Crevice Gardening with Bulbs

Bulbs do pretty well here in western South Dakota. So how will they fare in the crevice garden?

Tulipa humilis 'Eastern Star' blooming in the crevice garden

Around September of last year I planted a handful of bulbs in the crevice garden, including tulipa humilis, crocus, and iris reticulata.

Spring bulbs waiting to be planted

I planted as I filled each crevice, which seemed the best way to get the bulbs into the narrow planting spaces. If I were to do it all over again, I'd allow more time for the soil to settle before planting. I expect the reason the crocus and iris did poorly was because they fell too deep into the crevice as the soil settled around them. The tulips clearly didn't mind.

Planting as I finished the rock work, I dropped a handful of bulbs into various cracks and planting holes.

I planted these bulbs in the fall of 2023. Below is one of the first blooms of 2024. Time will tell whether these tulips are able to perennialize in the extreme conditions of a dry crevice garden. So far, I'm pleased with the results.