Bulbs for dry shade

I'm looking to plant bulbs in the front of my house. The soil is dry, but can be ammended. The bed is against the house facing west and receives shade to dappled light during the summer from the maple tree. Are there bulbs for this? I'm partial to blue/purple. Zone 5b. Thanks.

hi, sarahn,

John Scheepers catalog publishes a list of bulbs for shade: http://www.johnscheepers.com/tips_d.html

Allium triquetrum
Anemone blanda
Anemone nemorosa Robinsoniana
Chionodoxa gigantea
Corydalis solida
Eranthis hyemalis
Erythronium pagoda
Fritillaria assyriaca
Fritillaria pontica
Galanthus
Geranium tuberosum
Hyacinthoides
Leucojum aestivum
Ornithogalum nutans Silver Bells
Puschkinia libanotica
Scilla

most of which will do well in the spot you describe.

And Scheepers also mentions that 'pink' daffodils often show their best coloring in shaded plantings...

You can always experiment and see what 'takes' to your location. t.

Thanks tabasco. Wow that's way more than I expected! I'm starting to research now for fall bulbs and maybe plant some blooming ones.

If you are into blues and purples, some of these hyacinthoides/scilla/bluebell types might work, although they are on the 'casual side' (not so formal like regular hyacinths) and some of them are smallish. Some are known to 'naturalize' quite nicely in the right setting: I think you would want to give them a layer of protective mulch in the winter.

http://www.johnscheepers.com/catview.cgi?_fn=Product&_category=Scilla

These might bloom for you with late pink daffodils (like Pink Charm or Salome) or the white daffodil called 'Stainless'~~try h. hispanica with 'Stainless'. (Or ltry ate tulips and these will probably have to be replanted every autumn) or maybe azaleas (if you can grown them in your zone).

Specifically Scilla 'campanulata' is a companion plant for: Anemone pulsatilla, Anemone sylvestris, Aquilegia, Chaenomeles japonica, Dicentra, ferns, Forsythia, Helleborus orientalis, Hosta, Jasminum nudiflorum, Myosotis, Phlox divaricata, Phlox stolonifera, Primula, Rhododendron spp. (deciduous and evergreen), Cotoneaster, Berberis, Acer palmatum, Deutzia gracilis, Weigela. S. companulata is reported hardy in zone 3/4 with mulch in winter.

More info here on campanulata hyacinthoides: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/bulbs-perennial/Scillca.htm

Good luck!

Asiatic lilys would do really well in that spot too! Would be nice summer bloomers

Thanks for the suggestions. I can start narrowing down my choices.

From the initial list tobasco gave, these would do best, IMO:
Corydalis solida
most any Fritillaria except F. camschatensis
Most any Scilla species

Thanks Leftwood. I'm getting ready to purchase, so I'm going to bring my list with me.