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.
Galanthus nivalis 2026 Bulb of the Year
Common Name: Snowdrop
Snowdrop is one of the first blooms in early spring. Botanically known as Galanthus nivalis, it features a bell-shaped single-species flower which drips off a long thick stock. The waxy, white blooms have six petals, three inner and three outer. In the fall plant bulbs 5-7 cm deep and apart, with a sprinkle of bulb fertilizer. The fresher the bulbs, the better chance they have to establish. Once established they are easy to divide.
These graceful plants can grow up to 20-25 cm tall, with a spread of 8-15 cm. They do well in rock gardens, under deciduous tress, in borders, or blended into a lawn. Don’t remove spent foliage because bulbs absorb the nutrients back for the next year. Foliage will disappear by late spring.
Galanthus nivalis is part of the Amaryllidaceae family (amaryllis family). There are a number of hybrids available, including the double flowering G. nivalis ‘Flore Pleno’ or the Giant Snowdrop G. elwesii (Zone 4). They also look great planted with other early spring bloomers such as glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa forbesii), or Siberian squill (Scilla siberica).
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.
