We want your clients to have great spring displays. Our knowledge and experience both in the Netherlands and here in the USA ensure your success.

WE DO OUR HOMEWORK

our customers for putting

the catalog inspirational.

TOP-QUALITY BULBS OF THE B E S T VA R I E T I E S

Nicolaas Schipper and team, circa 1935.

colorblends crew

Our customers tell us, “You’ve taken the guesswork out of creating spring shows.

You make me look like a genius.” Colorblends tests all combinations so you don’t waste your time and money trying to figure it out.

ORDERING FOR FALL PLANTING

CONTENTS

WHEN TO ORDER

HOW TO ORDER

Tulip Blends

WEB

Cubed Tulip Blends

52

Tulip Singles

56

We urge you to order early, from now to the end of September.

Your bulbs will be reserved and then delivered in the fall for planting. We maintain inventory into December, but many selections sell out. Please reserve now. Your credit card won’t be charged until your bulbs are delivered in the fall.

Your window for planting is from the start of fall to the start of winter.

See map on page 148. Fall 2017 begins September 22, 4:02pm, EDT. Winter 2017 begins December 21, 11:28am, EST.

On the cover: Gemini II page 47

Using your computer, tablet or smartphone: colorblends.com

BY PHONE

1 (888) 847-8637

BY FAX

1 (203) 338-0744

BY MAIL

Colorblends USA 747 Barnum Avenue Bridgeport, CT 06608 You can print an order form at colorblends.com. After October 1, please order only by phone or web.

4

Wild Tulips

72

Daffodils for Naturalizing

78

Golden Daffodils

82

Landscape Daffodils

86

Daffodil Blends

94

Double Daffodils

100

Uncommon Daffodils

106

Miniature Daffodils

114

Hyacinths

118

Specialty Bulbs

124

Alliums

134

Amaryllis

138

Paperwhites

144

Planting Tools

145

Planning & Ordering Info

146

Budget Daffodils

150

Beyond Baroque

Beautifully constructed blooms of pink, purple and a hard-todescribe color that falls somewhere in between. They are so large, so full, so ornate that they look more like a 17th-century Dutch still life than they do a tulip blend. Introduced 2017

Item No Bulb Size Height

1455 Blend %

34/33/33

12cm+ Per 100 18� Per 1000

$38 $330

Wellspring

A blend of seven closely related tulips in shades that vary from cherry red to purple to mauve, some with creamy accents. Thirsty for color after a long winter? Here is the cool refreshment your eyes are longing for. Introduced 2017 TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size Height

colorblends.com

1574 Blend % 7 varieties 12cm+ Per 100 20� Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$36 $320

3

Tulip Blends

Colorblends are choreographed displays that will change how you think about tulips. Bulbs come pre-mixed in bags of 100. Just plant in fall, enjoy in spring.

White Hot ÂŽ

A dazzling red with a creamy yellow that matures pure white.

The contrast turns the heads of pedestrians, slows traffic and likely causes pilots to reduce their altitude. White opens first but carries on to overlap perfectly with the red. Introduced 1991

4

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

1225 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 22� Per 1000

50/50 $32 $250

Saffron

A handsome trio of three Darwin Hybrid tulips. Clear white and butter yellow, which matures to cream, serve as foils for a rich orange with yellow markings. They add a touch of spice to the spring landscape. Introduced 2014

Item No Bulb Size Height

1244 Blend %

34/33/33

12cm+ Per 100

$35

22" Per 1000

$290

Torch Song

A white and two yellow tulips, each of which is feathered red.

They recall the “broken” tulips that were the rage during the Tulipmania that gripped the Netherlands in the 17th century.

Easy to see what all the fuss was about. Introduced 2012 TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size Height

colorblends.com

1217 Blend %

34/33/33

12cm+ Per 100 22” Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$36 $300

5

Your Imminence

A strong purple blended with a rich rose-pink, both with white accents. The combination seems obvious (“Pink and purple. Of course!”), but that won’t prepare you for the beauty of the music they make together. Introduced 2012

6

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

1206 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 22” Per 1000

50/50 $34 $270

The Crusaders ®

A melee of bishop purple and cardinal red tulips. The two colors invigorate each other, creating a spectacle that is hard to overlook. This Colorblend is a favorite among our customers.

Introduced 1995

Item No Bulb Size Height

1250 Blend %

50/50

12cm+ Per 100

$32

20” Per 1000

$260

Trident

Rich purple, bright pink, pure white. Together they make a combination that is saccharine, sugary or just plain sweet.

Four out of five Colorblenders recommend this mouthwatering trio for their customers who plant blends. Introduced 2016 TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size Height

colorblends.com

1271 Blend %

34/33/33

12cm+ Per 100 22” Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$36 $290

7

My Three Suns

A blend of fraternal triplets, each a variation on a beautiful theme. Their perfect harmony of color, shape and timing can be mesmerizing. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself circling their bright spring display. Introduced 2010

8

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

1481 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 24� Per 1000

34/33/33 $33 $250

Celebration

A blend of yellow, orange-apricot and red Darwin Hybrids.

Like a sunset, the color aspect changes over time: from bright to pastel. A feel-good Colorblend shining out from the border in a wonderful manner. Introduced 1994

Item No Bulb Size Height

1245 Blend %

34/33/33

12cm+ Per 100 24� Per 1000

$34 $260

Hot Hot Hot

Darwin Hybrid tulips are strong, dependable and always create an impact. We blend a scarlet-red with a good golden yellow.

Excellent for highlights in the border or bold effects in beds, and a great choice for drive-by color. Introduced 1989 TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size Height

colorblends.com

1210 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 24� Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

50/50 $31 $250

9

Polka Dots ÂŽ

What is the recipe for a lively spring display? Try this: pure red, pure white, pure yellow. Combine, blend and plant thickly.

Steps 1 and 2 are done. All you have to do is plant and enjoy.

Introduced 2010

10

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

1483 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 24� Per 1000

34/33/33 $35 $290

Perennial Tulips: the straight dope

IT’S A COMMON F RUSTRAT ION: You buy tulip bulbs, plant them in the fall and enjoy a great display in the spring. But the following spring, all you get is a smattering of flowers and maybe a bunch of leaves. “What happened?” you ask yourself.

“Aren’t tulips supposed to come back? My grandmother has tulips that have bloomed every spring for as long as she can remember.

Did I do something wrong?”

PAMPERED BEGINNINGS

More than likely, you are not to blame.

It’s in the nature of tulips. Most are not strong perennializers in the land­­scape. They don’t flower well the second year after planting.

Why don’t tulips come back? The tulip bulbs you buy and plant in the fall have been groomed to bloom.

They were raised in sandy Dutch soil and fertilized in just the right measure.

When they bloomed in the spring, the flowers were cut off soon after they opened to keep them from drawing too much energy from the bulbs. The leaves were allowed to continue to grow for another six weeks in the famously cool Dutch weather. After going dormant in early summer, the bulbs were dug and stored in a climate-controlled warehouse to mimic a long, hot, bone-dry summer in the mountains of Central Asia, which is where most tulips are native.

SPLITSVILLE USA

All of this TLC yields a high percentage of flowering-size bulbs, including many topsize bulbs, which measure 12 centimeters in circumference or larger. A topsize bulb can’t get bigger, but it will get smaller, typically by splitting into two or more smaller bulbs. Under less-than-perfect garden conditions, when the bulbs split into smaller bulbs, those smaller bulbs may take years to grow to flowering size. Some may also rot due to heavy soil or excess moisture. And so your breathtaking tulip display dwindles to little or nothing.

BUCKING THE ODDS

Despite the obstacles, there are some tulips that are willing (but not guaranteed) to bloom well for more than one year. The best known are the Darwin Hybrids, but other types, such as the Fosterianas, and many of the wild, or species, tulips also have perennial tendencies.

They won’t keep going indefinitely, but it’s possible to get two or three reasonably good displays from them before you feel the need to replant.

You can find a list of these tulips on our website, colorblends.com, under Tulips, along with tips on encouraging perennial behavior.

HONEST TALK

Some bulb companies feature perennial tulips and charge a premium for them. Since repeat performances are never a sure thing, Colorblends avoids making promises the bulbs may not keep.

We’d rather keep our prices wholesale and our information straight.

11

The Rainbow Coalition ÂŽ

Here is one of those color arrangements only tulips can bring.

Orange opens first, then red joins in, and purple closes ranks.

In the end, the three bloom together for as long as a fortnight.

A delicious three-act show! Introduced 1997

12

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

1247 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 20� Per 1000

34/33/33 $33 $260

The Royals ®

A combination of brilliant purple and rich yellow, each color vying for attention. A regal Colorblend with a great range of uses in the garden. Just look at it! Introduced 1990

1205 Blend %

Item No Bulb Size

50/50

12cm+ Per 100

Height

$32

22” Per 1000

$260

Sorbetto

Chocolate, mocha and vanilla rule the winter. In spring, you crave something light and fruity. Trouble choosing? Have one scoop each of strawberry, peach and lemon. Go ahead. Splurge.

Spring comes but once a year. Introduced 2016 TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size Height

colorblends.com

1272 Blend %

34/33/33

12cm+ Per 100 22” Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$36 $290

13

Pink Margarita ÂŽ

Two of the biggest and brightest of the Darwin Hybrids.

They are always the life of the garden party. Use this blend where you want to attract notice. It will not disappoint.

Introduced 1995

14

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

1234 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 24� Per 1000

50/50 $36 $300

Mira Mira

Soft colors are not synonymous with subtlety. When this pink and yellow blend peaked in the Colorblends trial garden, cars slowed, pedestrians gawked and a hardened staff member squealed with delight. Pretty powerful stuff. Introduced 2015

Item No Bulb Size Height

1256 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 24� Per 1000

50/50 $34 $285

Thanks and Praise

Pure white and pure yellow. Nothing could be simpler.

Nothing could be more appealing. If you plant this blend, you have a lot to look forward to. These two can go on for what seems like forever. Introduced 2014 TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size Height

colorblends.com

1248 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 20� Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

50/50 $34 $280

15

Stop the Car ®

Flamboyant apricot-orange flowers, touched with yellow at the base, open first. Satiny plum-purple blooms soon join in, creating a remarkable Colorblend that will slow them down.

Introduced 1996

16

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

1221 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 18” Per 1000

50/50 $32 $250

Bud in Hand

A purple lily-flowered tulip wings its way around a traditional two-toned yellow. The two varieties complement each other nicely and look great in the landscape and in a vase. This blend was a hit in the Colorblends display garden. Introduced 2017

Item No Bulb Size Height

1274 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 22� Per 1000

50/50 $33 $280

Mood Indigo

Royal purple and pure glistening white make a blend that is elegant, serene, dignified, even noble. The strong contrast gets attention without shouting and rewards the eye with its depth and crispness. Introduced 2013 TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size Height

colorblends.com

1242 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 20� Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

50/50 $33 $270

17

PLAN

T I NG TU L I PS I N

We hear the same question from transplanted Northerners and envious Southerners (and Californians): Can I grow tulips here? The answer, more often than not, is “maybe.” Here’s what Sun Belt residents need to consider.

In the pink zone, tulips should be prechilled starting in October and planted in December

ALMOST ALL TULIPS (AND MOST OTHER SPRING-FLOWERING BULBS) NEED A PROLONGED COLD PERIOD TO GROW AND FLOWER WELL.

If they don’t get enough winter cold, they tend to bloom short. The dividing line between enough cold and not enough cold is fuzzy, but in general, bulbs planted in Zones 7b and warmer don’t receive sufficient natural chilling.

IT IS POSSIBLE TO SUPPLEMENT WINTER COLD BY PLACING BULBS (DRY, WITH LOTS OF AIR) IN A REFRIGERATOR FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD BEFORE PLANTING.

We recommend 8–10 weeks of prechilling, starting in mid-October.

Customers placing small orders generally elect to prechill the bulbs themselves. Large customers often ask us to do the prechilling. We charge a flat fee of $20 per order for this service. (We advise gardeners in Zones 9 and 10 in the Southeast—coastal Texas and Louisiana and Central and South Florida—to avoid planting tulips entirely, prechilled or not.)

PRECHILLING DOES NOT GUARANTEE A GREAT SPRING SHOW.

Most tulips are native to Central Asia, where springs are long and cool.

Prechilling tricks the bulbs into “thinking” they’ve had a cold winter but does not prepare them for an early March heat wave or a late wintry blast when the flowers are in their prime. To our southern customers we say: “Prechill your bulbs, ensure they have the water they need from planting through bloom and keep your expectations modest. The quality of the display is in nature’s hands.”

PRECHILLED BULBS SHOULD BE TREATED AS ANNUALS.

Most spring-flowering bulbs planted in mild-winter climates will bloom for just one spring. There are only a handful of exceptions (including certain daffodils). For a good display, you must plant fresh bulbs each fall.

For a list of bulbs that perform well in mild-winter climates (with or without prechilling) and more information on the prechilling process, see the For the South page at colorblends.com.

18

Purdy ÂŽ

One of those happy-go-lucky Colorblends that turned out well: deep purple, poppy-red and golden yellow. Plant them for a bright splash of color in midseason. Introduced 2001

TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size Height

colorblends.com

1237 Blend %

34/33/33

12cm+ Per 100 24� Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$34 $250

19

Big Ups ® An inviting blend of strong-growing Darwin Hybrid tulips.

They welcome all viewers with a hello shout. Some companies offer mixtures to unload seconds and leftovers. Big Ups is a carefully choreographed blend of topsize tulips. Their flowers are large, their colors complementary, their vigor impressive.

It’s not unusual for them to repeat their performance for several springs (see page 11 to learn more). Introduced 2005

20

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

1264 Blend % 8 varieties 12cm+ Per 100 22” Per 1000

$35 $280

BIG UPS IN NEW YORK

Tough tulips for tough situations

The Darwin Hybrid tulips that make up the Big Ups blend are dependable even in an urban environment, where they have to cope with blustery winds and sudden changes in lighting (full sun one moment, deep shade the next). And where conditions aren’t so difficult? That’s when they really shine.

BIG UPS NEAR CHICAGO

TO ORDER :

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

21

Gentle Giants ÂŽ

A blend of four jumbo tulips in shades of pink and peach.

They manage to be both robust and delicate at the same time. All have perennial tendencies in the landscape (see page 11 to learn more). Introduced 2009

22

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

1517 Blend % 4 varieties 12cm+ Per 100 24� Per 1000

$35 $270

Twin Peeks

A pair of large-flowered tulips that are as vigorous as they are beautiful. The pink is a rose that shows red tones. The red is softened by a light frosting. They are perfectly compatible and willing to give repeat performances. Introduced 2013

Item No Bulb Size Height

1232 Blend %

50/50

12cm+ Per 100

$33

22” Per 1000

$280

Dutch Boys

They grow ’em big in the Netherlands: The Dutch are, on average, the tallest people on earth. Here are three strapping lads from North Holland. The white is a little shorter than his buddies. The exception that proves the rule. Introduced 2016 TO ORDER :

Item No

1269 Blend %

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

18-22” Per 1000

colorblends.com

34/33/33

| 1 (888) 847-8637

$34 $280

23

Lava ÂŽ

A radiant fiery red interplanted with a rich red-yellow. The warm color of the solid red is repeated in the two-toned variety, giving an overall glowing effect. Seen from far or near they create a sensation. Introduced 1998

24

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

1215 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 24� Per 1000

50/50 $34 $250

Sunogram

A reddish orange and a yellow that is brushed and streaked with red. They radiate with the kind of intensity you crave in spring. Fair-skinned customers: Please apply SPF 50 liberally just before bloom. Introduced 2015

Item No Bulb Size Height

1253 Blend %

50/50

12cm+ Per 100

$33

22� Per 1000

$260

Magmatism

There is something irresistible about this warm blend of red, orange and yellow. It draws the eye from a distance and pulls you in for a closer look. And the closer you get, the harder it is to reverse course. Introduced 2011 TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size Height

colorblends.com

1201 Blend %

34/33/33

12cm+ Per 100 22� Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$35 $280

25

WH Y TUL I PS

D I S A P PEAR

You have a favorite tulip. The color is superb, and the shape and proportions fit your notion of the tulip ideal. You order it every year, and every spring drivers stop in front of the house to take pictures.

And then one summer the Colorblends catalog arrives in the mail and your tulip is missing. You check the website. Not there. You call. “I’m sorry, Ma’am, we can’t get that tulip any more. It’s no longer grown.” No longer grown? How can that be?

Tulip Econ 101

The main reason a grower in the Netherlands drops a variety is a decline in demand. There is a market for tulips, as there is for most things, and if demand falls, so must supply. Perhaps the color has gone out of favor. Or a new variety has come along that grows better or looks better or is more compact or taller.

Whatever the cause, when a grower finds he is planting only half a hectare of a variety, he has to consider stopping. Half a hectare is more than an acre, an area large enough to yield up to 150,000 topsize tulips. Sounds like a lot, but when you consider that each variety has its own requirements— machinery settings for planting and digging, handwork for cleaning and processing, storage temperatures, etc.—and that labor and warehouse space are expensive, you begin to understand that this number may not be enough for the grower to break even.

Disease: The Grim Reaper

Some varieties are susceptible to disease—a fungus or nematodes or a virus. Others seem to be resistant.

Luck plays a role. A variety may be disease-free for years, even decades, then develop a problem.

If a disease is manageable or it doesn’t get out of hand, a grower may stick with a susceptible variety, as long as the price he gets for the healthy bulbs he is able to harvest is high enough. But if the economic equation goes negative or a healthy new variety appears on the scene, the grower will quickly move on.

Degeneration

Tulip varieties, like trees, animals and people, have a lifespan— a beginning, middle and end.

Because they consist of clones (each bulb is genetically identical), tulip varieties can, in theory, continue to make new copies of themselves indefinitely. In practice, they get old and tired.

When a grower lifts his bulbs in summer, he ships the largest sizes to his customers and keeps the small bulbs as planting stock, which he replants in the fall. As the years pass, he will likely see the number of saleable bulbs begin to decline, a phenomenon known in the trade as degeneratie. Eventually, he will have to ask himself whether the time has come to start over with a new variety.

There is a way to reinvigorate an aging variety. The grower can start a new, separate stock by planting the biggest bulbs from one harvest and then for several years doing the opposite of what he normally does: discard the small bulbs and replant only the large. He then transitions production to the new stock, slowly but surely eliminating the old stock.

This used to be standard procedure when degeneration set in, but few growers go to the effort today. A new variety may not perform better than the old, but it’s a gamble the grower is willing to take.

Red Shine. Officially registered 1955.

Out of cultivation 2016.

26

The Tang Dynasty ®

A juicy blend of pure white, yellow and apricot-orange. They will rule your spring display with dignity. Strong growing and can give you a few return years (see page 11 to learn more).

Introduced 2005

Item No Bulb Size Height

1262 Blend %

34/33/33

12cm+ Per 100

$33

18” Per 1000

$250

Glow Motion ®

A glowing, ever-changing Colorblend of three Darwin Hybrid tulips in shades of orange and yellow. The colors shift slightly day by day as the flowers mature. The effect, from start to finish, is magic. Introduced 2008 TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size Height

colorblends.com

1209 Blend %

34/33/33

12cm+ Per 100 22” Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$33 $260

27

Miss Confection ®

A sweet combination of a strong reddish pink and a creamy yellow that turns pure white. They bloom earlier than most other large tulips, offering a delicious preview of the parade of color to come. Introduced 2006

28

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

1270 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 16” Per 1000

50/50 $30 $240

Pinkster

Fresh colors for the season of renewal—pink, yellow and white.

These tulips start early, when the weather tends to be cool, and that helps them hold up longer than most. They will put a spring in your step after a long winter. Introduced 2012

Item No Bulb Size Height

1214 Blend %

34/33/33

12cm+ Per 100 16” Per 1000

$34 $260

Smooch

The cosmetics industry employs a small army of chemists to do what this blend does naturally and effortlessly. Deep, rich rose and cool soft pink. If you’re looking for spring landscape enhancement, you’re in the right place. Introduced 2017 TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size Height

colorblends.com

1279 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 16” Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

50/50 $30 $260

29

Merry Go Round

What is it about purple and orange? An artist would say that they are opposite each other on the color wheel and therefore complementary. The less technical term used by visitors to the Colorblends trial garden: “Wow!” Introduced 2014

30

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1246 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

16–22” Per 1000

$295

Martian Spring

Full-bodied purple tulips arch gracefully over a dense mass of rich orange. The juxtaposition of cool and warm is irresistible to the eye, especially on a bright sunny day. Plant the bulbs close together for best effect. Introduced 2012

Item No

1226 Blend %

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

14–18” Per 1000

50/50 $38 $340

Vitamin See

As a Colorblender might say: Man does not live by red alone.

And with so many colors to choose from, why should he? This spring tonic comprises a fluffy lemon yellow, a hefty pumpkin orange and, flying above, a lily-like purple. Introduced 2016 TO ORDER :

Item No

1273 Blend %

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

Height

16-22” Per 1000

colorblends.com

34/33/33

| 1 (888) 847-8637

$36 $310

31

Petal Pushers ®

Big double tulips in primary colors: red, yellow and purple (standing in for blue). They make a blend that is simple, cheerful and eye-catching. Best in full sun. Introduced 2008

32

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

1238 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 18” Per 1000

34/33/33 $35 $270

Too Fruition

Luscious double tulips in red, orange and yellow. They look like a plate filled at the sweet end of the salad bar. Plants are compact and stand up well to wind and rain. Spaced closely, they put on a deliciously vibrant spring show. Introduced 2013

Item No Bulb Size Height

1289 Blend %

34/33/33

12cm+ Per 100

$35

16” Per 1000

$300

Wheels Up

Red and purple lily-flowered tulips take flight over a frothy sea of double yellows. A bold and beautiful blend that is guaranteed to attract notice. The captain has turned on the fasten seat belt sign. Buckle up! Introduced 2012 TO ORDER :

Item No

1207 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

16–22” Per 1000

$310

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

33

Snowmelt

Big broad double tulips in white, purple and yellow. The blend is both cool and warm at the same time and thus can be used in a wide variety of landscape situations. All that’s required for a great display is plenty of spring sunshine. Introduced 2017

Item No Bulb Size Height

1451 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 18” Per 1000

34/33/33 $36 $300

Binary Fusion

Huge double tulips borne on long, arching stems. The extra petals give the blooms extra punch: They put on a show that cannot and will not be missed. Plant some for cutting, as well.

These flowers make incredible bouquets. Introduced 2009

34

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

1294 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 18” Per 1000

50/50 $35 $270

Sol Array

Red, yellow-and-red and purple. These big double tulips do more than capture the energy of the sun; they intensify it.

Caution: Prolonged viewing may damage the naked eye.

Protective eyewear recommended. Introduced 2014

Item No Bulb Size Height

1442 Blend %

34/33/33

12cm+ Per 100 18” Per 1000

$36 $300

Chiquita Bordeaux

Double tulips in bright yellow and silvery purple. The flowers are large and densely petaled, much like those of peonies. But peonies don’t make these colors or bloom so early. Intrigued passersby will be drawn in for a closer look. Introduced 2001 TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size Height

colorblends.com

1283 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 18” Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

50/50 $35 $280

35

VISITING AMSTERDAM? Learn about the history of the tulip, Holland’s most famous flower, from its origin in the Central Asian highlands to its modern-day cultivation in the fields of the Netherlands.

The Amsterdam Tulip Museum is in the Jordaan district of Amsterdam, just a one-minute walk from the Anne Frank House. The surrounding historic neighborhood is a romantic place, with many museums, antique dealers, art galleries, restaurants and cafes to explore and enjoy. The museum shop sells bulbs to plant, books to educate and craft items to bring the story and beauty of tulips into your daily life.

For more information about the museum, visit amsterdamtulipmuseum.com. For information about visiting the Jordaan (pronounced yor-DON) district of Amsterdam go to jordaanweb.com.

36

Metamorphic

The miracle of tulips: In fall, you plant what look like stones.

In spring, you get “gorgeous!” This blend of purple, rich pink and blush-white doubles takes time to deliver on its promise, but man is it worth the wait. Introduced 2017

Item No Bulb Size Height

1453 Blend %

34/33/33

12cm+ Per 100 18” Per 1000

$37 $310

Vital Signs

Two doubles—one a rich cherry-red, the other a bright white with touches of cream and green—burst into bloom just when your spirits could use a lift. Lights are flashing.

Emergency rescue. Spring is here. Introduced 2016 TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size Height

colorblends.com

1267 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 16” Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

50/50 $34 $290

37

Boutonnière

Most Colorblends are designed to work both in small spaces and large. Really big areas allow room for BedSpreads®: blends of four, five or more varieties that cover a wide range of color, bloom time, height and texture.

Boutonnière showcases the diversity of tulips with a display of single, double and lily-shaped blooms in soft pink, rich pink, white and maroon. Sold in units of 500 only because that’s the number needed for a balanced show. Introduced 2015

38

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

See more BedSpreads® at colorblends.com

Item No

1570 Blend % 5 varieties

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 500

$185

Height

18–24” Per 2000

$680

Much Niceness

This blend looks like something you’d see on the dessert cart at a posh restaurant. The pastry chef has created something light and sweet to tempt you. A pity to take a fork to it. All you want to do is marvel at his exquisite composition. Introduced 2012

Item No

1219 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

16–20” Per 1000

$295

Ala Ska

A purple double and a white-and-pink semi-double rub shoulders below a purple lily-flowered tulip that is touched with white at the base. The look is cool and refreshing, like a glacier on a north-facing slope. Introduced 2014 TO ORDER :

Item No

1441 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$36

Height

16–22” Per 1000

$310

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

39

Lipsticks

Large tulips on long stems in fire-engine red and deep rose.

A Colorblend with a great richness of color. Bold and beautiful.

Excellent for large effects. Introduced 2001

40

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

1475 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 20� Per 1000

50/50 $35 $280

See View Plait ®

Three gorgeous tulips—a silvery pink, a mauve and a purple with a sparkling white edge—interweave in perfect harmony.

They deserve a prominent location where people may stop to admire them. Introduced 2006

Item No Bulb Size Height

1472 Blend %

34/33/33

12cm+ Per 100 18” Per 1000

$37 $310

Pillow Talk

Here a soft rose and a creamy yellow touched with pink are joined to form an incredibly beautiful combination. Their semi-double flowers open to wide, shallow bowls. Give them pride of place, and plant thickly. Introduced 2000 TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size Height

colorblends.com

1464 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 16” Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

50/50 $35 $300

41

S T R E T C H YO U R O T HOW

$100 T O T H E 408

Massage for 1

3 tickets to an MLB baseball game

1 hour

2 tickets to an NBA basketball game

3 hours

2 hours

Dinner for 2, with glasses of wine

1.5 hours

2 hours

1 night at a hotel

14 hours

hours

Some say tulips don’t bloom long enough to justify the cost. Tulips flower an average of 17 days in spring. That’s 408 hours of bloom.

Compared to other recreational activities, tulips are a great value.

21 hours

Approximate Hours of Enjoyment

The $100 tulip value equation

_ $10000

MAX

4th of July fireworks

300 tulip bulbs

1 adult day pass to Disney's Magic Kingdom

A springflowering bulb’s growth cycle S

pring-flowering bulbs have a growth cycle that sets them apart from most other plants. They make roots in the fall, bide their time through winter, emerge and bloom in spring, and go completely dormant in early summer. During their brief period above ground, the plants must store up enough energy to survive their long dormancy (bulbs are very much alive in their dormant state), produce roots, and send up leaves and flowers again the following spring—in that order. That is why it is important to let the leaves die back naturally after bloom. If you cut the leaves early, you force the bulb to make sacrifices—starting with the next spring’s flowers.

42

Cakewalk ÂŽ

Orchestrating tulip displays is hard. You have to juggle bloom times, heights, shapes and colors. Great ideas on paper are often flops in the landscape. Better to plant Colorblends like this one. Easy, beautiful and foolproof. Introduced 2011 TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size Height

colorblends.com

1403 Blend %

34/33/33

12cm+ Per 100 22� Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$37 $290

43

Carnaval

Light and bright, cheerful and happy. These tulips hold a party wherever they are planted and welcome everyone to join in.

You can almost hear the cry of trumpets, the pulsing beat, see the floats and the crowds dancing in the street. Introduced 2013

Item No Bulb Size Height

1439 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 22� Per 1000

Colorblends: W H AT YO U S E E I S W H AT YO U G ET

Colorblends selections are developed, planted, evaluated, photographed and presented in this catalog and at colorblends.com.

As simple as some blends appear, they are the distillation of much trial and error. Colorblends has done its homework so you don’t waste your time and money trying to figure it out.

Our sole mission is to help you put on great spring displays. You can order and plant Colorblends with complete confidence.

Accept no substitutes. Go with the real thing.

Plant Colorblends Wholesale Flowerbulbs.

THE RAINBOW COALITION PAGE 12

44

34/33/33 $36 $310

Jacques and Jill ÂŽ

If you were to imagine mauve-pink and orange in combination, you might think twice, but when you see them, you understand how beautifully they work together.

These tulips have fantastic color synergy. Introduced 2009 TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size Height

colorblends.com

1525 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 20� Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

50/50 $35 $295

45

Critical Mass ÂŽ

Blending tulips is a little like mixing chemicals. Get it wrong and nothing happens, or maybe too much. Get it right and the colors seem to feed off of each other. This chain reaction of yellow, purplish pink and maroon is all good. Introduced 2007

46

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

1406 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 24� Per 1000

34/33/33 $37 $290

Gemini II

A cool and companionable pair: a white, edged and speckled with purple, and a lovely soft pink. Easy on the eye and yet very showy. Plant thickly to smother a bed, or cluster among perennials in a mixed border. Introduced 2015

Item No Bulb Size Height

1447 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 22� Per 1000

50/50 $35 $310

Black Tie

Two handsome tulips decked in glistening white and deep, dark maroon. A rich contrast that will add an elegant touch to the border in late spring. Introduced 2004

TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size Height

colorblends.com

1488 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 24� Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

50/50 $39 $330

47

Sultans of Spring ÂŽ

These long and lovely tulips bring royalty to the garden. As cut flowers, they have no rival: Few tulips give as much pleasure as they unfold their beauty in a vase. Whether you cut them or leave them, you will adore them. Introduced 2004

48

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

1408 Blend % 4 varieties 12cm+ Per 100 30� Per 1000

$39 $340

Parrot Blend

Parrot tulips make terrific cut flowers. We placed an arrangement of our three-color blend in the front window of the Amsterdam Tulip Museum, and everyone stopped to see if they were real! Sensational in the garden, too. Introduced 2005

Item No

1417 Per 25

$23

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$55

14” Per 500

$260

1443 Blend %

34/33/33

Height

Happy Together

This blend fires on all cylinders. The colors—yellow, orange and mauve-pink—play beautifully together. Bloom overlap is very close. And the small differences in height and shape provide vitality. What’s not to like? Introduced 2014 TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size Height

colorblends.com

12cm+ Per 100 20” Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$36 $310

49

French Blend

An all-color mixture of long-stemmed tulips, bright as lantern globes and nearly as large. We suggest you plant them for use in flower arrangements. They look great in the garden, too.

Each bag contains at least 8 different varieties. Introduced 2003

50

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

1414 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 24� Per 1000

All Colors $37 $330

French Blend Rose

This is a stunning blend of large, florist-grade tulips in shades of pink, rose and apricot. Plant these, and next spring you and your friends and neighbors will know the simple pleasure of having a bouquet of home-grown tulips. Introduced 2005

Item No Bulb Size Height

1411 Blend % 5 varieties 12cm+ Per 100 24� Per 1000

$37 $330

Sherbet ÂŽ

Soft violet-mauve makes a delicious pairing with a pearly pink that gradually turns to apricot. When the sun hits them, they become even sweeter. Introduced 2002

TO ORDER :

Item No Bulb Size Height

colorblends.com

1421 Blend % 12cm+ Per 100 22" Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

50/50 $34 $290

51

Cubed Tulip Blends

Cubed blends comprise an early, mid and late variety to give you an extended run of spring bloom.

Flowering is sequential, but overlap is common, and welcome.

Red Cubed

A blend of three red tulips that bloom in succession. They provide three overlapping shows in the same space, increasing your pleasure exponentially. Since the bulbs don’t all bloom at once, plant thickly for a full display. Introduced 2006

Item No

1512 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

16–22” Per 1000

$290

Yellow Cubed

Three succeeding rounds of yellow tulips. Excellent where a long run of color is needed. Also useful for cutting: When one bouquet fades, another can be harvested. For a dense display, plant the bulbs closely—just a few inches apart. Introduced 2006

52

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1514 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

16–22” Per 1000

$280

Pink Cubed ®

Pink to the third power—early, mid and late. The display begins at daffodil time and continues until the alliums start.

Along the way, there is plenty of color and plenty of spring flowers for cutting. Introduced 2008

Item No

1515 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

16–22” Per 1000

$280

Red–Yellow Cubed

A three-act circus in one ring. Each pyrotechnic show rolls seamlessly into the next, drawing applause from family members, neighbors and passing motorists, all of whom will be amazed at your horticultural prowess. Introduced 2008 TO ORDER :

Item No

1516 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

15–22” Per 1000

$280

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

53

White Cubed

A rolling display of three white tulips. Each starts creamy yellow and matures pure white. As with the other cubed blends, it’s best to plant thickly, since flowering comes in waves, one-third at a time. Introduced 2009

Item No

1513 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$37

Height

16–22” Per 1000

$310

Threedom

Three distinct oranges for a warm spring show. The vaseshaped early tulip is soft orange. The mid bloomer is a gold and red double that reads as fiery orange. The finale is a lily-flowered tulip in sunset shades. Introduced 2009

54

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1518 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$36

Height

16–20” Per 1000

$290

Trifecta

A race to bloom that’s never in doubt. Red is always first, followed by yellow, with purple third but by no means last.

This blend of tulips is a sure bet. To ensure a good run, plant the bulbs closely—just 2–3 inches apart. Introduced 2011

Item No

1583 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$36

Height

16–22” Per 1000

$290

Triathlon ®

There’s a new competition at the beauty pageant next spring: endurance. Yellow starts, soft orange follows and burgundy leans across the finish line. Despite the effort that goes into this event, none of these beauties breaks a sweat. Introduced 2011 TO ORDER :

Item No

1581 Blend %

34/33/33

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$37

Height

16–22” Per 1000

$310

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

55

Tulip Singles

Sometimes a single variety is what you need. Here you’ll find a broad selection of tulips: early to late, short to tall and in almost every color save blue.

Best White

Large flowers open creamy yellow and soon turn pure white, retaining just a glimmer of yellow at the base. Strongest white in the world of tulips. In a sunny spot, it can come back and bloom for several springs (see page 11 to learn more).

56

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1506 Per 25

$14

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$30

Height

16� Per 1000

$260

Best Red

Vivid poppy-red. A vigorous tulip of great substance and radiant color that is sure to attract attention from a distance. One of the best red landscape tulips.

Item No

1501 Per 25

$14

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$32

Height

20” Per 1000

$270

Best Yellow

A rich golden yellow tulip, impressive both for the size of its flowers and their longevity.

Best landscape tulip in its class.

It can light up a garden, the entrance to a building or an entire traffic median.

Item No

1502 Per 25

$14

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$32

Height

20” Per 1000

$270

Best Pink

Magnificent, vivid pink tulips on stout stems. Flowers grow to enormous size. Unsurpassed for borders and mass plantings. Strong perennial tendencies. This variety is also known as Pink Impression.

Item No

1505 Per 25

$14

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$34

Height

22” Per 1000

$280

Best Purple

Satiny deep purple flowers. A sturdy and dependable garden tulip that’s clearly the best solid purple around. Combines wonderfully with lighter-colored tulips.

Item No

1504 Per 25

$14

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$31

Height

18” Per 1000

$270 TO ORDER :

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

57

Tom Pouce

This lovely tulip takes its name from a popular Dutch pastry.

It is light pink above, soft creamy yellow at the base. Especially delicious when the sun hits it just so. Tom Pouce needs no accompaniment. Just plant in fall, savor in spring.

Item No

1135 Per 25

$14

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$34

Height

20� Per 1000

$290

Yume no Murasaki

A purple lily-flowered tulip that lasts an exceptionally long time, both in the garden and in arrangements. On sunny days, its petals open wide to reveal a contrasting white base.

Combines well with many mid and late tulips.

58

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1751 Per 25

$14

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

22� Per 1000

$300

Rob Verlinden

Glowing red blooms rise just above purple-spotted, white-edged foliage that is attractive in its own right.

Extra petals give the flowers extra amperage. Useful where a showy, compact tulip is needed. Ideal for bedding or lining a walk.

Item No

1040 Per 25

$14

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

10” Per 1000

Height

$290

Scarlet Baby

Starry red flowers, tinted pink, with a buttery base. They open bright and early in the spring, providing a welcome jolt of color. Scarlet Baby blooms at only half a foot tall, but its intensity makes it seem big.

Item No

1060 Per 25

$14

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$31

6” Per 1000

Height

$280

Virichic

An exotic beauty with vase-shaped blooms composed of narrow, wavy petals. They are vibrant pink, with lighter tones, and have a green stripe down the middle. A terrific cut flower—Virichic is worth planting for that purpose alone.

Item No

1658 Per 25

$15

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$42

24” Per 500

$175

Height

Queen of Night

Queen of Night is as close to black as a tulip is likely to get. It’s actually a very deep maroon. Combines nicely with other late tulips, including Virichic (above).

Item No

1500 Per 25

$12

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$30

Height

24” Per 1000

$250 TO ORDER :

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

59

Big Eartha ®

A spectacular pink tulip, so large and vigorous it’s hard to believe it’s real. As the flowers expand, their sumptuous pink satin slowly deepens to a rich rose. Can return for several springs (see page 11 to learn more).

60

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1227 Per 25

$16

Bulb Size

14cm+ Per 100

$39

Height

25” Per 1000

$330

Big Red

Large red goblets with a silvery sheen are lifted skyward on thick stems. Where bold is called for, Big Red is an excellent choice. It can dominate a spring landscape.

Item No

1229 Per 25

$14

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$33

Height

26” Per 1000

$260

Big Apricot

A sibling of Big Eartha, with a heavy apricot tone. It’s a monster grower with huge, long-lasting flowers. One of the largest Darwin Hybrid tulips available. Makes a big impact in the landscape.

TO ORDER :

Item No

1228 Per 25

$14

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$32

Height

colorblends.com

26” Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$260

61

Banja Luka

Huge blooms of marigold yellow feathered deep orange-red.

A brilliant and sturdy variety, very showy to say the least.

This tulip is a movie star.

62

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1239 Per 25

$12

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$28

Height

20� Per 1000

$240

Daydream

Among the wonders of the world of tulips. The flower starts a clear lemon-yellow. As the bloom expands, the color shifts to rich apricot-orange. This changeable flower will give you a reason to wake up in the morning.

Item No

1508 Per 25

$14

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$34

Height

20” Per 1000

$280

Orange Queen

A beautiful orange with red tones, touched here and there with yellow.

In spring sunshine, a bed of Orange Queen burns like a four-alarm fire.

When the first responders arrive, you’ll have some explaining to do.

Item No

1259 Per 25

$14

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$32

Height

20” Per 1000

$270

Best Red–Yellow

A red tulip brushed with yellow at the margin. When lit by the sun, it sets the spring landscape ablaze, and in a pool of grape hyacinths (page 131), it absolutely sizzles.

TO ORDER :

Item No

1507 Per 25

$14

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$32

Height

colorblends.com

20” Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$260

63

Flair

Bright red-and-yellow blooms that catch fire in the sun. This tulip has many good characteristics: large flowers, a strong constitution and an exceptionally long bloom time. Starts with the daffodils in early spring and goes on and on.

64

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1016 Per 25

$12

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$27

Height

15� Per 1000

$240

Gudoshnik

A remarkable tulip loved for its variegated blooms. The flowers vary from an almost plain creamy peach to a deep rose-red, with all possibilities in between. A wealth of colors that has to be seen to be believed. Gudoshnik means “artist” in Russian.

Item No

1252 Per 25

$12

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$33

Height

24” Per 1000

$280

Amazon

A planting of this striking tulip resembles a flock of tropical birds. The arching orange petals, which look as though they have been dipped in yellow paint, flutter over purple-striped foliage. When the sun hits them, they glow.

TO ORDER :

Item No

1010 Per 25

$14

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$34

Height

colorblends.com

18” Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$290

65

Akebono

Akebono is a full-figured tulip from Japan. The name means (roughly) “bright sky at daybreak.” The semi-double flowers are big, but their pale yellow coloring, often touched with red and green, gives them surprising lightness and grace.

Item No

1310 Per 25

$18

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$46

20” Per 500

$175

Height

Cretaceous

Enormous double blossoms of buttercup-yellow touched with varying amounts of scarlet. In some cases, the markings are so heavy a flower approaches red. How large is “enormous”?

Join your hands to make a bowl. They are that big.

66

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1286 Per 25

$15

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$37

Height

18” Per 1000

$300

Suncatcher

Yellow and red. In the world of tulips, they are often found together. Suncatcher, though, is anything but common. When the light strikes it just so, the lemon-yellow body glows, the red edge ignites and the spring landscape comes alive.

Item No

1142 Per 25

$16

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$39

18� Per 500

$180

Height

Carmen Rio

Semi-double, bright yellow flowers feathered with blood red.

Planted en masse or in small clumps, they yield a beautiful splash of color. Excellent wherever a bold statement is needed.

TO ORDER :

Item No

1287 Per 25

$16

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$38

Height

colorblends.com

16� Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$330

67

Moris Gudanov

Moris Gudanov has big, beefy blooms filled with peach and red petals that are sometimes streaked, sometimes solid, but always appetizing. One flower could feed a family of four.

68

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

1254 Per 25

$18

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$45

18� Per 500

$210

Height

Foxy Foxtrot

Names matter, but they are just labels. This tulip combines butter yellow and apricot in a way a painter would admire and presents them in a form a sculptor might imitate. Had it been called Double Tulip #9823 it would be no less beautiful.

Item No

1093 Per 25

$15

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$36

Height

14” Per 1000

$310

Aveyron

Large double blooms of what might be called antique pink, neither soft nor strident, shading to near white at the petals’ edges. Each is a marvel of floral construction. Once upon a time, women wore hats that approached this level of detail.

TO ORDER :

Item No

1962 Per 25

$15

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$35

Height

colorblends.com

18” Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$310

69

Maureen

The unrivaled standard in tall, late-season white tulips. The goblet-shaped blooms open creamy yellow and turn ivory-white as they mature. Maureen works equally well in large plantings and intimate flower gardens.

Item No

1620 Per 25

$22

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$54

24” Per 500

$240

Height

Menton

Menton is a rich pink with orange highlights that give it a hint of warmth. It looks beautiful on its own and combines easily with any of the other French tulips. Great for cutting, too.

Item No

1619 Per 25

$14

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$38

Height

24” Per 1000

$310

Roi du Midi Large, bright yellow goblets on tall stems. The name means “king of the south of France,” and like all the French tulips, Roi du Midi performs better in the American south than do most other varieties. Also excellent in northern landscapes.

Item No

1675 Per 25

$15

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$39

Height

24” Per 1000

$340

Dordogne

A lovely multicolored tulip that seems to change its hue with the light. Is it pink brushed with orange? Yes. Did I see a hint of yellow in there? Probably. Today it’s salmon. Am I going nuts? No! Relax and enjoy the show.

Item No

1623 Per 25

$15

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$37

Height

70

24” Per 1000

$300

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Blushing Lady

Very large yet supremely elegant flowers of pale yellow, brushed with rose on the exterior. When closed, they have a quiet sculptural quality. In the sun, with their petals unfurled, they look like a flock of exotic birds taking flight.

Item No

1556 Per 25

$16

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$39

Height

30” Per 1000

$330

Temple’s Favourite

Huge orange blooms, flushed with purplish pink, nod toward the sun on thick stems. There’s nothing else like them in the world of tulips.

Excellent for cutting.

Item No

1555 Per 25

$16

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$38

30” Per 1000

Height

$320

El Niño

This tulip is beautifully indecisive.

Its flowers can be amber or orange, or both at the same time, often overlaid with stripes of rose and speckles of red. No two flowers are exactly alike. Plant in quantity to see the full range of possibility.

El Niño can set a bed on fire.

Item No

1701 Per 25

$18

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$38

Height

30” Per 1000

$330 TO ORDER :

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

71

Wild Tulips

The forebears of the big hybrids.

Planted in a sunny, well-drained location, they can come back for several years. All of our bulbs are from commercially grown stock.

Aladdin’s Carpet

Wild tulips fit so easily into informal landscapes that they look as though nature herself planted them. This blend combines six of these beauties with three muscari and a dwarf daffodil for a colorful, long-running display. Introduced 2006.

72

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

6050 Blend % 10 varieties Topsize Per 200 4-10" Per 1000

$48 $210

Bakeri Lilac Wonder Dainty lilac-pink flowers with deep yellow centers glow like beacons on a sunny spring day. Every garden should include at least a hundred of these little beauties. The species is native to the island of Crete.

Item No

1011 Per 100

$18

Bulb Size

6–7cm Per 1000

$150

8”

Height

Linifolia

Flowers open to shining scarlet stars with black hearts. Makes quite a splash in the rock garden.

Also excellent along the edge of a path or a well-drained flower bed.

Central Asia.

Item No

1022 Per 100

$14

Bulb Size

5–6cm Per 1000

$105

Height

8”

Tarda

Clusters of yellow star-shaped flowers, edged white. Plant the bulbs closely to create a glittering spring carpet. Given a sunny spot, this little tulip proves most reliable, often blooming year after year.

Tien-Shan Mountains, China.

Item No

1025 Per 100

$18

Bulb Size

8–9cm Per 1000

$150

Height

5”

Tubergen’s Gem Scarlet buds open to yellow stars.

Mass them for a cheery sight that can repeat itself for several years.

Tubergen’s Gem is a selection of Tulipa clusiana, which makes its home in Afghanistan and Tibet.

Item No

1026 Per 100

$19

Bulb Size

5–6cm Per 1000

$160

Height

10” TO ORDER :

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

73

Humilis Violacea

Red Crocus Tulip. This violet-red gem resembles a crocus but blooms a little later—with early daffodils.

Bulbs planted in a sunny location where the soil drains very well can form dense clumps over time.

Native to Iran and Turkey.

Item No

1021 Per 100

$21

Bulb Size

6–7cm Per 1000

$180

Height

6”

Lady Jane

One of the most graceful of all tulips. White petals brushed with reddish pink on the outside. The inside is pure white. Flowers open wide and flat in the sun.

An Asian immigrant like most tulips: Jane’s parents were from Iran and Afghanistan.

Item No

1020 Per 100

$30

Bulb Size

6–8cm Per 1000

$260

Height

10”

Turkestanica

Small white flowers with gold eyes borne 4–8 to a stem. Plant the bulbs thickly, and they will make a starry mass of bloom. Easy to grow and a good stayer. As the name indicates, this species is native to Turkestan.

Item No

1024 Per 100

Bulb Size

8cm+ Per 1000

Height

$17 $140

9”

Praestans Shogun

Flowers are a beautiful but hard-todescribe color—pumpkin, perhaps, with light red speckles—and are carried several per stem, forming little bouquets. On sunny days, they reveal blue-black stamens. The species can be found in Tajikistan.

Item No

1036 Per 100

$26

Bulb Size

10cm+ Per 1000

$220

Height

74

12”

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

SWEDEN

NORWAY

FINLAND

AK

A Z A K H S TA N

T U L I PA B E H

MI

AN

ESTONIA

LATVIA DENMARK LITHUANIA

BELARUS POLAND

NETHERLANDS

RUSSIA

UKRAINE

SLOVAKIA AUSTRIA

ROMANIA

MONTENEGRO KOSOVO

KAZAKHSTAN

T

E N I S TA N

BOSNIA AND SERBIA HERZEGOVINA

ANDORRA

IS

KM

SLOVENIA CROATIA

ITALY

CHKENS

TU

SWITZERLAND

KU S

UR

FRANCE

PA

MOLDOVA

HUNGARY

The Cau cas us Mo un tai GEORGIA ns

BULGARIA

MACEDONIA ALBANIA

ARMENIA

GREECE

UZBEKISTAN

KYRGYZSTAN

AZERBAIJAN TURKMENISTAN

NAKHCHIVAN

TURKEY

s

CZECH REPUBLIC

in

LUXEMBOURG

TAJIKISTAN

T

ir & am he P

ta

GERMANY

BELGIUM

LI

KINGDOM

n Tie

Sh

an

M

ou

n

CHINA

MALTA

HANIDEA GR

SYRIA

CYPRUS LEBANON

EE

AFGHANISTAN IRAQ

PAKISTAN

IRAN

INDIA

ISRAEL JORDAN

TUL

ALGERIA

P OR

CE

I PA

TUNISIA

T

KUWAIT

LIBYA

PA M O N TA ULI N

A

NEPAL

I RA

EGYPT

N

QATAR SAUDI ARABIA U.A.E. OMAN NIGER SUDAN CHAD

Where do tulips come from?

ERITREA

YEMEN

ost people associate tulips with Holland,

but they didn’t originate there. Some species are indigenous to Turkey, where they have been cultivated and venerated for centuries, but the majority hail from the forbidding mountainous regions of Central Asia, where they can still be found growing wild today.

They may look small next to today’s big hybrids, but you have to admire their beauty and tenacity.

You’ll find a sampling of wild tulips and near-relatives at left and on pages 72–73, plus a few more at colorblends.com. For an interactive map and photos of 40 tulips in their native habitats, visit tulipsinthewild.com.

75

TIPS FROM THE

Colorblends Display and Test Gardens

Go Slow!

When planting fall bulbs, it’s best to do it in small increments over many years. Pick one area, and order a couple of hundred bulbs.

See how the planting goes in fall and how you like the display in spring. The following fall, apply what you learned to another area of your yard or garden. It is better for your back and budget to take small bites and build on your experience. (The bites can be larger if you hire a landscape professional. The pros have the tools, personnel and experience to plant on a large scale).

Allow Daffodils to Recharge

If you have deer, squirrels, voles, elk, moose, etc., forget tulips. Get into the wide world of daffodils.

No animal will touch them. But if you want them to come back and flower the following spring, you must allow the foliage to turn yellow and die back after bloom. We call the period after flowering the recharging season.

Colorblends USA display garden, Bridgeport, CT

The recharging season can last 8, 9, even 10 weeks, taking you into early summer. You have to live with tall grass or unkempt foliage during that time, because as long as the daffodil leaves are still green, the bulbs below are building up the energy they will need to grow and bloom next spring. Plant annuals among the tumble of leaves, learn to accept a little disorder or simply look away. If you remove the leaves or prevent sunlight from reaching them, you risk denying yourself next year’s flowers.

Daffodil Rapture page 108

Daffodil leaves after bloom: recharging the bulbs

Display garden design by Jacqueline van der Kloet

Daffodils for Naturalizing

The daffodils on these pages are selected for their vigor and naturalizing capabilities. Their hefty bulbs will produce 2 or more flowers the first spring.

“I just had to let you know how fantastic the Spring Loaded blend is. I planted 1000 bulbs several years ago and, despite neglect, they continue to thrive and increase. What a variety of forms and colors! I have fallen in love with varieties that I thought I wouldn’t like—there’s not one that isn’t beautiful in its own way.”

—POLLY G., NORTH PLAINS, OR

Spring Loaded ®

This mixture makes planting daffodils on a large scale very economical, with no compromise in bulb size. It contains at least 20 proven named varieties, covering the full spectrum of daffodil colors and bloom times. These time-tested beauties will provide a succession of flowers for many springs to come.

Introduced 2000 DEER AND RODENT PROOF

78

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

3076 Per 100

$49

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 1000

$440

Height

12–18” Per 5000

$2100

The Gold Shoulder ÂŽ

A blend of tough, dependable daffodils, one gold, one white with a yellow cup that turns ivory. Both exhibit strong perennial behavior. Given half a day of sun or more and well-drained soil, the bulbs often increase their number.

Excellent for landscaping and low-maintenance plantings.

Introduced 1997 DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

Item No

3065 Per 100

$49

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 1000

$460

16� Per 5000

$2100

Height

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

79

FINGERSPITZENGEFÜHL

WE WILL SHIP NO FLOWERBULB BEFORE ITS TIME Fingerspitzengefühl is a German expression that means having a feeling about how something has to be done. Dutch bulb growers use this expression to decide when flowerbulbs are ready to be harvested and shipped.

Y

ou cannot predict when bulbs will be ready for digging and shipping, but if you know just by feeling that the time is right, you call it “fingerspitzengefühl,” which means literally “the feeling in the tips of your fingers.”

Bulbs in general, and especially daffodils, need to mature after harvesting. Harvest time for daffodils is late July or early August.

The bulbs are dug by machine and dropped on the soil. The wind and sun can then dry them out in the open, fresh air. The daffodils need to lose more than 20 percent of their water weight before the end of August. If they are left in the open for at least two weeks, much of the drying will be done naturally. The rest of the drying takes place in a warehouse in large kuubskisten (wooden boxes).

THE TYRANNY OF THE CALENDAR

The problem is that bulb growers are being forced to harvest and ship daffodils too early. Why? The exporters in the Netherlands want to take delivery of the bulbs before August 10 and sometimes before August 5, so they can ship daffodils with their other bulbs (tulips, crocuses, etc.) to the United States.

Why so early? Their customers in the U.S., the buyers for the big box stores, demand that bulbs be delivered by late August. That way the bulbs are on display for an extra two weeks before the Halloween and Christmas merchandise pushes them off the shelves. The negative early spiral continues when the local garden center owner, who usually knows better, feels forced to have his bulbs delivered early for competitive reasons.

80

EXCESS MOISTURE SPELLS TROUBLE

If you honor this schedule, it is impossible to give daffodils a proper drying. You have to take the bulbs from the field within a week after digging them. The moisture in the bulbs has much more difficulty escaping during the grading, packing and shipping process.

Or it doesn’t come out at all.

The result is daffodils that are not mature. They will be stored and shipped in an environment with higher humidity because of the moisture they continue to release.

This humidity provides an ideal environment for all kinds of fungus to grow and damage the bulbs.

How much moisture are we talking about? 100,000 doublenose daffodil bulbs weigh about 22,000 pounds. If they need to lose another 10 percent of their weight after packing, we are talking about 2,200 pounds (263 gallons) of water per 100,000 daffodils. That is a lot of extra moisture that is trapped in the packages.

FIRST: DO NO HARM

The bulb industry is not collectively strong enough to “just say wait.”

But at Colorblends, we won’t start delivery until the first day of fall, around September 22.

We may lose business because of this policy. Having a customer tell us to deliver early, when the bulbs are not ready and temperatures are still too warm, is not an option. It would be like telling a winemaker to harvest his grapes early so the bottles can be on the shelf a little sooner. With agriculture and nature, you need patience. You can’t tell a flowerbulb when it is ready. The flowerbulb tells the grower. Usually through the fingers.

The Top 40

Where more is better, this mixture delivers. It comprises at least 40 different varieties from the best growers in the Netherlands. Included are old favorites but also many fresh faces—some of them new to commerce—and all at a price that allows for expansive planting. Bulbs are large and healthy and guaranteed to please. Introduced 2016 DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

Item No

3101 Per 100

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 1000

$450

Height

12–18” Per 5000

$2150

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

$52

81

nce upon a time, there

was a golden trumpet daffodil named King Alfred. It became so popular that people came to think of it as the golden trumpet. King Alfred was soon superseded by other varieties that grew better and had larger and arguably more attractive flowers, but demand for King Alfred, based mostly on name recognition, persisted even as production steadily declined.

Today, people still ask for King Alfred, and sometimes they get it—or think they’ve

gotten it: Bulbs bearing the name King Alfred are almost always those of another variety.

King Alfred was a great daffodil in its time, but current production is almost zero.

For those seeking an all-gold daffodil today, we offer not one but four great candidates: Gigantic Star (below), Marieke (facing page), and Golden Harvest and Carlton (page 84).

They are the current gold standard-bearers.

The Gold Standard seal identifies the best of today’s all-yellow daffodils.

Gigantic Star

Big, strong, early, perennial. Gigantic Star is what you could call a meat-and-potatoes daffodil. Carlton (page 84) is one of its parents, which explains its durability and why it grows well both North and South. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

82

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

3562 Per 25

$24

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$59

Height

20” Per 1000

$570

Marieke

Here is a golden yellow daffodil that stands out in the crowd.

Its large flowers are beautifully proportioned, graceful despite their size, nicely scented and very long lasting. The name is pronounced mar–EE–keh. DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

Item No

3010 Per 25

$24

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$65

Height

colorblends.com

18” Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$570

83

Golden Harvest

Golden Harvest is an old-timer but still an incredible daffodil.

It makes huge yellow flowers that can be seen for what seems like miles. And if the weather stays cool, they last for what seems like months. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3560 Per 25

$22

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$59

Height

16” Per 1000

$550

Carlton

A two-tone yellow daffodil with a strong perennial nature. Soft yellow petals encircle a large, frilly, golden yellow cup. Carlton is a splendid multiplier that does well pretty much nationwide, including the Deep South. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

84

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

3006 Per 25

$20

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$59

Height

15” Per 1000

$490

Roadside Yellow ®

You know that spring has arrived when yellow daffodils light up the highways and streetscapes. Here’s a great way to participate in this annual fiesta. Bulbs are packed in bulk and priced accordingly. DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

3737 Per 200

Item No Bulb Size

$88

14–16cm Per 1000

$390

16” Per 5000

$1850

Height

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

85

Landscape Favorites

These daffodils, along with the traditional yellows, form the backbone of a landscape planting.

They are big and showy, and most are priced for volume purchases.

Ice Follies

Very large, silvery white flowers with a wide, lemon-yellow cup that slowly turns to ivory. One of the strongest growers ever and great for naturalizing, North and South. We call it “Nice Follies.” DEER AND RODENT PROOF

86

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

3040 Per 25

$18

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$46

Height

18” Per 1000

$410

Pink Charm

White flowers with wide cups that look as though they were dipped in apricot nectar. Pink Charm is a great natural­izer.

It’s also very adaptable: It grows well almost everywhere and is the best pink cup for the Deep South. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3053 Per 25

$18

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$45

Height

18” Per 1000

$390

Delibes

Beautiful primrose-yellow flowers with a large, shallow cup that shades to orange at the mouth. A reliable perennial and a good multiplier. Delibes is easy to like. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

TO ORDER :

Item No

3042 Per 25

$22

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$65

Height

colorblends.com

16” Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$590

87

Mount Hood

Mount Hood has been around since the 1930s but remains the best known and most widely grown of the all-white trumpet daffodils. The nose opens creamy yellow and matures an even bright white. A landscape staple. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3302 Per 25 14–16cm Per 100 16” Per 1000

$20 $59 $540

Accent

Accent was a major breakthrough in pink-cupped daffodils when it was introduced over 50 years ago. Many others have since come and gone, a testament to Accent’s enduring appeal and value in the landscape. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

88

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

3057 Per 25

$18

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$49

Height

16” Per 1000

$430

Brackenhurst

Yellow petals encircle a cup of intense orange. Excellent for mass planting: Brackenhurst is very showy, even at a distance.

Good perennial, too. A Colorblender planted 25 bulbs six years ago and now gets 90-plus flowers. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3060 Per 25

$22

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$59

Height

16� Per 1000

$560

Las Vegas

A giant bicolor with a frilled, lemon-yellow trumpet that is surrounded by creamy white petals. The size and bright colors of this daffodil make it stand out in the landscape.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

Item No

3011 Per 25

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$75

18� Per 500

$360

Height

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

$24

89

Pimpernel

Light yellow with a large tangerine cup. Pimpernel has an iron constitution and will thrive in most situations. A big, vibrant landscape daffodil that is also excellent for naturalizing.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3059 Per 25

$24

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$64

Height

18” Per 1000

$570

Thalia

Nodding white flowers, usually 2–3 per stem, with narrow petals and a delicate cup. They have a light, feathery quality.

Excellent for massing at the edge of woods or among shrubs.

Also grows well in the Deep South. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

90

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

3015 Per 25 14–16cm Per 100 14” Per 1000

$14 $36 $330

Golden Salome

A recent introduction with sunny flowers that are composed of soft yellow petals and a golden cup.

Vigorous and showy. Golden Salome shines brightly, even on cloudy days. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3616 Per 25

$23

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$59

Height

16” Per 1000

$530

Merels Favourite

A recent introduction with creamy white petals and a bold yellow cup.

The flowers are large, the color contrast striking. A large planting will set the spring landscape aglow.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3615 Per 25

$25

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$65

16” Per 500

$295

Height

Sempre Avanti

White petals set off a cup that starts soft orange and turns golden yellow. Sempre Avanti has the vigor you would expect of a daffodil that has been around for more than 70 years.

Performs well North and South. DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

Item No

3618 Per 25

$22

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$49

Height

colorblends.com

16" Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$440

91

Golden Echo

A sweet-scented jonquil that grows and blooms with abandon.

The flowers, which are often borne 2 per stem, have long golden cups. The gold seeps into the white petals (the echo in the name). Long lasting and very fragrant. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3555 Per 25 14–16cm Per 100 16” Per 1000

$17 $38 $340

Barrett Browning

The petals are white, the cups orange, turning yellow in the center as the flowers mature. Barrett Browning is excellent for naturalizing, and it performs well everywhere—even in the Coastal South. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

92

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

3052 Per 25

$22

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$59

Height

16” Per 1000

$490

Actaea

Sweetly scented, snow-white flowers with scalloped petals and a small flat eye of yellow, edged bright red. Actaea is one of the last daffodils to flower and one of the best for naturalizing.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3017 Per 25

$24

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$68

16” Per 500

$310

Height

Stainless

The acme of all-white daffodils. It has beautifully formed, lightly scented flowers of crisp uniform whiteness. Stands out brightly in the landscape. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

TO ORDER :

Item No

3055 Per 25

$30

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$80

18” Per 500

$385

Height

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

93

Daffodil Blends

Blending daffodils is even more challenging than blending tulips, but when you come up with a winning combination, it’s worth all the trouble.

Evan Scent

Jonquils offer fragrance as well as beauty. When you walk by or bring your nose near, you pick up a sweet perfume. This is a blend of four varieties that complement each other nicely and smell great. Introduced 2008 DEER AND RODENT PROOF

94

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

3710 Per 25 14–16cm Per 100 12–16” Per 1000

$15 $44 $390

3D

This blend of three yellow trumpet daffodils starts the season early and keeps the show rolling, providing a succession of flowers over several weeks. Plant the bulbs closely to ensure a dense display. Introduced 2009 DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3715 Per 100

$56

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 1000

$490

16"

Height

Funhouse

A blend of two daffodils that do very different things with similar colors and form. They make an interesting and dynamic duo. Introduced 2012 DEER AND RODENT PROOF

TO ORDER :

3701 Per 25

Item No Bulb Size

14–16cm Per 100

Height

colorblends.com

16” Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$24 $54 $480

95

Sunshine Boys

A combination of two bright-colored landscape daffodils that are as durable as they are attractive. Happy Spring to all who plant these stalwart friends. Introduced 2005 DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3750 Per 25

$24

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$55

Height

16” Per 1000

$500

Starry Night

Yellow, yellow everywhere… Fine and good, but white allows the designer to set a different mood: clean, serene, restrained.

This three-part blend offers a variety of textures but is uncompromisingly white. Introduced 2016 DEER AND RODENT PROOF

96

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

3704 Per 25 14–16cm Per 100 14–18” Per 1000

$22 $55 $490

Gritty Southern Daff Blend

This blend is made up of 10 varieties that grow and bloom well in the Deep South, where many daffodils struggle. They thrive despite heat and humidity, and tolerate heavy soil. Also good in Southern California. Introduced 2011 DEER AND RODENT PROOF

3761 Per 100

Item No Bulb Size

$49

12–16cm Per 1000

$450

12–18” Per 5000

$2150

Height

Oh Pairs

This pair of double daffodils provides a lot of bang for the buck.

Both are good growers that like to come back year after year, and both make large, long-lasting flowers. They look terrific together, too. Introduced 2008 DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

Item No

3757 Per 25

$24

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$59

Height

colorblends.com

16” Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$540

97

SIZE Matters In the flowerbulb world, bigger is better.

That’s because large bulbs produce more or larger flowers than small bulbs. When purchasing bulbs, always ask what size bulb you are getting.

Colorblends only delivers size 12cm circumference tulip bulbs or larger. The flowers produced by small bulbs (10–11cm or 11–12cm) will look small next to flowers from 12cm+ tulips. Why go to all the effort of planting only to spoil the end effect by using smaller bulbs? Your savings will be negligible and much of the time and effort spent planting will seem wasted. Larger tulip bulbs simply produce superior plants with more impressive flowers.

With daffodils, large bulbs will give you 2–3 flower stems in the spring, smaller bulbs just one. The definition of “large” for a daffodil is harder to pin down, because some daffodils naturally make bigger bulbs than others. But given the choice between a 16cm bulb and a 12–14cm bulb, you (or your client) will be happier with the display from the 16cm bulb. The larger bulb appears to be expensive, but it’s actually more economical than a small bulb if you count the flowers you get.

And isn’t the purpose of planting bulbs to have a great spring display with lots of flowers?

Here we show Colorblends tulip and daffodil bulbs next to bulbs obtained from another source.

98

COLORBLENDS BULBS

FROM ANOTHER SOURCE

Charm Offensive

Two sweet-scented doubles in cream and soft yellow. Their fragrance will make you want to get down on all fours to take it in. Concerned about conduct unbecoming a gardener? Cut a few stems instead. Introduced 2016 DEER AND RODENT PROOF

3703 Per 25

Item No Bulb Size

14–16cm Per 100

Height

15” Per 1000

$19 $44 $390

Pink and Lemon

Here is a pair of soft-colored daffodils that play well together.

They are easy on the eye and enduring in the landscape.

Introduced 1998 DEER AND RODENT PROOF

TO ORDER :

Item No

3054 Per 25

$22

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$55

Height

colorblends.com

16” Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$510

99

Double Daffodils

A double daffodil is much more than a single with extra petals.

Each bloom is a marvel of floral architecture. You’ll want to cut a few, or a bouquet, for closer study.

Tahiti

Fully double flowers of soft yellow accented by tufts of coppery orange. They stand like torches on strong stems. Tahiti is a favorite among commercial growers in Holland because it grows and flowers so well. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

100

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

3056 Per 25

$19

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$59

Height

16” Per 1000

$520

Flower Parade

Double white blooms with bright orange petals in the center.

Flower Parade is a child of Tahiti (facing page) and exhibits the same vigor and staying power in the landscape. Also makes a beautiful spring bouquet. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3083 Per 25

$25

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$65

16” Per 500

$310

Height

Sir Winston Churchill

A double sport of Geranium (page 110), with the fragrance to prove it. Each stem bears clusters of 3–5 white flowers with flecks of orange in the middle. Their scent is fresh and sweet.

Great for cutting. DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

Item No

3512 Per 25

$22

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$59

Height

colorblends.com

18" Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$520

101

Delnashaugh

Double creamy white blooms enriched by fluffy peach-pink segments. An uncommon and uncommonly fetching daffodil.

It’s also fragrant and long-lasting. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3051 Per 25

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

Height

To get the most from follow these 4 basic rules Daffodils want to be perennial.

All they need is a little help from you.

1

Plant them where they will get at least 6 hours of direct sunlight—even after the trees have leafed out. Daffodils must have lots of sun after they bloom to produce the following year’s flowers.

2

Plant them in soil that drains well. Avoid areas where water stands after a rain storm.

102

3

Fertilize very lightly with a low-nitrogen fertilizer, preferably organic, just as the shoots emerge in early spring.

4

After daffodils flower, wait at least 8 weeks— until the leaves turn yellow—before cutting them. Never tie or braid foliage. This year’s leaves = next year’s flowers.

16" Per 1000

$20 $54 $490

Acropolis

Glistening white flowers with orange-red segments in the center.

They are carried well above the foliage for easy viewing. Lovely in the garden and terrific in a vase, which also allows ready access to their spicy scent.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3805 Per 25

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$70

18” Per 500

$320

Height

$29

White Lion

White Lion has white petals interspersed with crepe-like ribbons of soft yellow (the lion’s mane, perhaps). It is an old-timer that continues to be grown because, well, it likes to grow. An attractive and enduring landscape daffodil.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3806 Per 25

$22

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$50

Height

16” Per 1000

$460

Queen’s Day

A double yellow named for the Dutch holiday that was long celebrated on April 30. (Now that the Dutch have a king, they celebrate King’s Day—on his birthday, April 27.) A beautiful, perhaps even regal daffodil. DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

Item No

3081 Per 25

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$67

16” Per 500

$295

Height

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

$25

103

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

13

11

12

14

15

The Bulb Grower’s Year 1 October: Planting 2 November: Putting on winter cover 3 March–April: Crop inspection 4 April–May: Cutting flowers 5 May–June: Bulbs growing 6 July: Digging 7 July–August: Grading by size; 8 drying and curing 9 August: Bulbs ready for packing 10 August–September: Checking and packing; 11 crates ready for export; 12 export inspection by USDA; 13 loading “reefer” container; 14 container being hoisted aboard ship in Rotterdam 15 September–December: Re-inspection before delivery.

104

Cheerfulness

Each stem bears clusters of 3–4 double, creamy white, very fragrant blooms that are touched with orange in the center.

This heirloom (it’s been around since at least 1923) flowers late in the daffodil season. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

3023 Per 25

Item No Bulb Size

14–16cm Per 100

Height

15" Per 1000

$16 $42 $380

Yellow Cheerfulness Cheerfulness in soft yellow. Like her paler sister, she is richly perfumed and multiplies easily.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3024 Per 25 14–16cm Per 100 15" Per 1000

$16 $46 $410

Double Smiles

Fragrant double blooms open in bright profusion on wiry stems. The flowers stand out in the landscape and are plentiful enough, thank goodness, that you can bring some of their sweet scent indoors without marring the display.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3802 Per 25 14–16cm Per 100 12" Per 1000

$14 $37 $340 TO ORDER :

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

105

Uncommon Daffodils

For most people, a daffodil is a yellow trumpet, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Warning!

Proceed with caution. Daffodils can become a lifelong passion.

Cassata

Cassata is a showy daffodil that’s perfect for the border and looks great in broad sweeps. Its split cup opens bright yellow, takes on a soft buttery quality and finishes ivory. A different and attractive look for early spring. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

106

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

3520 Per 25

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

Height

14” Per 1000

$22 $57 $510

Pistachio

A remarkably beautiful flower. The petals are a light greenish yellow, the trumpet creamy white with a soft yellow rim. In gentle morning or evening light, the flowers glow.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3568 Per 25

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$84

16” Per 500

$400

Height

$30

Goose Green

White petals frame a small cup of green ringed with yellow and red. This variety is often seen at daffodil shows, but it’s also an excellent performer in the landscape. The flowers have a spicy-sweet scent. DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

Item No

3519 Per 25

$22

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$68

16” Per 500

$320

Height

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

107

Fellows Favorite

Daffodils do gold, of course, and countless shades of yellow, but this one stands out. Is that butter yellow? Chartreuse yellow?

Butterscotch yellow? However you describe it, it is beautiful, and made the more so by a white ring around the cup. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3625 Per 25

$23

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$62

Height

16" Per 1000

$570

Rapture

Rapture looks like a falcon diving after prey, its petals blown back as it streaks across the sky. A bulb makes several flowers the first spring and can make many more in springs to come, creating whole flocks of graceful golden raptors.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3532 Per 100 12–14cm Per 1000

$39 $360

12"

Precocious

Precocious is a great Americanbred hybrid with the best pink color to date. It has won several prizes at the Keukenhof display garden in Holland. And like most pink daffodils, it’s also a strong grower.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3580 Per 25

$25

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$63

18" Per 500

$300

Height

Sea Princess

Broad, pure white petals, laid neatly three over three, form flat, round flowers. In the center is a dainty, pale yellow cup. “Exquisite” says it all. If you believe in love at first sight, plant Sea Princess and prepare to be swept away.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

108

3930 Per 25

$30

14–16cm Per 100

$72

16” Per 500

$340

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Falconet

Sweetly scented, clear yellow flowers with orange cups are borne 3–7 on a stem. Since a bulb typically produces 4 stems, a planting of 25 bulbs can yield 450 flowers or more. That’s a lot of fragrance. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

3058 Per 25

Item No Bulb Size

14–16cm Per 100

Height

18" Per 1000

$12 $29 $270

Avalon

Avalon is what daffodil experts call a reverse bicolor. Its flowers are yellow with a white cup, rather than the other way around. The white grows brighter as the flowers age.

Distinctive, yes. Beautiful, too. DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

Item No

3606 Per 25

$24

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$59

Height

colorblends.com

16” Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$530

109

Geranium

A multiflowered daffodil that bears 2–6 deliciously fragrant blossoms per stem. Petals are white, the tiny cups orange. An oldtime favorite and a vigorous and reliable perennial. Also performs well in the South. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3048 Per 25

$20

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$55

18" Per 1000

Height

$470

Ceylon

Ceylon has pretty much everything you could want in a daffodil. Its flowers are showy and long lasting, and they hold their color well even in intense sunlight. Its bulbs have strong perennial tendencies. An easy choice, both North and South.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3064 Per 25

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$70

16" Per 500

$330

Height

$28

Avalanche

A very old (100+ years) daffodil that is still valued for its strong scent and sheer abundance of bloom: Each stem from an established bulb bears 8, 10, sometimes 15 flowers. Thrives in the South and on the West Coast, but can’t take northern winters.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3018 Per 25 14–16cm Per 100 16" Per 1000

$22 $59 $530

Pipit

A fragrant jonquil with 2–3 light yellow flowers per stem. The cup matures to pure white. Brings a soft and cool elegance—and a delightful sweet scent—to the spring garden.

It’s also widely adapted: Performs well from Minneapolis to Savannah.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

110

3043 Per 25 14–16cm Per 100 15” Per 1000

$14 $41 $360

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Kedron

Kedron calls attention to itself, drawing first the eye and then the nose. The petals are an unusual and lovely apricot-yellow.

They frame a small, rich orange cup. Close inspection reveals the heavenly jonquil scent. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

3549 Per 25

Item No Bulb Size

14–16cm Per 100 16” Per 1000

Height

$14 $36 $320

Quail

Fragrant golden blooms, which are often borne 2 and sometimes 3 per stem, glow brightly in the spring landscape.

They are set off nicely by the two-tone spikes of Muscari latifolium (page 130). DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

3041 Per 100

Item No Bulb Size

14–16cm Per 1000

Height

colorblends.com

$30 $260

14” | 1 (888) 847-8637

111

Poeticus Recurvus

Pheasant’s Eye. Breeders have done amazing things with daffodils over the past century, but it would be hard to improve on this wildflower. Graceful, reflexed white petals. Yellow cup ringed with red. Spicy scent. Lovely. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Princess Zaide

First, get past the name: ZY-deh, ZAY-dee, Za-EED. Her majesty answers to any of them. Now, about the flowers: Rounded, pure white petals, a dainty cup with a tiny green eye. The princess sparkles at dawn, dusk and every moment in between. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3932 Per 25

$24

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$60

Height

16” Per 1000

$560

Bella Estrella

A cross between a split-corona daffodil and a jonquil. From the former, Bella Estrella inherited an open-face smile; from the latter she got a sweet scent and a propensity to bear two flowers per stem. A charming and floriferous beauty.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

112

3515 Per 25 12–14cm Per 100 14" Per 1000

$20 $49 $450

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

3402 Per 25 14–16cm Per 100 14” Per 1000

$18 $48 $440

Pride of Lions

Pride of Lions is a newly minted daffodil with a cup so broad it threatens to obscure the petals.

Is that extra-wide cup a quirk or a feature? If you’re looking for a flower that stands out in the landscape, it is just what you want.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3624 Per 25

$24

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$65

Height

16" Per 1000

$580

Yellow Ocean

The Dutch grower says this new variety grows “like a weed.” Last thing one wants is another weed, but a multiflowered lemon-yellow daffodil that grows and blooms like there’s no tomorrow? That’s the kind of ocean you’ll want to dip your toes into. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3960 Per 100

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 1000

Height

$44 $380

14"

Cornish King

A recent introduction with English roots and a proven track record in Holland. Its large flowers have white petals and a big yellow cup. A standout in the Colorblends trial garden. It shows excellent landscape potential. DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

Item No

3619 Per 25

$24

Bulb Size

16cm+ Per 100

$59

Height

colorblends.com

16" Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$540

113

Miniature Daffodils

Miniature daffodils are adorable and affordable. They’re great for edging a bed or border, lining a walk you use often or adding spring color to a rock garden.

Jetfire

Reflexed golden yellow flowers with narrow orange cups.

Jetfire is small but prolific. It’s also a very good perennial that can be relied on year after year. Looks great planted in large groups in beds, borders and wild areas. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

114

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

3046 Per 100 14–16cm Per 1000 10"

$33 $290

Minnow

This little daffodil is one of the delights of spring. It offers at least a pair of bright, cream-and-yellow flowers per stem. The flowers are hardly bigger than a quarter, but somehow they jump out at the eye and raise a smile.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3047 Per 100 12–14cm Per 1000

$20 $180

8”

W.P. Milner

An heirloom (pre-1869) with nodding blooms that are creamy white with a pale yellow trumpet.

It has a natural, almost wild look that suits it to massing around shrubs or along the edges of a groomed landscape.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3542 Per 100 10–12cm Per 1000

$32 $270

7"

Baby Boomer

A great name for a great little daffodil. Baby Boomer is a cross between Avalanche (page 110) and Narcissus jonquilla, which means lots of flowers (up to 9 per stem) and lots of fragrance. Plant closely for best effect. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3544 Per 100 12–14cm Per 1000

$35 $320

8"

Sun Disc

A miniature and a late bloomer, with soft yellow, circular flowers that feature a flat golden cup. It is a jonquil and has the sweet fragrance and grass-like foliage of its kin.

Looks great planted in bunches near rocks or along a walk.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3202 Per 100 12–14cm Per 1000

$27 $230

10" TO ORDER :

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| 1 (888) 847-8637

115

Tête–à–Tête

This little daffodil carries 1–3 yellow flowers per stem. It is valuable for edging a formal bed or brightening a perennial border. Every garden has room for a patch of Tête-à-Tête.

(Seen here with Blue Squill, page 129.) DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Double Campernelle Double Campernelle bears golden flowers that resemble the little roses found in prom corsages but have all the fragrance the roses lack. A strong grower and heavy bloomer, and a good southern daffodil, too.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3038 Per 100 10–12cm Per 1000

$29 $270

12"

Pixie’s Sister

A darling daffodil that stands maybe 10 inches tall and makes as many as 5 tiny yellow flowers per stem. The only thing that isn’t small about Pixie’s Sister is her fragrance.

A few stems can perfume a room.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

3208 Per 100

$25

Bulb Size

6cm+ Per 1000

$220

Height

116

10”

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

3021 Per 100 12–14cm Per 1000 7”

$26 $220

Hawera

A small primrose-yellow daffodil that makes up for its size by producing 6–8 flowers on each stem. Use it along a path, at the front of a border, in a rock garden. Planted in a sunny spot, it can come back for many years. DEER AND RODENT PROOF

3044 Per 100

Item No Bulb Size

10–12cm Per 1000

$19 $170

8"

Height

Sailboat

The white petals and pale yellow cups of this sweetly scented, vertically challenged jonquil are attractive on their own. Pair them with the true blue spikes of grape hyacinths (page 131), and magic happens. DEER AND RODENT PROOF TO ORDER :

3595 Per 100

Item No Bulb Size

12–14cm Per 1000

Height

colorblends.com

$35 $310

10" | 1 (888) 847-8637

117

Hyacinths

After breathing stale indoor air all winter, nothing beats the sweet scent of hyacinths. But wear gloves when handling the bulbs in the fall.

They can make you itch!

Jambalaya

A spicy blend of five different hyacinths in bright, clear colors.

They look tasty and smell heavenly. Plant closely in a large bed or sprinkle them in bunches through the landscape. You really can’t go wrong. Introduced 2006

118

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

4055 Per 25

$20

16–17cm Per 100

$62

10” Per 500

$295

Blue Jacket

Perhaps the most useful of all the hyacinths, because its deep purple-blue hue blends easily with almost any color in the spectrum. Combines especially well with yellow daffodils, which bloom at about the same time. Smells as good as it looks.

4049 Per 25

Item No Bulb Size

$16

16–17cm Per 100

$52

10” Per 500

$240

Height

Fondant

Large heads of clear pink flowers with a white edge emerge from tufts of thick foliage. A welcome sight after a long winter. The sweet scent floats easily from bloom to nose on a light spring breeze.

Item No Bulb Size Height

4050 Per 25

$15

16–17cm Per 100

$52

10" Per 500

$240

Carnegie

White hyacinths shine at dawn and dusk and on cloudy days, and they go well with most other hyacinth colors. Their scent is just what you want after a few months of being cooped up in the house: strong, sweet, refreshing.

Item No Bulb Size Height

4047 Per 25

$17

16–17cm Per 100

$57

10" Per 500

$260 TO ORDER :

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

119

Étouffée

A mélange of four hyacinths in pastel shades. They are easy on the eye, and their sweet perfume is the toast of spring. In much of the country, hyacinths provide the first real fragrance of the year. No garden should be without them. Introduced 2007

120

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

4052 Per 25

$20

16–17cm Per 100

$62

10” Per 500

$295

Purple Sensation

Dense clusters of fragrant, rich purple blooms on thick stems. No need to stoop to detect the scent of a hyacinth; it comes to you.

Item No Bulb Size

4048 Per 25

$17

16–17cm Per 100

$60

10" Per 500

$280

Height

Gipsy Queen

Full heads of intensely fragrant, apricot-orange blooms. They look great with purple and blue. As with all hyacinths, give them full sun and let the foliage die back after bloom to help them perennialize.

Item No Bulb Size

4045 Per 25

$17

16–17cm Per 100

$60

10" Per 500

$270

Height

City of Haarlem

Soft yellow hyacinths, maturing to ivory. Planted with Jan Bos (below), they make an eye- and nosestopping display. Hyacinth bulbs may make you itch, so handle with gloves and plant late in the day (just before shower time).

Item No Bulb Size

4043 Per 25

$16

16–17cm Per 100

$55

10" Per 500

$250

Height

Jan Bos

Big heads of powerfully fragrant fuchsia-red flowers. Yes, they are bold. Exactly what’s wanted after a winter spent gazing mournfully at a landscape of olive, tan and brown.

Item No Bulb Size Height

4044 Per 25

$17

16–17cm Per 100

$59

10" Per 500

$270 TO ORDER :

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

121

You know it’s

fall planting time when…

You start bringing blankets to the football game Fall nighttime temperatures stay between 40° and 50°F

The fall foliage has moved just past peak

BIRDS START Squirrels are GROUPING digging in acorns Soil temperatures in your as fast they can area are approaching 55°F You wake up in the middle of the night and look for a blanket

You don’t hear crickets anymore

You say,

“Man it’s COLD out”

for the first time

In the NORTH you start closing windows YOU START TURNING THE HEAT ON IN YOUR CAR

The mesquite trees lose their leaves

In the SOUTH you start backing off the air conditioning IS

FR

O S T ON

Y

O UR

IN THE M

O

KILLING FROST

I

You get your first

R

NI

W I N DS H

Winesap and Wolf River apples start turning RED

You no longer have to dodge night-flying bugs to get in the front door

NG T H E R E

YO U S TA RT T O S M E L L WO O D S M O K E

LD

THE GRAPES ARE RIPENING ON THE VINE

While driving, you see leaves bouncing along the interstate

E

THE RAGWEED STOPS BLOOMING

The hummingbirds are gone THE HOSTAS START TO LIE DOWN Your OLD WORK SHOES

If there is something that tells you fall has arrived in your area, please email it to us at plantingtime@colorblends.com.

122

ing

aren’t keeping your feet warm anymore

aw n

YOU SEE TRUCKS ON THE ROAD LOADED WITH FIREWOOD

THE DEER ARE LOSING VELVET ON THEIR ANTLERS

t ro B ro w n

ut s

t tar

sp

Saints Parade

An attractive blend of clear pink, white and purplish blue.

Their look is refreshing, their perfume intoxicating. They make a sweet salute to spring. Introduced 2014

4057 Per 25

Item No Bulb Size

$20

16–17cm Per 100

$62

10” Per 500

$295

Height

Blue Delta

The floral equivalent of waves breaking on a sunny shore. You may feel an urge to dig a beach chair out of the garage so you can relax and take in the scene. There will be no hint of salt in the air, just a sweet perfume. Introduced 2012 TO ORDER :

4053 Per 25

Item No Bulb Size

$20

16–17cm Per 100

$62

10” Per 500

$295

Height

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

123

Specialty Bulbs

Tulips and daffodils play the lead roles in spring, but they benefit from a strong supporting cast.

Here you’ll find both familiar characters and quirky bit players.

Hokus Crocus Crocus vernus

Dutch crocuses never fail to surprise the eyes after a long winter. Freely planted, they proclaim that spring is on its way.

Hokus Crocus is a blend of large, goblet-shaped flowers in white, purple and white striped with purple. Introduced 1996

124

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

5020 Per 100

$18

Bulb Size

9–10cm Per 1000

$160

Height

5”

Crocreation

This cheerful blend of purple and golden yellow crocuses will brighten your early spring landscape. Plant them under trees or shrubs, or in the lawn (but be sure to let the leaves yellow before you start mowing). Introduced 2000

Item No

5021 Per 100

$18

Bulb Size

9–10cm Per 1000

$160

Height

5”

Snowdrops

Galanthus elwesii Snowdrops are the earliest of all bulbs. They open their white, winged flowers before anyone dares whisper “spring.” For best results, plant in soil that is not too dry and beneath trees that lose their leaves.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

6020 Per 100

Bulb Size

7cm+ Per 1000

Height

$46 $380

6”

Winter Wolf’s Bane Eranthis cilicica Spring’s first yellow. Its little cup-shaped flowers, which sit on fans of bright green leaves, open at the first hint of warmth. Likes to grow under deciduous trees. Bulbs are very small: Plant lavishly.

DEER AND RODENT RESISTANT

Item No

6022 Per 100

$22

Bulb Size

5cm+ Per 1000

$180

Height

3" TO ORDER :

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

125

Tommies

Crocus tommasinianus Purplish pink Tommies bring an elfin charm to the garden in late winter or early spring. A delightful early crocus and one of the easiest to grow. Flowers prolifically in most situations, and likes to come back year after year.

Item No

6024 Per 100

$11

Bulb Size

5–7cm Per 1000

$85

4” Per 5000

$395

Height

Vernal Jewels Crocus chrysanthus

Snow crocuses are colorful and cute and very early. They have a knack for popping out of the ground when you could really use a pick-me-up. This is a complementary blend of creamy yellow, lavender and white. Hello, spring! Introduced 2015

126

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

5050 Per 100

$12

Bulb Size

5cm+ Per 1000

$95

Height

3”

Woodland Blend

A blend of five early bloomers that deer generally avoid and can take up long-term residence in the shade of deciduous trees. All they require to flourish is well-drained soil and plenty of spring sunshine. Introduced 2010 DEER RESISTANT TO ORDER :

6051 Per 200

Item No Bulb Size

Topsize Per 1000

Height

colorblends.com

$42 $190

3–6” | 1 (888) 847-8637

127

White Squill

Scilla mischtschenkoana White squill is an unsung early bloomer that deserves to be better known. It pushes its blue-lined, milk white flowers through fallen leaves even before the crocuses begin to bloom. A woodland bulb that can come back for many years.

Item No

6007 Per 100

$30

Bulb Size

8cm+ Per 1000

$240

Height

5”

Glory of the Snow

Chionodoxa luciliae An early bloomer with starry, lavender-blue flowers that shade to white in the center. When massed, the plants look like a summer sky fallen to earth. Grow in sun or light shade. Capable of spreading by seed.

DEER AND RODENT RESISTANT

Item No

6021 Per 100

$10

Bulb Size

5cm+ Per 1000

$73

4” Per 5000

$325

Height

Striped Squill

Puschkinia scilloides var. libanotica A bright little bulb with white flowers traced with lines of blue.

Striped squill is easy and reliable in a sunny location. Blooms early, and with a little afternoon shade can last a long time.

Item No

6008 Per 100

$11

Bulb Size

6cm+ Per 1000

$90

6” Per 5000

$360

Height

Windflowers

Anemone blanda Windflowers carry daisy-like flowers above ferny foliage. This blend combines a pure white with a lavender-blue. Plant with abandon in sun or light shade. (Not suitable for cold climates.) Introduced 2000

Item No

6012 Per 100

$15

Bulb Size

5–7cm Per 1000

$125

Height

128

5”

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Blue Squill Scilla siberica

Blue squill is excellent for naturalizing beneath trees that lose their leaves, where it will form drifts of singing blue bells in early spring. Needs a few years to really hit its stride. Capable of self-sowing. Try it with Tête–à–Tête (page 116). DEER RESISTANT

Item No

6009 Per 100

$16

Bulb Size

7–8cm Per 1000

$110

6” Per 5000

$490

Height

Trout Lily Erythronium

Trout lilies make their home on the forest floor, where their nodding flowers provide a welcome spark of spring color. Pagoda is the most reliable of the group. Its delicate blooms, which resemble turks cap lilies, shine in dappled light.

Item No

6040 Per 25

$18

Bulb Size

Topsize Per 100

$68

Height

10”

Snake’s Head Fritillaria meleagris

Pointed buds open to maroon (occasionally white), bell-shaped blooms. The plant looks like a wildflower and is best used as such—in a meadow, under trees, around shrubs. Happiest in part shade and moist soil. DEER RESISTANT

Item No

6039 Per 100

$16

Bulb Size

6cm+ Per 1000

$140

Height

10” TO ORDER :

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129

Muscari latifolium

This little-known cousin of the grape hyacinth has attractive two-tone flowers: bright blue on top, deep concord grape– purple below. Looks great on its own in a border or rough grass, even better with daffodils or early tulips.

Red Crown Imperials Fritillaria imperialis

A majestic plant that carries a circular cluster of pendulous, orange-red flowers under a tuft of leaves that recall a punk haircut.

Plant in full sun or light shade.

Not a good choice for the South.

DEER AND RODENT RESISTANT

Item No

6035 Per 5

$23

Bulb Size

20cm+ Per 25

$105

Height

36"

Yellow Crowns

Fritillaria imperialis Lemon-yellow counterpart of the above and just as theatrical. Crown imperials have a skunk-like smell that repels deer and rodents: It is rare to find an animal that will touch them.

DEER AND RODENT RESISTANT

Item No

6036 Per 5

$23

Bulb Size

20cm+ Per 25

$105

Height

130

36"

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

6003 Per 100

$11

Bulb Size

7–8cm Per 1000

$95

6” Per 5000

$450

Height

Grape Hyacinth Muscari armeniacum

Grape hyacinths produce several dense spikes of tiny, true blue flowers from each bulb. They are beautiful on their own, but their greatest value may be as companions to midseason tulips.

That rich blue makes any tulip color pop.

Item No

6005 Per 100

$15

Bulb Size

9–10cm Per 1000

$120

6” Per 5000

$550

Height

Grape Hyacinth Blend Muscari

Grape hyacinths in traditional blue, pure white and a lovely soft azure. They can be used as a foil for midseason tulips or as a stand-alone planting. The pastel blue harmonizes with the deep blue. The white adds sparkle. Introduced 2010 TO ORDER :

Item No

6004 Per 100

$19

Bulb Size

6–10cm Per 1000

$145

6” Per 5000

$680

Height

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131

Snowflake Leucojum aestivum

Clusters of small white bells on arching stems. Prefers full sun or light shade and thrives in soil that is too wet for most other bulbs. The variety offered here is the best—Gravetye Giant.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No

6015 Per 25

$24

Bulb Size

14cm+ Per 100

$69

26” Per 500

$335

Height

Camassia Camassia leichtlinii

Starry, purplish blue flowers rise in loose spikes on tall stems.

Camassia is most effective when planted in clusters in a shrub border or grassy area. It needs full sun and thrives in damp, or even wet, soil. DEER RESISTANT

132

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No

6033 Per 25

Bulb Size

14cm+ Per 100

$79

36” Per 500

$375

Height

$23

Spanish Bluebells Hyacinthoides hispanica

A shade-tolerant plant that bears spikes of lightly fragrant, porcelain blue, bell-shaped flowers toward the end of the bulb season. Ideal for naturalizing below shade trees. Grows well North and South—California, too. Bulbs are extra large.

TO ORDER :

Item No

6028 Per 25

$12

Bulb Size

10cm+ Per 100

$29

Height

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16� Per 1000 | 1 (888) 847-8637

$250

133

Alliums

These relatives of onions and garlic bloom late (after tulips are done) and need sun and good drainage. Where happy, they can come back for several years.

Globemaster

The most spectacular of all the alliums. It bears 8- to 10-inch orbs of lilac-pink flowers on tall stout stems. Because the flowers are sterile, they last a long time. An outstanding cut flower, fresh or dried. DEER RESISTANT

134

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

6019 Per 5 20–24cm Per 25 36� Per 100

$24 $100 $380

Mount Everest

Creamy white 5-inch globes top long stems in late spring.

Splendid grown against a dark background, and like all of the big alliums, it makes an impressive cut flower. DEER RESISTANT

Item No

6018 Per 5

$12

Bulb Size

20cm+ Per 25

$50

Height

36" Per 100

$170

Gladiator

Dense 5-inch heads of lilac-pink.

Blooms just ahead of Mount Everest (above) and is a little taller. Our bulbs are the largest you’ll find and guaranteed to please.

DEER RESISTANT

Item No

6017 Per 5

$12

Bulb Size

20cm+ Per 25

$54

40" Per 100

Height

$190

Ambassador

Ambassador produces 6-inch balls of tightly packed, rich purple flowers. Terrific either planted in groups or strung like lanterns through a perennial border. One of the last of the large alliums to flower: Blooms with roses.

DEER RESISTANT

Item No Bulb Size Height

6061 Per 5 24–28cm Per 25

$24 $105

48" TO ORDER :

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135

Nigrum

“Nigrum” is Latin for “black,” and yet this allium has white flowers.

They are arranged in hemispheres 4 inches across. Borne on slender stems, they float like small clouds over the garden. Bloom follows that of Mount Everest. DEER RESISTANT

Item No

6080 Per 25

$15

Bulb Size

12cm+ Per 100

$36

30” Per 1000

Height

$320

Moly

Two-inch heads of sunny yellow flowers brighten the garden at the tail end of spring. Foliage is a handsome blue-green. Plant Allium moly in bunches between perennials and shrubs for a golden summer send-off. DEER RESISTANT

Item No

6027 Per 100

$8

Bulb Size

5cm+ Per 1000

$70

12"

Height

Unifolium Loose heads of lavender-pink flowers touched with white. A lovely gem for the flower or herb garden. This plant is edible. The young foliage can be used in place of chives. Native Americans in California and Oregon ate the bulbs.

DEER RESISTANT

Item No

6029 Per 100

$11

Bulb Size

5–6cm Per 1000

$85

12"

Height

Sphaerocephalon

Drumstick allium. The last of the bulbous alliums to bloom. Its egg-shaped, wine-red flowerheads wait until summer to color up. Puts on a nice show when planted in tight groups in a perennial border.

DEER RESISTANT

Item No

6016 Per 100

$10

Bulb Size

6cm+ Per 1000

$85

Height

136

24"

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Purple Sensation

An improvement on Allium aflatunense. It bears 4-inch globes of rich purple flowers on tall stems. Purple Sensation is early for an allium; blooms on the heels of late tulips. Best planted in clusters in a perennial or mixed border. DEER RESISTANT

6023 Per 25

Item No Bulb Size

12–14cm Per 100

Height

30” Per 1000

$14 $34 $315

Schubertii This intriguing allium draws the eye with its arresting, almost primordial look. It bears huge (10- to 12-inch) spidery heads of rosy flowers. A real conversation piece in the garden and in arrangements.

DEER RESISTANT

Item No

6025 Per 5

$9

Bulb Size

14cm+ Per 25

$35

Height

18" Per 100

$120

Christophii Stars of Persia. Airy domes of starry, metallic pink flowers measuring up to 10 inches across.

They make great accents in a perennial bed. Can be cut and dried or left as decorative elements in the garden. DEER RESISTANT

Item No Bulb Size Height

6014 Per 25 12–14cm Per 100

$12 $34

20” TO ORDER :

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Amaryllis

Amaryllis are showy bulbs that must be grown indoors in most of the USA. Place them in a sunny window, and they will bear huge flowers in the depths of winter.

Double Delicious

Red petals marked with narrow white flares. In sunlight, the petals have a sheen that appears as a halo around the center.

The form recalls a cactus dahlia—spiky but not unfriendly— or one of those fireworks that opens in successive bursts.

138

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Item No Bulb Size Height

7072 Per 3

$35

32–34cm Per 6

$66

20" Per 12

$125

Purple Rain

The large, cupped and rounded blooms are white overlaid with veins of pinkish red. If you squint, you might discern a hint of purple, but don’t try too hard. Just sit back and take in the beauty of these extraordinary flowers.

Item No Bulb Size Height

7059 Per 3

$35

32–34cm Per 6

$66

20" Per 12

$125

Amaryllis GETTING THE MOST FROM

START WITH A BIG BULB.

Colorblends amaryllis bulbs are huge. All will produce at least two stems, and most stems will yield four flowers, sometimes more.

GIVE IT A NICE HOME. Pot the bulb in a 7- or 8-inch pot and set it on a sunny windowsill. Room temperature (60° to 75°F) is ideal.

GO EASY ON THE WATER. Water after potting and then only when the soil is dry to the touch.

HAVE PATIENCE. Amaryllis can be slow to get going. Allow 12 weeks (or more) from potting to bloom. Most bulbs will not bloom until after Christmas.

MOVE THE BULB OUTDOORS FOR SUMMER. Amaryllis can be kept from year to year if they spend summers in the sun.

Amaryllis arrive in our warehouse in midOctober. If you need your outdoor bulbs earlier, please place two separate orders.

139

Gervase

When it comes to making flowers, Gervase is delightfully confused.

The white background is overlaid with pink and wildly unpredictable lines, streaks and strokes of red.

Each flower is different and alluring in its own way.

Item No Bulb Size

7021 Per 3

$35

32–34cm Per 6

$66

20” Per 12

$125

Height

Monaco

Enormous blooms of cherry red accented with a white eye and white stamens. The color contrast is arresting: After the initial double-take, it’s hard to look away.

So don’t. Stare as much as you like.

The flowers won’t mind.

Item No Bulb Size Height

7023 Per 3

$32

32–34cm Per 6

$60

20” Per 12

$110

Red Rival

Yet another red amaryllis? Yes! Red Rival is elbowing its way into the company of old favorites with its well-formed flowers, compact size and speedy growth. Blooms are a tad smaller than those of the largest varieties, but their display is huge.

Item No Bulb Size Height

7065 Per 3

$31

32–34cm Per 6

$59

18” Per 12

$110

Double Dream

Reddish pink blooms with white highlights. They are fully double and doubly full, the petals appearing to have welled from the center in waves and flowed onto their predecessors. An unusual, beautiful and memorable display.

Item No Bulb Size Height

140

7067 Per 3

$36

32–34cm Per 6

$68

20” Per 12

$125

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Lagoon

The name causes the brow to furrow, until you leave aside the color and focus on more typical attributes of the word: large, round, shallow. Lagoon is all of those things and, yes, eye-popping pink, too. Looking for subtlety? You best move on.

7076 Per 3

$34

32-34cm Per 6

$64

20” Per 12

$120

Item No Bulb Size Height

Marilyn A very buxom platinum blonde.

The huge flowers measure fully 8 inches across and are composed of broad, overlapping petals. The shape is full and rounded and, frankly, voluptuous. How the stems hold up the display is anybody’s guess.

Item No Bulb Size Height

7073 Per 3

$36

32–34cm Per 6

$68

20" Per 12

$125

Royal Velvet Perhaps the best of the wine-colored amaryllis. The flowers are large and well formed, their color a rich ruby red that deepens in the throat. You might think of Royal Velvet as a fine claret for the eye: rich, warm and deliciously complex.

Item No Bulb Size Height

7053 Per 3

$34

32–34cm Per 6

$64

20” Per 12

$120 TO ORDER :

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141

Flamenco Queen Big white blooms brushed and stippled with red. Flamenco Queen is an attention getter. It will call from the windowsill, insist on being the subject of dinner conversation.

You may need to move it so you can concentrate on something else.

7052 Per 3

Item No Bulb Size

$33

32–34cm Per 6

$62

20" Per 12

$115

Height

Rapido

A miniature and an early bloomer that produces smaller than average flowers but more than the usual number—as many as 25 from one bulb. If planted by early November, it generally starts flowering before the end of December, and the show can go on for weeks.

Item No Bulb Size Height

7019 Per 3

$31

32–34cm Per 6

$59

20" Per 12

$110

Terra Cotta Star

The amaryllis world is awash with “stars.” This one makes the grade.

A fine netting of reddish orange overlays a cream background.

Chartreuse flares shade to cream as they emerge from the throat and are echoed in the near-perfect arrangement of the petals. Unusual, distinctive and, yes, stellar.

Item No Bulb Size Height

7075 Per 3

$36

32–34cm Per 6

$68

20" Per 12

$125

Dancing Queen

A candy-striped double that has large white flowers brushed with broad strokes of rust-red. Big and bold, yet graceful at the same time. A striking decoration for the windowsill. Also makes a dramatic winter centerpiece.

Item No Bulb Size Height

142

7008 Per 3

$32

32–34cm Per 6

$60

20" Per 12

$110

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Samba

Big red ruffled blooms, edged and marked with white. Samba is a show stopper, a “look at me” flower, which is just what the doctor ordered on a gloomy winter day.

Item No Bulb Size

7029 Per 3

$33

32–34cm Per 6

$62

20" Per 12

$115

Height

Moscow

The comfy couch of white amaryllis. Big flowers (up to 7½ inches across) open creamy and mature a bright, crisp white with occasional fine fuchsia markings.

The petals are broad and rounded and often curl backward at the tips.

You can’t sit on them, of course, but it’s OK to give them a gentle caress.

Item No Bulb Size

7069 Per 3

$32

32–34cm Per 6

$60

20" Per 12

$110

Height

Rosalie

Rosalie has large flowers of a color that is difficult to describe.

Some insist it is pink. Others protest that it is salmon. Plant a bulb or three and take a side. Or better yet, take the high road: Everyone can agree that Rosalie is beautiful.

TO ORDER :

7074 Per 3

$29

32–34cm Per 6

$55

24” Per 12

$105

Item No Bulb Size Height

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143

Paperwhites

Paperwhites are powerfully fragrant daffodils that will bloom indoors in fall and winter without special treatment. Think of them as living air fresheners.

Paperwhite Nir

Nir is one of the best paperwhites introduced to date. Its stems are shorter and therefore much less likely to flop than those of Ziva, the standard variety; its flowers are larger and showier; and its sweet fragrance, while strong, is not overpowering.

Allow 5–6 weeks from planting to bloom; for flowers at Christmas, plant by November 10. Bulbs can be started at intervals to provide color and fragrance until after Easter.

Each will produce 2–3 sturdy stems crowned with clusters of large, sweetly scented white flowers.

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C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Growing instructions included.

October to December delivery.

Item No Bulb Size Height

3016 Per 25

$25

16–17cm Per 100

$65

20” Per 500

$305

Planting Tools

Hori-Hori

A hori-hori is a knife that is designed to be used in the soil. It is ideal for planting small bulbs in turf or along the edge of woods because the blade slices through thatch and roots.

Once you get the hang of the stabbing motion, many bulbs can be planted in a short period of time. Also useful for myriad other gardening tasks.

Wooden handle with a stainless steel blade that is serrated on one side and has depth markings in inches and milli­meters. Vinyl scabbard included.

Unconditionally guaranteed.

Made in Japan.

There are a lot of bulb planting tools on the market. Most work better in theory than they do in practice. These are simple and effective and guaranteed forever.

Bulb Trowel

A serious hand tool that is perfect for planting bulbs. It is made of 12-gauge stainless steel and has a red grip that’s easy to hold and hard to lose track of. The blade has markings in inches and centimeters so you know how deep you’re digging. Can also be used for weeding and for planting annuals.

Unconditionally guaranteed.

Made in USA. Item No

9032

Length

12"

Blade Width

1³/₄”

Price

$19

Bulb Spade

The Dutch have been planting bulbs for more than 500 years, so they know a thing or two about the best tools for the job. This small spade is just right for planting in a kneeling position. If you are struggling with a trowel, you will reach for your bulb spade.

Forged stainless steel blade. Hardwood handle with T-grip.

The price reflects the craftsmanship required to make the tool and the durability of its construction: You can expect to hand your bulb spade down to your grandchildren.

Unconditionally guaranteed.

Made by hand in the Netherlands.

Item No

9034

Length

12½"

Item No

1⁵/₈”

Length

22"

$29

Blade Width

4⁷/₈”

Price

$72

Blade Width Price

TO ORDER :

9036

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Bulb Auger

This heavy-duty auger allows you to plant a lot of bulbs in a hurry where the soil is mostly free of rocks and roots.

It works best with a portable gas or corded electric drill. A variablespeed hammer drill is recommended. And if you have a helper to drop in the bulbs as you go, the work goes twice as fast. We have landscape contractor customers who swear by this tool.

It’s also useful for planting seedlings, mixing small amounts of cement, installing signs, etc.

Unconditionally guaranteed.

Made in USA. Item No Length

9324 24”

Diameter

3”

Shaft

⁵/₈”

Flighting

12”

Drill Size Price | 1 (888) 847-8637

½" $39

145

How to

Plan & Order STA RT H E R E

THE COLORBLENDS

Guarantee

We will deliver premiumquality, commercially propagated, disease-free flowerbulbs of the stated size.

None of our bulbs has been collected from the wild.

All flowerbulbs have a certificate of health issued by the USDA and either the Dutch or the British Department of Agriculture.

Not sure how many bulbs to order? Where to send your order?

Let us help you with all that and more.

Looking for a catalog index?

You can find one online at colorblends.com/catalog-index

Colorblends guarantees its bulbs the first spring after planting. After that, it’s in nature’s hands. Our liability is limited to the purchase price of the flowerbulbs.

If there is a problem with an order, please call us within 5 days from receipt of the order.

How many bulbs per square foot?

This chart will help you determine the number of bulbs needed per square foot to have a dense, full display.

Recommended spacing between bulbs is provided in our planting instructions and on our bag labels. If you have any questions, give us a call at 1 (888) 847-8637.

146

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

BULB TYPE

QTY

Tulips, standard

5

Tulips, wild

9–13

Daffodils, large

4–5

Daffodils, miniature

7–11

Allium Globemaster

1–2

Anemone

20–24

Chionodoxa

20–24

Crocus

8–9

Eranthis

20–24

Fritillaria meleagris

10–11

Fritillaria imperialis

1–2

Galanthus

16–18

Hyacinthoides

5–6

Hyacinthus

3–4

Muscari

14–15

Scilla

15–16

Bed area calculations Measure the bed and calculate the square footage using one or more of the formulas below. Then refer to the chart on the facing page to determine how many bulbs are needed to fill the space.

BED SHAPE

HOW TO CALCULATE THE AREA

WI DTH

LENGTH

H E I GHT

BASE

R ADIUS

WIDTH

LENGTH

A

C

D

E

F

G

B

RECTANGLE OR SQUARE AREA = LENGTH × WIDTH A rectangle is a parallelogram with four right angles. The area of a rectangle is found by multiplying the length by the width.

EXAMPLE: Determine the area of a rectangle where the length = 25 ft. and the width = 13 ft.

Area is: 25 × 13 = 325 sq. ft.

TRIANGLE AREA = (BASE × HEIGHT) / 2 A triangle is a polygon with three sides. The area of a triangle is one-half the base multiplied by the height.

EXAMPLE: Determine the area of a triangle where the base = 25 ft. and the height = 20 ft.

Area is: (25 × 20) / 2 = 250 sq. ft.

CIRCLE AREA = 3.14 × RADIUS² A circle is a closed curve of which every point on the edge of the curve is equidistant from a fixed point within the curve. The area of a circle is pi (3.14) multiplied by the radius squared. The radius is equal to one-half the diameter of the circle.

EXAMPLE: Determine the area of a circle where the radius = 12.5 ft.

Area is: 3.14 × (12.5 × 12.5) = 491 sq. ft.

OVAL AREA = (LENGTH × WIDTH) × 0.8 An oval has an elliptical, or egg-like, shape. The area of an oval is the length multiplied by the width, multiplied by 0.8.

EXAMPLE: Determine the area of an oval where the length = 25 ft. and the width = 15 ft.

Area is: (25 × 15) × 0.8 = 300 sq. ft.

IRREGUL AR SHAPES AREA = SUM OF PERPENDICULAR LINES × DISTANCE BETWEEN THE LINES To find the area of a large irregular shape, divide it into a series of smaller units. This method will calculate the area to within 5 percent.

Step 1: Determine the axis line, the longest line that can be drawn inside the shape.

Step 2: Mark several lines that are perpendicular to the axis and divide it into segments of equal depth. The more lines you use, the more accurate the result.

Step 3: Measure each perpendicular line.

Step 4: Calculate the area by adding the lengths of all the perpendicular lines and multiplying by the distance between the lines.

EXAMPLE: Determine the area of an irregular bed that is 60 f t. long. For convenience, the axis (A–B) is divided by 6 (to make 10-f t. segments). The measurements of 5 lines drawn perpendicular to the axis at 10-f t. intervals are as follows: C = 19 f t., D = 22 f t., E = 23 f t., F = 19 f t. and G = 13 f t.

Area is: (19 + 22 + 23 + 19 + 13) × 10 = 960 sq. ft.

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Ideal fall planting times

R L AT E S EPTEMBER & OCTOBE

VEM OCTOBER & NO

BER

MB NOVEMBER & DECE In the pink and portions of the purple zone, tulips should be prechilled before planting. See page 18 for more information.

ER

R LY DECEMBER & EA

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING: BULBS THAT FLOWER IN SPRING MUST BE PLANTED IN FALL. There is no getting around this requirement.

BULBS SHOULD BE PLANTED WHEN THE SOIL HAS COOLED TO ABOUT 55°F. Bulbs need cool soil to make roots before the onset of winter.

JANU

A RY

YOU HAVE ABOUT 8 WEEKS TO PLANT AFTER THE FIRST FROST. As long as the ground is not frozen, you can still plant bulbs.

COLORBLENDS CAN MEET YOUR FALL PLANTING SCHEDULE. If you need your bulbs at a particular time, just let us know. Our shipping season begins in late September.

Answers to FAQs WHEN SHOULD I ORDER MY BULBS?

Reserve your selections now! Early ordering ensures availability of your choices. Your credit card will not be charged until delivery in the fall.

WHEN WILL MY BULBS BE DELIVERED?

In the fall (late September through December) when soil temperatures in your area drop below 55°F. This is the proper time for planting. Tulip, daffodil and other bulbs have to be planted in the fall to establish a root system before the onset of winter.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO PLANT BULBS IN MY AREA?

Fall arrives at different times as you move from north to south across the United States, so the answer is variable.

See the map above.

Read our planting and growing instructions with care.

Complete instructions are enclosed with every order. They are also available at colorblends.com.

WHAT DOES EARLY, MID AND LATE BLOOMING MEAN?

These are relative bloom times within the spring bulb flowering season, which varies from climate to climate and year to year. They are intended to help you plan a sequence of bloom from very early season to very late season. If you have specific questions, give us a call and we will try to help.

WHY DO YOU PACK TULIP BLENDS IN QUANTITIES OF 100?

This is the minimum quantity needed for a beautiful display.

CAN I ORDER ADDITIONAL BULBS IN THE FALL?

Yes. Turnaround time on fall orders is very fast, but we recommend ordering early, as some selections sell out quickly.

Planting & Care Upon Arrival

and remove the bags of bulbs so air can from the packages, get to them. check them agains • Plant as soon as t the packing list. possible. bulbs have been shippe Unless you specified a particular delivery week, your d at the appropriate them in the ground time for planting in your area. Get as soon as you can.

• If you can’t plant right away, you can keep the bulbs for a week cool place with good or two in a dry, air circulation. Tempe ideal, but your bulbs ratures between 50° and 60°F are should be fine within a range of 35°–75 Important: Bulbs must °F. be plante As you take the bags

d this fall

Choosing a Site

There are two key

considerations when choosing a site for bulbs. need ample sunshi ne to bloom well store up the energy next spring and to required to flower in future springs. crocuses and scillas Some bulbs — includ — can be planted ing beneath deciduous are able to satisfy trees; these bulbs most of their light needs before the requirements are trees leaf out. (Specifi provided in this pamph c let for each kind of bulb 2: Drainage. All bulbs we offer.) need good draina ge; never plant bulbs collects. The draina where water ge of heavy clay soils can be improved organic matter such by digging in as compost or compo sted manure.

1: Sunlight. Most bulbs

Planting

There are two princip

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

al ways of plantin g bulbs.

1: Planting a bed. Excava te the

area to be planted bottom. Set the bulbs and loosen the soil in the bed. Replac in the e the soil (gently at knocking the bulbs first, to avoid out of position). If the soil is dry, water thoroughly. ually. Dig a hole with a trowel, auger or Drop the bulb (or bulbs — small bulbs bulb planter. such as those of eranth can be planted in threes, fours or more) is and anemones into is dry, water thorou the hole. Replace the soil. If the soil ghly after plantin g.

Note: Don’t worry too much about which end is up on a bulb. shoots up and roots Bulbs know to send down. They will grow and bloom upside down. even if you plant them

2: Planting bulbs individ

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148

Instructions

• Open all boxes and crates

colorblends.com

Ordering information MINIMUM ORDER

Minimum order $60.

Shipping charges Small package orders are shipped via UPS. Pallet orders go by LTL carrier.

HOW TO ORDER WEB: Go to colorblends.com and order

securely online.

BY PHONE: Call us toll free 1 (888) 847-8637,

Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm, Eastern Time. Please have your credit card handy when you call.

West

East

BY FAX : Fax us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our fax number is 1 (203) 338-0744.

BY MAIL: Print an order form at colorblends.com. Mail to 747 Barnum Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06608. After October 1, please order only by phone or web.

SALES TAX

Connecticut residents add 6.35% sales tax to sub total (order total plus shipping).

PAYMENT

Checks with orders, please, unless paying

by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. Credit cards will not be charged until your bulbs are shipped in the fall.

PURCHASE ORDERS

Corporate and institutional accounts are welcome! Purchase orders are accepted from approved companies and organizations. Government agencies, cities, states, counties and public schools are automatically approved. Call us at 1 (888) 847-8637 for details.

GCSAA MEMBERS

Colorblends has been a member since 1987 and is pleased to extend credit to fellow members. Reserve your bulbs now.

We’ll invoice you after delivery this fall.

BLEND PACKING

All Colorblend selections are shipped pre-blended unless otherwise stated.

Designed by Alexander Isley Inc.

SCHIPPERCRATES

The best shipping crates in the business!

Orders for 500 or more tulips are usually shipped in sturdy, stackable plastic Schippercrates with many uses: recycling bins, irrigation parts storage, laundry baskets, pet beds, you name it.

THE COLORBLENDS GUARANTEE

Please see page 146. Colorblends stands behind its bulbs the first spring after planting. After that, it’s in nature’s hands.

ORDER TOTAL

WEST

Up to $1500

Add 15%

Add 10%

MINIMUM $18

MINIMUM $12

Over $1500

EAST

Add 12.5% Add 7.5%

Sorry, no shipments to Alaska or Hawaii. We do not recommend planting in the southern portions of: AL, AZ, CA, FL, LA, MS, NM, or TX.

“Thanks for all of your help last fall. You are one of our most consistent and professional vendors, and you make my job a lot easier.”

- ANDREW J., CHICAGO, IL

Scan the code at right with your smart phone to find additional items that are available only on the Colorblends website.

B

© 2017 by Schipper & Company U.S.A. Inc. All rights reserved under United States law and international copyright conventions. No part of this catalog may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission. Designed and printed in the United States of America. COLORBLENDS, It’s About Spring!, Nature’s Fireworks and all blend names are trademarks used to identify products of Schipper & Company U.S.A., Inc. dba COLORBLENDS and may not be used without permission. Introduced year is the year the catalog and blend name were registered at the United States Copyright Office in the Library of Congress. Contact: COLORBLENDS, 747 Barnum Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06608. Phone: 1 (888) 847-8637. Email: info@colorblends.com.

Budget Daffodils

Small bulbs sometimes make cents

Time (and size) is money—in the bulb trade and in the green industry. Colorblends prides itself on shipping big daffodil bulbs for maximum impact in the landscape the first spring after planting. But where the budget is tight and client patience is long, smaller bulbs may be what you need.

The following 12–14cm bulbs will give you 1 flower stem the first spring (our standard 16cm+ bulbs of the same or similar varieties will give you 2 and often 3). In keeping with industry practice, we refer to these small bulbs as landscape size (LS) bulbs.

Dutch Master LS

Standard yellow trumpet. When people ask for a yellow daffodil, this is what they have in mind.

Jumbo-size bulbs available at colorblends.com.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3631 Per 250

$79

12–14cm Per 1000

$290

16" Per 5000

$1150

Mount Hood LS

White petals. Nose starts pale yellow, turns white at maturity.

The first big white of the daffodil season. For jumbo-size bulbs, see page 88. (Also performs well in the South.) DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3854 Per 250

$110

12–14cm Per 1000

$380

16” Per 5000

$1700

Carlton LS

An adaptable and enduring two-tone yellow. Blooms a little later than the other big yellows.

For jumbo-size bulbs, see page 84.

(Also performs well in the South.)

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

150

3852 Per 250

$78

12–14cm Per 1000

$290

15" Per 5000

$1295

C OL OR B L E NDS W H O L E SA L E FL OW E R BU L B S

Sempre Avanti LS

White petals surround a cup that opens orange and soon turns yellow.

Sempre Avanti is an old timer (pre–World War II) that continues to earn accolades for its landscape performance. For jumbo-size bulbs, see page 91. (Also performs well in the South.) DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3861 Per 250

$85

12–14cm Per 1000

$290

16” Per 5000

$1295

Fortune LS

Yellow with a soft orange cup that turns yellow as the flowers mature.

An heirloom that has been lighting up landscapes for almost 100 years.

It was once one of the most coveted daffodils in the world. Now available for a song. (Also performs well in the South.) DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3007 Per 250

$79

12–14cm Per 1000

$290

16" Per 5000

$1150

Golden Ducat LS

The double version of the famous King Alfred daffodil. The deep yellow flowers are very large and amazingly durable. (Also performs well in the South.)

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3860 Per 250

$85

12–14cm Per 1000

$290

16” Per 5000

$1295

Sealing Wax LS

Golden petals surround a petite cup with a bright orange rim.

An attractive flower and easy to appreciate because it almost always faces out or up. Sealing Wax is a daffodil that will look you in the eye.

DEER AND RODENT PROOF

Item No Bulb Size Height

3863 Per 250

$85

12–14cm Per 1000

$300

16” Per 5000

$1400 TO ORDER :

colorblends.com

| 1 (888) 847-8637

151

747 Barnum Ave Bridgeport, CT 06608-2415 colorblends.com 1 (888) 847-8637

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It’s about spring!

® MARTIAN SPRING PAGE 31