This spring, a groundbreaking display at Keukenhof introduces an innovative blend of bulbs and flowering perennials, providing inspiration for gardeners looking to enhance their spring garden.
Located near Amsterdam, the renowned Keukenhof botanical gardens is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Thanks to a partnership between Dutch bulb suppliers JUB Holland and Rijnbeek Perennials, visitors will experience the first-ever mixed meadow of bulbs and perennials.
Every year, Keukenhof showcases seven million spring bulbs over eight weeks, highlighting the Dutch floricultural industry. While tulips remain a major attraction, an array of other bulbs like daffodils and hyacinths will also be featured.
JUB Holland has been a staple at Keukenhof since its inception, offering unique bulb mixtures. Since 2019, they have crafted distinctive color combinations for the annual exhibition.
This year, they collaborated with Rijnbeek Perennials to create a 235 square meter mixed flowering area that integrates perennials with bulbs to extend the blooming period. Historically, it's been challenging to include many perennials due to their limited flowering season beginning in March.
"Our goal is to demonstrate the effectiveness of combining perennials and bulbs. Once the bulbs fade, the perennials take over, ensuring a longer-lasting spring display," explains Robbert Uittenbogaard, Director at JUB Holland. "We're also focusing on varieties that will return year after year," he adds.
A Combination for Extended Blooms and Biodiversity
The collaborative display will feature naturalizing bulbs like various tulips, crocus, and scilla, along with early-blooming perennials such as hellebores and violets.
"My designs for JUB emphasize naturalistic floral displays with a wide variety of species—sometimes over 40," shares Carien van Boxtel, the landscape designer working on the Keukenhof project. "The planting method involves layering, starting with larger bulbs at the bottom and adding smaller ones on top," she explains.
This mixed meadow exemplifies how to pair bulbs and perennials for a stunning display of spring color while promoting biodiversity, providing abundant blooms for pollinators.
"A variety of flowers is vital not just for visual appeal but also for ecological health. Early spring blooms offer pollen and nectar for bees when foraging options are scarce," Carien notes.
Keukenhof opens its gates from March 21 to May 12, expecting to welcome 1.5 million visitors during the season.
Carien van Boxtel is a garden designer with a degree in Garden and Landscape Architecture from Hogeschool Van Hall/Larenstein in the Netherlands. She designs both private and public gardens and has collaborated with JUB Holland since 2017 to create stunning displays at Keukenhof.
