Spring Bulb Show
The Caley holds an annual Spring Bulb Show at Saughton Park in Edinburgh. This is a fun event that is open to all, with a variety of categories to enter. So, if you are an experienced exhibitor, are just starting out in your competition career or simply want to look at some beautiful blooms, join us for an interesting weekend.
The Caley is keen to encourage growers of all ages and the Caley Young Gardeners Schedule is attached.
Dates for the 2026 Caley Spring Bulb Show are 4th & 5th of April.
If you have any questions about the Spring Bulb Show , please contact us at springshow@rchs.co.uk.
Spring Bulb Show 2026 Schedule
Spring Bulb Show 2026 Entry Form
Caley Young Gardeners Schedule 2026
About the show
The Caley Spring Bulb Show is a fun event that is open to all, from the novice to the more experienced grower, with a range of categories to enter. Whilst daffodils do feature prominently, there are opportunities to enter with other spring bulbs, including tulips, hyacinths and fritillaria. Don’t worry if you have never shown before, we are always happy to help, and it is great fun!
We are keen to encourage young gardeners to enter the show and have a variety of classes that they can enter.
The Caley is fortunate to have the support of specialist daffodil growers Quality Daffodils (R A Scamp) in Cornwall who also sponsor a special class in the schedule for Caley members.
Members of the Caley can help support the show in different ways. If you don’t want to enter the show, why not visit the show or spend a couple of hours volunteering?
Suppliers
The following website links are suppliers of daffodils and other spring bulbs:
- Esker Farm Daffodils
- Scamps – Quality Daffodils
- bulbs.co.uk
- Croft 16 (for historical varieties)
- Pottertons Bulbs
- Avon Bulbs
Daffodil Society Miniature list
The Daffodil Society has decided to stop issuing an approved list of miniatures and is relying on judges to ensure cultivars exhibited are listed as miniatures in the RHS 2008 register and any subsequent supplements and do not exceed 50mm.
The attached list of approved miniatures is a useful guide and can be downloaded below.
Daffodils are divided in groups – divisions
Choosing your bulbs
Daffodils are grouped as Early, Mid or Late flowering (or a combination such as Mid to Late). For the Caley show aim for Mid-season flowering bulbs, as our show is on the first weekend in April. But it isn’t impossible to grow and show early to mid varieties or mid to late varieties for the Caley show. A lot depends on the winter and early spring weather.
Common examples of early to mid varieties in garden centres would be King Alfred, Fortune, Jetfire, Tete-a-Tete and Ice Follies.
Examples of mid season might be Camelot, Rosemoor Gold; Pencrebar and Minnow.
Planting your bulbs
Keep the bulbs dry and cool in an airy place until you are ready to plant.
Aim for mid September to mid October for daffodils although tulips can be planted a little later October- November. The Caley bulb workshop takes place on the first weekend in October and participants can, if they wish plunge their pots at Saughton in the sand bed to over winter.
Whether planting in pots or in the garden, bulbs need good drainage. When planting in pots, the bulbs should be just below the surface. If you don’t have access to a plunge you can still grow bulbs n pots, just keep the pots in a sheltered shady spot and be careful not to allow the pots to dry out.
Follow the Caley blog and Instagram followers for help throughout the process
Jim Davidson trophy
The Caley Spring Bulb Show forms part of the Jim Davidson Trophy. This competition commemorates the late Jim Davidson from Banff. Its aim is to encourage people to grow daffodils from Divisions 1-4 and show them in as many of the five participating Scottish Shows as they can.
2025 dates for the shows that participate in the Jim Davidson Trophy:
- Royal Horticultural Society Aberdeen: 28th and 29th March (Duthie Park)
- The Caley (Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society) 4th & 5th April (Saughton)
- Dundee Daffodil Group: 11th and 12th April (Boomerang Centre, Kemback Street)
- Keith Horticultural Society 18th April (Longmore Hall)
- Banff Horticultural Association 25th & 26th April (B-B Hall Seafield Street)
All these shows have open categories, for both novice and more regular growers. They love to see new faces visiting or entering, so dont be shy.
Whilst winner of the trophy is calculated by adding points from all five sites – managing all 5 is a tough call even for the more experience grower because we all live in different locations. So do not hesitate if you think you might want to enter just one of the shows – you will be very welcome. BUT remember you will need to stage the day before the dates of the actual show.
If you would like to know more about the Jim Davidson Trophy, please contact springshow@rchs.co.uk
Note: links to other schedules added as and when available
