The Perennial Plant of the Year (PPOY) Committee considers many plants. Committee members are passionate about their plant nominations. To recognize outstanding bulbs for Calgary, the committee created a Bulb of the Year category.
To be selected as Bulb of the Year, the plant must meet all the criteria:
suitable and reliable in Calgary growing conditions
not overused
readily available in garden centres
reasonably affordable to purchase
Bulbs selections can be early/mid/late spring flowering, summer flowering that are hardy, and those that naturalize.
The bulbs are display in chronological order from the current year’s designated bulb to previously designate bulbs. Unlike the Perennial Plant of the Year, which is awarded each year, a bulb may not receive a yearly designation.
The Bulb of the Year is announced in the fall.
Narcissus 'Minnow' 2025 Bulb of the Year
Common Name: Daffodil ‘Minnow’
The sunny cheerfulness of daffodil blooms are one of the delights of spring and ‘Minnow’ daffodil, embodies cuteness from its cultivar name to its diminutive stature.
Narcissus ‘Minnow’ is part of the Tazetta group of daffodils, which means the plants have multiple blooms (between two and five) on each stem.
The bulbs are planted in the ground in fall and will bloom the following spring. Select a location that receives full sun (at least six hours a day). However, they will also perform well in part shade.
The flowers feature pale yellow petals that turn white and the corona (cup-like structure) at the centre of the flowers is bright lemony yellow. The foliage is medium green, long, and strappy. The plants will grow between 15 and 20 cm tall.
‘Minnow’ is drought-tolerant but prefers consistent moisture if you can offer it. When the foliage starts to die back you can reduce watering. Well-drained soil is a must to prevent bulb rot.
Muscari neglectum 'Baby's Breath' 2024 Bulb of the Year
Common Name: Grape hyacinth ‘Baby’s Breath’
Muascari neglectum ‘Baby’s Breath’ (grape hyacinth) with their abundant, almost white, baby-blue blooms and lovely fragrance, baby’s breath is a great early spring perennial. The flower buds are a vibrant lime green colour that bloom to reveal the icy-blue flower. Plant baby’s breath in the fall, at a depth of about 5 cm, in well-drained soil, and provide them will plenty of water before the first frost. Then you can simply wait till early spring and enjoy their beautiful blooms!
Camassia leichtlinii 'Blue Heaven' 2023 Bulb of the Year
Common Name: Camassia ‘Blue Heaven’
Camassia, commonly known as camas lily or wild hyacinth, are late spring blooming bulbs native to North America. They are a member of the Asparagus family (Asparagaceae) with only six species in the genus, most native to the western part of the country. Camas are meadow plants, each bulb forming a tuft of green strappy leaves from which a single tall stem (raceme) emerges, loaded with dozens of individual star-shaped blooms opening from the bottom up. Protruding bright yellow stamens are a draw for a variety of pollinators. The best news is deer are not usually attracted to them. They are perfect additions to meadow and naturalistic planting styles, but fit in equally well with more traditional garden designs too.
Tulipa tarda (tarda tulip or late tulip) is a very showy, low-growing species tulip, native to the sub-alpine meadows of central Asia. It usually blooms in May in Calgary. The clumps of narrow, bright green leaves grow about 10–15 cm high, and are topped with flowering stems bearing clusters of three to six star-shaped, bright yellow flowers with white tips. It is hardy, drought tolerant, and truly perennial in Calgary. The bulbs of the tarda tulip should be planted in the fall, 10–15 cm deep, in full sun and average well-drained soil. Plant in groups of 15 or more, 5 cm apart, for an impressive show. After the flowers have bloomed, allow the foliage to die back naturally; if you want the tulips to naturalize, leave the flowers as well. The seed pods are quite attractive and, if you let the pods dry on the plant, you can collect seeds and direct sow outdoors in fall.
