Recognize and Identify Miniature Spring Flowering Bulbs When Not in Flower

These early blooming daisy like flowers like full sun or partial shade in a humus rich soil. They prefer moist springs and drier summers. Soak the rhizomes for 8 hours or overnight before planting (in the photo the rhizomes started out the same size but one was soaked). Plant the rhizomes with the circle of fine hairs showing up. If you can't see the circles of tiny hairs (which are the remains of flower stems) plant the rhizomes on their sides.

Plant one to two inches apart, two to three inches deep. Height 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) Early spring flowering, zones 5-9

These early spring bloomers need to be planted in full to partial sun in well drained soil. Their showy sprays of up to ten blooms can often be seen poking through the snow in early spring.

They should be planted 2 to three inches apart and 2 to 4 inches deep and can be naturalized in lawns. The plants grow 4-6 inches tall (10 – 15 cm). Early Spring, Zones 3-9

Also Crocus tommasinianus - Early species crocus are usually scented. Crocus chrysanthus species are the earliest flowering crocus. They are much earlier flowering than the larger Dutch crocus varieties and will flower just after reticulated iris or snowdrops

Plant 3-4 inches deep and 2 inches apart. Height to 3 -4 inches (7 - 10cm). Zone 3 – 9

Winter aconite with it's buttercup yellow flowers and ruff of leaves is one of the earliest bulbs to bloom, usually emerging before snowdrops. The tubers need to be soaked for 8 hours to overnight before planting. They prefer the same conditions as snowdrops, humus rich most soil which does not dry out.

Plant 1-2 inches apart and 2 – 3 inches deep (use shallower plantings in heavy clay soils) Height 3-6 inches (7-15cm) Flowering time early spring Zone 4-9 Tubers are poisonous

Snowdrops prefer cool partially shaded sites and humus rich moist soil. Snowdrops need to be kept moist, even in summer. Before planting soak snowdrop bulbs for 8 hours or overnight.

Space two inches apart and plant 2 to 3 inches deep. Height 4-6 inches (10-15cm) Very early flowering. Zones 3-9

Reticulated Iris are recognizable by their shape and the netted covering on the bulb.Some good varieties include Cantab (light blue) Joyce (lavender blue standards with sky blue falls) (JS.Dijt, dark red purple (fragrant) – reticulated iris prefer a sunny open position in well drained soil. They need a dry season in summer to do well. If given the right conditions these tiny iris will increase and flower for many years.

Plant one to two inches apart, 3 inches deep. Height to 6 inches. (15cm) Flowering time January to March Hardy in zones 3- 10 (They may need a winter much in colder zones).

Plant miniatures 3 times the depth of the bulb height, and one to two inches apart (closer for smaller bulbs). Most grow to four to ten inches high (10-25cm) and are early to mid spring blooming. Zones 4-9

Blooming time mid spring. Height 4-6 inches (10-15cm). Zones 4-8.