Pest-Resistant Bulbs

Garden pests such as deer and squirrels are a real problem in many areas of the country. Despite centuries of land development, the deer population in the U.S. is far greater now than when the Pilgrims landed. For gardeners in areas where such pests are voracious, the big question is: what won't those animals eat?

Some of the most popular bulbs, such as tulips and crocuses, are considered treats by animal pests. Others, such as daffodils and alliums, are generally shunned because of their bitter taste. Of course, if deer are truly starving, they'll eat just about anything, including the bark off trees. But planting bulbs that pests don't prefer will greatly improve a garden's overall survivability in problem areas.

The following list, supplied by the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center in New York City, includes bulbs that squirrels and deer apparently don't find tasty. All are ranked high on beauty and low on pest-appeal:

• Ornamental onion (Allium). Bloom late spring to early summer. Hardy in USDA Zones 4-8, depending on variety.

• Camassia. Bloom late spring. Zones 4-8.

• Glory of the snow (Chionodoxa). Bloom late winter, early spring. Zones 4-8.

• Colchicum. Bloom late summer and fall. Hardy in USDA Zones 4-8, depending on variety.

• Crocus tommasinianus. Bloom late winter, early spring. Zones 4-8.

• Winter aconite (Eranthis). Bloom late winter, early spring. Zones 4-7.

• Fritillaria. Bloom mid to late spring, depending on variety. Zones 4-8.

• Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis). Bloom late winter, early spring. Zones 4-8.

• Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanic). Bloom late spring. Zones 4-10.

• Hyacinth (Hyacinthus). Bloom mid-spring. Zones 4-8.

• Ipheion. Blooms early- to late-spring, depending on variety. Zones 4-9.

• Snowflake (Leucojum). Bloom mid- to late-spring. Zones 4-8. There is also a fall-blooming Leucojum autumnale, Zones 5-9.

• Graph hyacinth (Muscari). Blooms mid- to late-spring, depending upon variety. Zones 4-9.

• Daffodil (Narcissus). Blooms early- to late-spring, depending upon variety. Hardy in USDA Zones 4-11, depending upon variety.

• Ornithogalum. Blooms early to mid-spring. Zones 5-8.

• Oxalis. Blooms mid-spring to fall, depending on variety. Hardy in USDA Zones 7-10, depending on variety.

• Scilla. Blooms early spring, to early summer, depending upon variety. Hardy in USDA Zones 4-10, depending upon variety.