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There is nothing more lovely than to give flower bulbs as a gift at fall events like weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, private parties, memorials, school or family reunions, and corporate meetings.
Flower bulbs are a perfect present: not only are they environmentally friendly, they will create beauty, magic and memories in the spring gardens of your guests. Spring flower bulbs are an eternal symbol of hope and rebirth. Gifts of flower bulbs are like a double present: a gift at the time of the event, and a gift at bloom time!
For late fall and mid-winter gifts of indoor bulbs, Amaryllis bestow huge colorful flowers, and Paperwhites yield sweetly fragrant, delicate white flowers. You may choose from Christmas Flowering Amaryllis bulbs (available for shipment late September), Royal Dutch Hybrid Amaryllis (available for shipment mid October) and our Art & Soul of Winter Gift Box Amaryllis and Paperwhites (available for shipment mid October).
When placing your order, make sure to tell us the event date and by which date you would like to receive your flower bulbs so that you may repackage them in advance.
Varieties for Early Shipment Starting after Labor Day
The following varieties are available for early shipment through Van Engelen immediately after Labor Day. Our first seven early containers are expected here from their Atlantic Ocean crossing that week! Our entire collection is available for shipment in late September after each variety is received in our warehouse from the Netherlands. (Please note that Dutch Amaryllis, Eremurus, Lilies, Peonies and Van Engelen's discounted Collections are available for shipment in mid-October.)
When deciding which variety you would like to give as a present, consider the color, per bulb price, horticultural hardiness and size of each bulb. Bulb size is important as it relates to the number of bulbs that can fit in the package you intend to use. Please note that bulb size is a measurement of circumference around the widest girth of the bulb, not left to right.
If you need help selecting a variety, just give us a call. We would be happy to help you.
Allium aflatunense Purple Sensation: One of the most cost-effective Allium, rabbit-, rodent- and deer-resistant Purple Sensation has 4"- to 5"-wide, violet-purple globes comprised of dozens of starry florets. Adored by bees, butterflies and pollinators, it has become a garden essential in borders, remarkable drifts and cut flower arrangements. Bulb size: 12 cm/up. Bloom time in horticultural zone 5: May/June. Horticultural zone hardiness:: 4-8. Height: 24" to 30". (We are very sorry, but due to state agricultural restrictions, we are not permitted to ship Allium bulbs to Idaho, or to the following five counties in the State of Washington: Adams, Benton, Franklin, Grant and Klickitat.) Available in units of 100. Order now.
Crocus tomassinianus Barr’s Purple: This early-blooming Species Crocus has six-petaled, rich amethyst-violet flowers with a paler interior, golden-orange anthers and grass-like foliage with narrow, median silvery stripes. Its graceful 4" tall flowers open and close on sunny days in early spring. The small bulbs have a finely reticulated tunic. It is often said that varieties of Crocus tomassinianus are less likely to be dug up, and replanted or eaten by squirrels. You’ll need about nine bulbs per square foot. Bulb size: 5 cm/up. Full to partial sunlight. Bloom time in horticultural zone 5: late March/early April. Plant 4" deep and 3" to 4" apart. Horticultural zone hardiness: 4-8. Height: 4". Available in units of 100. Order now.
Muscari latifolium: This prized 1886 Turkish native yields conical racemes of fertile (open) deep Oxford-blue florets topped with a jaunty hat of sterile (closed) periwinkle-blue florets above ample foliage clumps. The name Muscari derives from the work musk, due to its slight fragrance. Deer- and rodent-resistant Muscari naturalize readily in well-draining soil and in full to partial sunlight. They make good cut flowers too. You’ll need about nine bulbs per square foot. Bulb size: 6 cm/up. Full to partial sunlight. Bloom time in horticultural zone 5: April/May. Plant 5" deep and 3" to 4" apart. Horticultural zone hardiness: 4-8. Height: 6" (and even taller). Available in units of 100. Order now.
Giant Darwin Hybrid Tulip Big Love: The huge flowers of Big Love are glistening dusky-pink with a lilac sheen, an interior white-encircled heart of gold accented by variable steel-blue flames and garnet-blushed stems. Plant them in well-draining soil, and in full to partial sunlight. They make good cut flowers too. You’ll need about four bulbs per square foot. Bulb size: 12 cm/up. Bloom time in horticultural zone 5: late April/May. Plant 6” to 8” deep and 6” apart. Horticultural zone hardiness: 3-7. Height: 22”. Available in units of 100. Order now.
Single Late Tulip Burning Heart: An award-winning sport of Cream Jewel, Burning Heart opens yellow and red and matures to ivory-white with crimson flames and a pale yellow interior. Plant them in well-draining soil, and in full to partial sunlight. They make good cut flowers too. You’ll need about four bulbs per square foot. Bulb size: 12 cm/up. Bloom time in horticultural zone 5: April/May. Plant 6” to 8” deep and 6” apart. Horticultural zone hardiness: 3-7. Height: 20” to 22”. Available in units of 50. Order now.
Single Late Tulip Caravelle Design: This showy Caravelle sport is deep, rich purple with a lustrous ruby sheen and gorgeous marginated foliage. Plant them in well-draining soil, and in full to partial sunlight. They make good cut flowers too. You’ll need about four bulbs per square foot. Bulb size: 12 cm/up. Bloom time in horticultural zone 5: May. Plant 6” to 8” deep and 6” apart. Horticultural zone hardiness: 3-8. Height: 22” to 24”. Available in units of 50. Order now.
Lily Flowering Tulip Green Star: This phenomenal hybrid has bold green flames that are more prominent than many Viridiflora Tulips. It opens chartreuse-white with verdant green flames backlit lemon-yellow, and matures to bright white with green flames and yellow accents. Its tapered petals extend into outstretched arcs like choreographed starbursts. Plant them in well-draining soil, and in full to partial sunlight. They make good cut flowers too. You’ll need about four bulbs per square foot. Bulb size: 12 cm/up. Bloom time in horticultural zone 5: May. Plant 6” to 8” deep and 6” apart. Horticultural zone hardiness: 3-7. Height: 16" to 18". Available in units of 50. Order now.
Giant Darwin Hybrid Tulip Hakuun: Japanese hybrid White Cloud is a color breakthrough in the Giant Darwin Hybrid class because it opens and stays glistening white. Plant them in well-draining soil, and in full to partial sunlight. They make good cut flowers too. You’ll need about four bulbs per square foot. Bulb size: 12 cm/up. Bloom time in horticultural zone 5: late April/May. Plant 6” to 8” deep and 6” apart. Horticultural zone hardiness: 3-7. Height: 20”. Available in units of 100. Order now.
Multi-Flowering Happy Family: A bunch flowering variety with up to four stems per bulb, Happy Family is lustrous rose-pink with slightly paler petal edges. Plant them in well-draining soil, and in full to partial sunlight. They make good cut flowers too. You’ll need about four bulbs per square foot. Bulb size: 12 cm/up. Bloom time in horticultural zone 5: May. Plant 6” to 8” deep and 6” apart. Horticultural zone hardiness: 3-7. Height: 16" to 18". Available in units of 50. Order now.
Fringed Tulip Honeymoon: It is gleaming blizzard-white with thick edges of intricate crystalline fringe. Plant them in well-draining soil, and in full to partial sunlight. They make good cut flowers too. You’ll need about four bulbs per square foot. Bulb size: 12 cm/up. Bloom time in horticultural zone 5: May. Plant 6” to 8” deep and 6” apart. Horticultural zone hardiness: 3-7. Height: 16" to 18". Available in units of 50. Order now.
Single Late Tulip Maureen: Maureen is one of the most highly awarded Scheepers hybrids and with good reason. It is of perfect form, with oval or chalice-shaped flowers that open pale yellow, and mature to bright, glistening marble-white. Plant them in well-draining soil, and in full to partial sunlight. They make good cut flowers too. You’ll need about four bulbs per square foot. Bulb size: 12 cm/up. Bloom time in horticultural zone 5: late May. Plant 6” to 8” deep and 6” apart. Horticultural zone hardiness: 3-8. Height: 28". Available in units of 100. Order now.
Single Late Tulip Rhapsody of Smiles: Registered by W. van Lierop & Zonen in 2011, this shapely Big Smile sport is a luscious blend of yellows and reds with variable flames, flushes and stripes. Plant them in well-draining soil, and in full to partial sunlight. They make good cut flowers too. You’ll need about four bulbs per square foot. Bulb size: 12 cm/up. Bloom time in horticultural zone 5: May. Plant 6” to 8” deep and 6” apart. Horticultural zone hardiness: 3-8. Height: 16" to 18". Available in units of 100. Order now.
Triumph Tulip Salmon Pearl: Fragrant, radiant Salmon Pearl is a bit of a challenge to describe in mere words. It is shimmering carmine-rose with coral-pink edges, a golden nasturtium-red interior and a buttercup base. There is nothing quite like this uniquely colored beauty. Plant them in well-draining soil, and in full to partial sunlight. They make good cut flowers too. You’ll need about four bulbs per square foot. Bulb size: 12 cm/up. Bloom time in horticultural zone 5: April/May. Plant 6” to 8” deep and 6” apart. Horticultural zone hardiness: 3-7. Height: 16" to 18". Available in units of 50. Order now.
Triumph Tulip Synaeda Amour: This winsome beauty opens luminous deep lilac rose with broad, paler lilac-pink petal edges and matures to a dreamy, pale two-tone pink bloom. Plant them in well-draining soil, and in full to partial sunlight. They make good cut flowers too. You’ll need about four bulbs per square foot. Bulb size: 12 cm/up. Bloom time in horticultural zone 5: April/May. Plant 6” to 8” deep and 6” apart. Horticultural zone hardiness: 3-7. Height: 18" to 20". Available in units of 100. Order now.
Packaging
The best way to present a gift of flower bulbs is to repackage them in Chinese food boxes, tulle fabric bundles, paper gift bags or even regular paper lunch bags with holes punched in the sides. Each container can be tailored to the event with hanging gift tags, product label stickers and raffia or ribbon, in colors corresponding to the event. There are numerous online sites through which you can easily create labels or gift tags on which to commemorate the event and identify the flower bulb with brief planting instructions. Check out www.evermine.com for personally designed labels and www.papermart.com for gift bags and ribbons.
These types of packaging provide the living flower bulbs with good air ventilation until your guests can bring them home and plant them at the proper time for their area. Regardless of the event date, flower bulbs should not be planted until the ground chills down to around 55°F (after about two weeks of night time temperatures hovering in the 40s). When you place your order, you may ask us to mail you our Horticultural Tips brochure in advance of order receipt so you can prepare your packaging with planting tips. Or, you may use the online horticultural tips detailed for each variety.
Flower Bulb Receipt and Inspection
When you receive your order from us, open the exterior carton and interior cartons and inspect the bulbs. Keep them in a cool, dry spot (50° to 70°F) with good air circulation out of direct sunlight until just prior to repackaging the bulbs before the event. Once repackaged, again store the bulbs in a cool, dry spot with good air circulation. When you arrange the bulb packages for distribution at your event, it's best to keep them in a spot separate from place settings even though they are clean and safe.
