What are Bulbs in the Green?

What are Bulbs in the Green? The answer is as follows – Flowering bulbs which bloom in late winter and early-mid spring may be purchased as bulbs in the green during December – March, and even into April. They will have leaves growing but may or may not have flower buds of flowers. Although growing, they’re not usually a fully formed ‘plant for sale’. So they are called bulbs in the green.

There are various reasons for this method of buying your garden plants. I would say that the main one is that it guarantees that the bulb is viable. Certain spring flowering bulbs are more likely to establish and flower in your garden if bought as living plants rather than bulbs.

Historically there used to be quite a problem with some imported bulbs. They were sold in good faith but had been incorrectly stored or treated before selling. The dried out, wizened bulbs were not likely to ever grow leaves or flower. Even when soaked in water before planting, as was often suggested. Rotting bulbs were the more common outcome of this method.

This still can be an issue. If you’ve bought a few hundred bulbs at a cheap price you probably wont mind if 20% of them don’t grow. But if you’ve bought a dozen expensive bulbs and 20% of those fail to grow and flower, you’d feel cheated.

Bulbs in the Green and a Bit of Botany

Don’t panic, there are no long complicated Botanical Latin names to remember! This is just a quick explanation about bulbs in the green that aren’t bulbs. Even us professional gardeners use the phrase ‘bulbs’ as a shorthand for a group of plants which are bulbs, corms, rhizomes and tubers.

All four of these types are perennial plants, meaning they live for longer than two years. They also have in common the fact that the bulb, tuber, corm or rhizome is a storage facility for the plant. Starch and sugars are stored to provide the plant with energy when it’s ready to grow. In other perennials this function is generally carried out by the roots.

True bulbs are underground shoots. Modified leaves, used for storage are attached to the basal plate (that thick bit at the bottom) Foliage leaves, flowers and roots also grow from this basal plate. Example: Daffodil (Narcissus)

A corm is a swollen underground stem which stores the plant’s food. Shoots and flowers grow from a main bud on this swollen stem. The previous year’s leaves are the papery coat that you’ll see on a corm. Example: Crocus (spring crocus)

Rhizomes are underground stems, which are the storage area. Roots and shoots are sent out form the nodes (knobbly bits) along the stem. Example: Iris (although many Iris prefer to have their rhizomes exposed to bake in the sun – just to confuse us!)

There are both stem tubers and root tubers; which are slightly different. Stem tubers develop at the end of rhizomes; ie underground stems. Example: Begonia Root tubers are storage organs formed at the ends of roots. Example: Dahlia

Tips for Buying Bulbs in the Green

Many of these plants can be planted as dormant bulbs, corms and rhizomes in the previous autumn. However, buying and planting bulbs in the green is useful if you were too busy in the autumn. Or possibly because you moved to a new house and had to leave the bulbs behind.

Buy them in person if possible. Obvious, maybe, but if you can, it does solve a lot of potential issues.
Buy from a reputable nursery or trader. This could be in person, through catalogues or online. Again, you know that the bulbs will have been grown for sale and not lifted from the wild.
If you’re not buying them in person, check what you’re getting. Different quantities of bulbs and different methods of packing are on offer.
How many bulbs in the green are being offered for the price? Rare snowdrops are frequently sold as single bulbs. Whereas our native Galanthus nivalis will probably come in a clump of ten or even twenty-five.
Does it state that the bulbs are mature and of flowering size?

How are the bulbs in the green presented to you as the buyer?

This could be in full growth with a little soil attached to the bulbs. Possibly wrapped round with moss and bubble wrap to keep them moist. If you have the bulbs delivered ‘loose’ in moss, they will need to be planted promptly.

A few nurseries may send them through the post in pots. Generally, bulbs in the green sold in pots tend to be found in nurseries and garden centres.

If you’re buying in person, are the bulbs are well-rooted in the pot and not recently put in there?

Look for flower buds rather than open blooms. You want to get the most from your purchase after all!

Some spring flowers suitable for buying as bulbs in the green

By planting bulbs in the green rather than dormant bulbs you can see exactly where you are putting them. It’s also an extremely useful way to inject flowers quickly into bare spots in your winter garden

Snowdrops, Galanthus
Bluebells, English bluebells, Hyacinthoides non scripta
Daffodils, Narcissus
Spring Snowflake, Leucojum vernum
Summer Snowflake, Leucojum aestivum
Snakeshead Fritillary, Fritillaria meleagris

Other bulbs in the green for your late winter and spring garden

Although strictly speaking these are not bulbs, but rhizomes and corms.

Winter aconite, Eranthis hyemalis
Spring flowering Crocus
Iris reticulata
Lily of the Valley, Convallaria majus

Where to plant your bulbs in the green

#1 into pots and containers
Having a rolling display of flowering plants in pots next to your front door is a guaranteed pick-me-up.

#2 straight into your garden borders
By planting bulbs in the green rather than dormant bulbs you can see exactly where you are putting them. It’s an extremely useful way to inject flowers quickly into bare spots in your winter garden.

and finally

You may have a designated winter garden or border to entice you out in to the cold, closely holding your mug of hot tea. Or you may have mixed season borders and want something to see out of your kitchen window. Either way, its satisfying to know that this bit of instant gardening is indulged in by many famous gardeners – so we’re in good company!

For further gardening advice and inspiration, check out Plews Potting Shed blogs, including the selection below, and our monthly Tipsheet – You could come and find us on Instagram Pinterest and Facebook too.