The leaves are falling, the temperatures are cooling, and that can only mean one thing: It’s time to talk bulbs. We’re sick of talking about the same old yellow daffodils and pink hybrid tulips, though, so Steve and Danielle decided to wade into the world of rarer—or at least lesser-known—fall-planted bulbs. You will hear us talk about a tulip or two on this episode, but likely not ones you’re familiar with. Instead we will focus on species tulips that are more likely to come back year after year—which is only one of their awesome attributes. You will also hear about a garlic that is grown only for its beautiful bloom, and a few other bulb options that seem to be ignored by voles! This episode proves that weirder sometimes is better.

Expert testimony: Erin Presley is a horticulturist at the Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison, Wisconsin.

DANIELLE’S LIST

Wild orange tulip (Tulip orphanidea, Zones 4–8)

Pink lily leek (Allium oreophilum, Zones 4–9)

‘Ivory Bells’ fritillaria (Fritillaria persica ‘Ivory Bells’, Zones 6–8)

Spring starflower (Ipheion uniflorum, Zones 5–9)

STEVE’S LIST

Sicilian honey garlic (Allium siculum subsp. dioscoridis,  Zones 6–10)

‘Lady Jane’ tulip (Tulipa clusiana ‘Lady Jane’, Zones 4–8)

‘Blue Danube’ quamash (Camassia leichtlinii ‘Blue Danube’, Zones 3–8)

Drumstick allium (Allium sphaerocephalon, Zones 4–8)

EXPERT’S PLANT LIST

‘Rapture’ daffodil  (Narcissus ‘Rapture’ , Zones 3–8)

‘Antoinette’ tulip (Tulipa ‘Antoinette’, Zones 3–8)

Blue of the heavens allium (Allium azureum, Zones 4–7)

Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale, Zones 4–8)

EXPERT PICKS

Erin Presley is a horticulturist at the Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison, Wisconsin.