Figaro’s Garden Guide to the Best Spring-Flowering Bulbs

At Figaro’s Garden, we’re passionate about helping our customers find the best plants for their gardens, and when it comes to spring-flowering bulbs, our staff has some clear favourites. These are the bulbs we personally plant in our own gardens year after year—not just because they’re beautiful, but because they’re reliable and easy to grow. In this guide, we’re sharing our top picks and why we love them, along with a few tips on growing the best spring-flowering bulbs in Vancouver.

How to Plant Bulbs in Vancouver

Planting and growing bulbs is straightforward, which is one of the reasons we love them. Dig a hole, plant, and forget until spring. It’s nearly that simple! But, there are some tricks to growing bulbs successfully. We’ve distilled our best advice here:

Time it right

The ideal time to get bulbs in the ground is between late September and early November, before the ground freezes but when temperatures have started to cool down.

Ensure good drainage

Make sure to plant in well-draining soil, as bulbs don’t like to sit in waterlogged ground over the winter. In containers, use a loose potting soil such as Figaro’s Outdoor Potting Soil.

Cluster your bulbs

Avoid the “soldiers-at-attention” look: don’t plant bulbs in a single, straight row. Similarly, you’ll want to avoid a “one-here-one-there” approach, which can result in a scattered and incohesive design. Instead, plant several bulbs in one hole so that they emerge in clusters. Aim for odd numbers for the most natural look.

Give them sun when it counts

For best results, bulbs require at least five hours of sun daily in early spring. As spring bloomers, however, they can be planted in areas later shaded when trees leaf out.

Plant at the right depth

Aim for a depth of about three times the height of the bulb, and ideally, plant them pointy side up (though they seem to emerge regardless). A garden “dibber” can help make quick work of this task.

Feed them

A little bone meal in the hole can help give the bulbs a head start come spring. Bone meal is a great source of phosphorus, which supports strong root growth.

Keep squirrels away

Squirrels can be notorious bulb thieves, especially when it comes to tulips. To protect your bulbs, try covering the area with a layer of chicken wire after planting—just remove it before shoots start to emerge. Alternatively, planting bulbs that squirrels tend to avoid, such as daffodils or alliums, can also help deter them from digging in your garden.

Figaro’s Garden Staff Picks for the Best Spring-Flowering Bulbs

There are so many beautiful bulb varieties available that we all had difficulty choosing. One variety almost everyone named was Fritillaria meleagris, “the Sungold of bulbs.” Here are some of our other favourites:

Tulipa ‘Artist’ (‘Artist’ Tulip)

“I planted 50 ‘Artist’ Tulip bulbs in clusters of five along my front border, and the result was absolutely stunning,” says Andrea, business development manager. “They really tied the whole front garden together from April through May.”

Viridiflora tulips like ‘Artist’ are known for green streaks on their petals, which adds an interesting element to these blooms. ‘Artist’ emerges a deep coral, fading to soft apricot.

Allium schubertii (Schubertii Ornamental Onion)

Landscaping team member Elsa says her top pick is the Schubertii Allium. As a trained florist, Elsa loves how well alliums dry and can later be used in arrangements. “The flower heads look like fireworks,” she says. “They’re just an all-round good time.”

Narcissus ‘Pink Charm’ (‘Pink Charm’ Daffodil)

This soft-pink, large-cupped daffodil gets store staffer Sam’s vote. “It’s distinct from the typically yellow tones of daffodils and makes a beautiful cut flower,” she says. “Plus, living on the North Shore, I need something that is deer proof. Narcissus fit the bill.”

Chionodoxa (Glory of the Snow)

Store Manager Conor loves chionodoxa, commonly known as Glory of the Snow, for nostalgic reasons. “My grandmother used to grow these,” he says. “Also, they naturalize beautifully.” A low-growing bulb, chionodoxa can be planted under trees or shrubs for beautiful early-spring colour.

Leucojum aestivum ‘Gravetye Giant’ (‘Gravetye Giant’ Summer Snowflake)

“We planted this on the boulevard in front of the shop’s entrance and people are constantly asking about it when it’s in bloom,” says Figaro’s Garden owner Hartley. This unusual bulb blooms in late spring and slightly resembles an enormous snowdrop. Flower stems reach up to 2′ tall and naturalize well.

Narcissus ‘Minnow’

Store staff member Camille is drawn to the soft yellows of the mini narcissus ‘Minnow.’ “I prefer these tones to the more common bright yellow of daffodils,” she says. “I also love how mini narcissus are squirrel proof and naturalize well.”

Crocus chrysanthus ‘Cream Beauty’ (‘Cream Beauty’ crocus)

“Along with galanthus (snowdrops), crocus is the earliest bloomer in my garden,” says Andrea. “They provide food for early pollinators, which is so important in the late winter.” ‘Cream Beauty’ is also fragrant, and naturalizes well.

Adds Andrea: “This fall, I’m planting 200 crocus bulbs in my lawn, which should create an amazing display before conveniently dying back just as it becomes time to cut the grass.”

Fritillaria meleagris (Checkered Lily)

Finally, everyone’s favourite: Fritillaria meleagris, the Checkered or Snake’s Head Lily. Staff member Fiona recommends this dainty variety for its delicate-looking, nodding blooms. “It’s one of the first things to come up in my garden,” she says.

While not overtly showy, Fritillaria meleagris invites you to pause and take a closer look. It tolerates more shade than many spring-flowering bulbs.

 

Stop by Figaro’s Garden for your bulbs and bulb supplies. Here’s to a brighter spring!