What are bulbs and corms?

Everyone is familiar with the basic and most popular bulbs like tulips and daffodils which are true bulbs, but corms are important and popular as well. Anemones, ranunculous, gladiolus and crocus are corms. A corm is defined as an swollen, underground stem that contains food stored for the plant.

The corm on the left is a ranunculous and it is planted with the points down, as the stems and blooms emerge from the top. On the right is crocus sativa showing roots beginning to emerge. The pointed top of this corm is planted up and it looks very much like a bulb.

Anemones are strange looking corms and vary between the single and double varieties. The slightly rough looking spot is planted up.

Iris and peonies are roots. They die back and the food is held in the roots for further bloom.