Spring Bulbs
Crocus
Crocuses are one of ReRoot founder, Ed's, favourite plants. This variety (Crocus tommasinianus 'Barr's Purple') are a vibrant purple with a bright orange stamen. They provide an early source of pollen and nectar for early season pollinators, appearing in early spring.
History
It is a native to the Balkan region of Europe but has been planted in British gardens since the mid-nineteenth century.
Crocus sleepovers
Crocuses are 'nyctinastic' which means that they close up at night and during colder weather to protect themselves. It is not uncommon for pollinators such as early bumble bees to take advantage of this and crawl into the flower heads as they are closing up for the night, using the flower as a sleeping bag.
Key stats
- Height: 8 - 10cm
- Flowering period: early spring
- Colour: purple with bright orange stamens and thin green leaves.
Tulip
Tulips are generally less beneficial to pollinators but are a popular and striking plant, so are included for their aesthetics - a people pleaser.
History
Tulips originate from a broad region extending from Central Asia into parts of the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean. They became particularly important in Ottoman gardens before gaining enormous popularity in Europe, especially the Netherlands. ‘Design Impression’ is a modern Darwin Hybrid cultivar, developed from horticultural breeding rather than collected as a wild species.
The Tulip Crash
In the early 17th century, tulips were a relative luxury with some species commanding huge prices. Tulip trading was a significant part of the Dutch economy and when a tulip auction failed to attract a single bid, there was a crash in prices.
Key stats
- Height: 40 - 60cm
- Flowering period: late spring
- Colour: pink flowers with green leaves.
Grape Hyacinth
Grape hyacinths are another plant that is great for pollinators. Each flower actually consists of many small flower heads, each of which provides nectar to bees, hoverflies and other pollinators.
History
They are from the Mediterranean region where they have grown for thousands of years but were introduced to Great Britain much more recently.
50,000-year-old burials
Archaeological studies of pollen records have suggested that Grape Hyacinths may have been used in Neanderthal burial rituals as much as 50,000 years ago. In (more) modern Western culture, they have come to symbolise Christ and can be seen in Renaissance nativity scenes.
Key stats
- Height: 15 - 20cm
- Colour: purple / blue
- Flowering period: early - mid-spring
Daffodils
Tête-à-tête daffodils are reasonably good for pollinators, supplying both pollen and nectar. They provide a shock of bright yellow with many small flower heads close together.
History
They were introduced in 1949 as one of 110 cultivars created by British horticulturalist Alec Gray.
Chatty flowers
They are called tête-à-tête because they can have two or even three flowers on a stem and therefore can look like the flowers are chatting, or having a 'tête-à-tête'.
Key stats
- Height: 20 - 25cm
- Colour: bright yellow with green leaves
- Flowering period: mid-late spring