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Cornell's Combinations: Camouflaging Spring Bulb Foliage

Flower gardeners have always wrestled with the problem of how to camouflage the foliage of spring bulbs after they finish blooming.

The bulb foliage must be left in place to wither naturally so that the bulbs can store food for their next year's bloom. Braiding the foliage of the bulbs is not the answer.

Combining other plants with the bulbs is the only really workable solution. Professor William Miller is the Director of Cornell University's Flower Bulb Research Program. His team studied combinations of bulbs and other perennials across four seasons of trials on Cornell's Ithaca campus, which is located in Zone 5.The complete results of the scientific findings of which combinations worked best can be found on the University website.

For example, one winning combination is Narcissus ‘ Fortissimo' with the oriental poppy ‘Turkenlouis'. The poppy flowers later than the daffodil so its foliage covers the spent daffodil leaves. Thus, daffodils and poppies are good combinations in a bed. Another plant to combine with daffodils is phlox paniculata. Tulips combine well with perennial (cranesbill) geraniums, such as geranium sylvaticum ‘Mayflower' that has purple flowers. Another winner, especially when paired with purple tulips, is lamb's ears. Also tulips of any hue work beautifully with white bleeding heart.

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