Contributed byRiverbanks Zoo

Gardening enthusiasts will wilt over the bulbs at Riverbanks Botanical Garden’s annual Fall Bulb Sale November 5.

All of Riverbanks Botanical Garden’s bulbs are hand–selected by Riverbanks horticulturists, offering some unique choices gardeners won’t find at the average nursery. Flower lovers should look out for the Narcissus Tahiti, an interesting and unusual daffodil with a starburst center. The species tulips, which are some of the few varieties of tulips that can be treated as perennials in SC’s warm climate, are enough to make green thumbs green with envy. Ordinarily, tulips need a longer cold period than our climate can provide to come back year after year, so southern gardeners have long since treated the tulip as an annual flower.

Then there are always the old favorites. Riverbanks offers a huge variety of daffodils and annual tulips with plenty of yellows, pinks, and purples to go around.

The Crinium lilies, which have long been Riverbanks’ signature bulb, are back this year – just as durable and reliable as ever.

Gardeners should follow a few tips when planting bulbs. In warmer climates like SC’s, bulbs don’t need to be planted until as late as December. The universal rule, however, is to make sure they’re planted before the first hard frost, usually once the nighttime temperatures are consistently 40°–50°F. It’s best to plant bulbs soon after they’re brought home, but if they are stored, they should be kept somewhere dry and cool.

Not all bulbs are right for all climates, which is why Riverbanks’ Bulb Sale makes gardening so easy. Since all the bulbs have already performed well at Riverbanks Botanical Garden, it’s guaranteed they’ll work in SC’s climate.

To get the biggest bang for your bulb buck, consider color, plant height, and flowering time when making bulb choices at the sale. Low– growing bulbs should be planted in front of taller flowers and gardeners should plan on planting bulbs in groups rather than individually as a cluster of flowers will give a garden more pizzazz.

Consider planting bulbs in natural settings that might not be tended regularly, like beside a woodpile or in a meadow area. And think about timing and whether you want the entire bed to bloom at once or in cycles so that there’s something to see all spring.

Riverbanks’ Fall Bulb Sale is Saturday, November 5 from 9 am–2 pm. Shoppers are encouraged to come early since many bulbs go fast. For a complete list of bulbs available or to place an order online, visit www.riverbanks.org. Interested gardeners can also call (803) 779-8717 for more info.