There is a difference between naturalizingbulbs and perennializingbulbs—especially when talking about tulips. A naturalizingbulb will return year after year and multiplies, spreading out into the garden. Naturalizingvs. PerennializingBulbs For Spring Gardens. Perennial flower bulbs are wonderful and dependable, and bulbs that naturalize will eventually spread over a large area. Both are worth planting and enjoying. Tonya Barnett's avatar. “Perennialize” means the bulbs will behave like perennials, coming back year after year and multiplying under-ground. “Naturalize,” on the other hand, means the bulbs will also multiply by seed, with little or no care, and as a result they usually spread further and faster. Though most naturalizingbulbs are considered to be perennial, not all perennials are able to “naturalize.” Naturalization refers to a specific plant’s ability to spread throughout the growing space. While all naturalizingbulbs are perennial, not all perennialbulbsnaturalize. Perennializing means that the bulb will return for several years, whereas naturalizingbulbs not only return but also multiply and spread, giving gardens the enchanting appearance of a wildflower meadow. Perennial flower bulbs are wonderful and dependable, and bulbs that naturalize will eventually spread over a large area. Both are worth planting and enjoying. You’ve often heard that some bulbsperennialize, while others naturalize. Have you ever wondered about the difference between the two? PERENNIALIZER — A planted bulb that grows and blooms for at least three years in a row is considered a good perennializer. Naturalizing and perennializingbulbs are a good example. Species tulips are a good example of perennializers. These tulips tend to grow and flower for multiple years. The Darwin hybrids, Emperor and triumph tulips are hybrids that also perennialize. Perennializing. Perennialize means that bulbs are like perennial plants, returning year after year and increasing under ground.Planted to Impress. Differentiating naturalizing and perennializingbulbs is not important when you’re planting in containers or en masse for a temporary display. NaturalizingBulbsNaturalizing simply means that a bulb flowers again after the first year.All the food they need to flower is contained in the bulb. Naturalized and perennializedbulbs, however, need your help to get the food to recharge and regenerate for the next season’s bloom. If purchasing bulbs, choose tulips labeled "naturalizing" or "perennializing" if you are planting in the correct USDA zone for that variety. Some tulip growers choose to pull up bulbs, store them, chill them, and replant them for the next season. Examples of annual bulbs: are caladiums, and crinums. What Does It Mean When a Plant “Naturalizes” or “Perennializes”? When you have something perennialized in an outdoor garden, that means that it stays in its place and comes back annually for years. Spring bulbs: perennializevs. naturalize? Christine Yesko. Many gardeners treat these two terms as though they are synonymous. Although they are not quite the same, both will get better every year. Perennialize means that the bulb will grow and rebloom for several years.
