linnels farm in association with FLARE&flame Bulbs Glorious Bulbs 20192020 Welcome to our 2020 Bulb Catalogue. It is with joy and excitement that we introduce our 2020 Bulb Catalogue – never has there been a year when spring bulbs, especially our tulips, earned Contents their keep ‘during lockdown’. Weeks of glorious displays and heartfelt emails from many of you saying that these beauties were keeping spirits up in such Alliums 4 trying times. Scented Narcissi 8 Unlike many bulb companies we trial our bulbs both in the south and the north of the UK so consider ourselves well placed to advise on bulb choices, Gift Collections 12 whichever area of the country you call home. The majority of the bulbs we import are top sizes where possible and most importantly we don’t sell any Tulip varieties 20 bulbs that we wouldn’t happily give space to in our own gardens! Our flowering times are a guide – in warmer springs most tulips will flower Early 21 earlier and flowering times will overlap. Mid Season 22 New additions & Reintroductions for 2020 Late 27 Scented Narcissi: we’ve added ‘White Lion’ (p.11) and ‘Campernelle Double’ (p.11) amongst others, to our growing stable of scented narcissi. Show Stoppers 28 These are ‘bang for your buck’ bulbs that naturalise - once the hard work of planting has been done the display gets better and better each year. Hyacinths 30 Tulips: We’ve reintroduced ‘La Belle Époque’ (p.29) - her absence has Little Beauties 32 been felt but it was only when we liaised with an additional bulb grower that we felt we could get the quality we wanted, ‘Cummins’ (p.29) talk about Ornithogalum nutans 36 frilly knickers!, ‘James Last’ (p.27) - a divine washed out blend of smoky purple and pink that’s superb in late afternoon sunshine. And many more... Erythronium 37 Bellevalia ‘Green Pearl’ (p.39) - an intriguing Muscari relative. Muscari & Bellevalia 38 Fritillaria pallidiflora (p.43) - a looker but not a shouter. Camassia 40 What were our favourite bulbs last year? Fritillaria 42 Sabina: “Allium ‘Globemaster’- stately and really long flowering (p.7) & the NEW Rembrandt collection - fabulous, vibrant colours!“ (p.17). Karen: “Tulip ‘Jaap Groot’ (p.21) was a mix of clotted cream and butter and simply got better with age; it was the most shared photo by people who bought it last year. And the lemon scent of ‘Verona’ on those hot spring days Our cover combination - the ‘Dark & Elegant’ Collection (see page 13). was positively refreshing.” (p.34). 2 3 Alliums Alliums are a great investment, reliably flowering each year and are a magnet for bees Allium Allium Allium ‘Mount Everest’ atropurpureum ‘Nigrum’ pure white deepest purple naturalise in grass for a hemispheres wildflower look 90 cm 60 cm 60 cm May - June June May - June 5 @ £10 10 @ £4 10 @ £5 10 @ £17 30 @ £10 30 @ £13 Nectaroscordum Allium Allium cristophii siculum ssp. sphaerocephalon large head of Allium schubertii bulgaricum claret drumsticks star-shaped perfect dotted through lilac flowers amazing - like sliver-purple fireworks bees adore these borders 40 cm 120 cm 50 - 90 cm 60 cm May - June May - June June - July June 5 bulbs @ £10 10 @ £6 40 @ £4 10 @ £6 30 @ £15 100 @ £8 30 @ £15 4 5 Allium ‘Globemaster’ (AGM) We really missed this fabulous Allium so have decided to reintroduce it. The large mauve balls can reach a diameter of 20 cm and flower for a long time. Allium Allium Allium 80 - 90 cm ‘Summer ‘Gladiator’ ‘Purple Sensation’ June - July Drummer’ silvery mauve classic purple 200 cm 120 cm 90 cm 3 bulbs @ £15 July - August June - July May - June 10 bulbs @ £43 5 @ £6 5 @ £10 10 @ £5 10 @ £11 10 @ £17 30 @ £13 Allium amplectens ‘Graceful Beauty’ Aptly named - a lovely small flower, pure white with lilac stamens, June flowering and works well as a cut flower. 30 cm May - June 10 bulbs @ £6 30 bulbs @ £15 6 7 Scented Narcissi Our carefully chosen selection of scented narcissi are as perfect in the vase as they are in the garden. Bulbs will naturalise (divide and spread if left undisturbed in the garden) into larger drifts each year. All varieties on pages 10 and 11 can be planted through grass – just bear in mind that the leaves will need to remain for 6 weeks after flowering. With careful selection you can have a display of scented narcissi from March to late May. The daintier varieties on this page are perfect in the garden or in containers where their divine scent can be appreciated. ‘Sweet Love’ ‘Silver Chimes’ ‘Erlicheer’ unique apricot up to 10 creamy white colouring flowers per stem double flowers 40 cm 35 cm 30 cm April - May April - May March - April 10 @ £7 10 @ £7 10 @ £7 25 @ £15 25 @ £15 25 @ £15 8 9 ‘Acropolis’ ‘Sir Winston ‘Bell Song’ ‘White Lion’ ‘Actaea’ ‘Campernelle’ Churchill’ NEW NEW NEW big double blooms loose clusters with a glorious pale tangerine double, soft yellow cen- Pheasant’s Eye double, scented & over spicy scent spicy scent trumpet tre and long lasting. dating from pre 1919 400 yrs old Late April Mid April April April Late May April - May 40 cm 40 cm 35 cm 35 cm 35 cm 30 cm ‘Bridal Crown’ ‘Thalia’ ‘Laurens Koster’ sweetly scented orchid daffodil NEW double daffodil very elegant up to 7 small flowers per stem April April - May April - May 35 cm 30 cm 35 cm Narcissus ‘Actaea’ naturalised 10 Bulbs £6 25 Bulbs £12 50 Bulbs £22 10 11 FLARE&flame Gift Collections This year we offer 12 colllections... All of our bulb collections are beautifully presented in gift bags, complete with planting instructions & gift label. 25 bulbs in each collection - £18 (unless stated otherwise) Pink & Peachy 12 13 Scented La Belle NEW - A subtle blend of mauve and dusky coffee Spring Collection coloured tulips, accented with sumptuous black for This collection combines the lovely scent of Narcissi drama. The colours mellow and fade with time giving with the big blousy blooms of double Tulips a lovely antique feel. .... oh and a sprinkling of delicate blue Muscari 45 bulbs £19 10 Tulips, 10 scented Narcissi & 25 Muscari 25 bulbs £19 14 15 All the Blues Rembrandt NEW - a harmonious blend of blues and whites. Double, fringed and flamed this combination flowers over a long period. NEW a combination of dark, rich, sumptuous colours with added drama from the yellow red flamed Rembrandt tulip. 16 17 NEW Avriel Avriel Persiana Spring Pure Elegance Meadow 18 19 Early Tulips Individual Varieties Early Tulips flowering late March – mid April ‘Exotic Emperor’ ‘Verona’ ‘Jaap Groot’ long-lasting citrus scented cream flame variegated leaves 45 cm 40 cm 50 cm ‘Apricot Beauty’ ‘Candy Prince’ ‘Purisima’ softest apricot unusual lilac colour tall with large flowers long-lasting reliably perennial 40 cm 40 cm 50 cm ‘Havran’ ‘Helmar’ ‘Jan Reus’ crushed blackcurrants like a Dutch painting subtle yellow base ‘Exotic Emperor’, ‘Verona’ & ‘Jaap Groot’ 45 cm 45 cm 50 cm 20 10 Bulbs £5 25 Bulbs £12.50 50 Bulbs £22 21 Early-Mid Season Tulips ‘Antraciet’ ‘Prinses Irene’ ‘Negrita’ combines well with long lasting mixes well with other other tulips colours 45 cm 30 - 40 cm 50 cm ‘Flaming Flag’ ‘Blue Diamond’ ‘Très Chic’ purple ripples very long lasting beautiful shape relaxed habit 45 cm 45 cm 45 cm ‘Continental’ ‘Annie Schilder’ ‘Gorilla’ NEW NEW beautifully fringed dark and sumptuous mellows to bronze hues (terrible name) 45 - 50 cm 40 - 45 cm 45 - 50 cm ‘Prinses Irene’ & ‘Negrita’ 22 10 Bulbs £5 25 Bulbs £12.50 50 Bulbs £22 23 Mid-Season Tulips: flowering April-May Tulipa ‘Grand Perfection’ the creamy background fades to white for an even more dramatic look ‘Mistress’ ‘Barcelona’ ‘Angelique’ NEW - clear luminous NEW - eye-catching a classic pink, long lasting brilliant, lipstick pink fragrant 50 cm 60 cm 45 cm ‘Doll’s Minuet’ ‘Mount Tacoma’ ‘Fancy Frills’ elegant great cut flower NEW - delicately fringed 55 cm 45 cm 45 cm 45 cm ‘Charming Lady’ ‘Ronaldo’ ‘Ballerina’ NEW blue sheen another classic 10 Bulbs £5 shades of palest apricot 25 Bulbs £12.50 45 cm 45 cm 55 cm 50 Bulbs £22 24 10 Bulbs £5 25 Bulbs £12.50 50 Bulbs £22 25 Late Tulips - May flowering Tulipa ‘Hakuun’ (formerly ‘White Cloud’) Japanese bred, this is a very tall, sturdy tulip which just kept on flowering. Often described as pure white, we found it has a beautiful ivory flame with grey margins to begin with. ‘Menton’ ‘Holland Beauty’ ‘Brown Sugar’ A Stunner ! long lasting NEW NEW fades as ages rim fades to white strong and tall 55 cm 55 cm 60 cm ‘Black Parrot’ ‘Queen of Night’ ‘James Last’ ruffled feathers best ever NEW soft & dusky 55 cm 60 cm 50 cm April - May 60 cm 10 Bulbs £5 ‘Spring Green’ ‘Bleu Aimable’ ‘Greenstar’ 25 Bulbs £12.50 ivory and green NEW reflexed petals viridiflora fading to antique grey 50 Bulbs £22 50 cm 50 cm 50 cm 26 10 Bulbs £5 25 Bulbs £12.50 50 Bulbs £22 27 Showstoppers 10 Bulbs Showstoppers 10 Bulbs ‘White Parrot’ ‘Amazing Parrot’ ‘Flaming Spring Green’ ‘La Belle Époque’ NEW NEW NEW Mid-season Mid-season Mid-season Early flowering 35-40 cm 40-50 cm 45-50 cm 30-40 cm £7 £6 £9 £10 (bulb size 12+) (bulb size 11/12) (bulb size 12+) (bulb size 12+) ‘Copper Image’ ‘Danceline’ ‘Cummins’ ‘Green Wave’ NEW Late flowering Mid-season Late flowering Late flowering 45 cm 40-50 cm 50 cm 50-60 cm £8 £8 £6 £7 (bulb size 12+) (bulb size 11/12) (bulb size 10/11) (bulb size 12+) 28 29 Hyacinths Hyacinths are the perfect start to Spring, flowering early, un- demanding and with a beautiful fragrance.