Good question. I have big groups of them, but I always transplant mine in the spring when I can see them, with the leaves of course sticking above the ground. I just went out and poked around gently where I know they are, and couldn't find any sign of them (I didn't go more than half an inch deep) but I know they have a root kind of like a carrot. I think I would spit the difference, and plant the crowns aboout an inch deep. You could try some at ground level and some deeper, see what happens. They are wildflowers, they may just pull themselves where they need to be.

So imagine what the bed will look like after the daffodils and tulips fade. It will probably look like a dark green sea and then it will turn brown. Many people plant annuals on top of their bulbs, but those only last a season. My plan this year was to plant Showy Primrose I wintersowed among the tulips so that it comes back every year and will leave something pretty growing when the tulips die back. Perennials for large areas: Yarrow-white, red, yellow, pink. Starts easily from seed or a few plant starts and it's a midplains native and grows well. Feathery foliage that's pretty and long-blooming. I have plant starts if you want some. Cushion Spurge. Some people like it, others don't. It's a plains native and it spreads quickly. It grows 12" high and blooms wonderful yellow blossoms. As the blossoms fade you have a green feathery foliage shorter than the yarrow. I have lots of plant starts if you want some. Daisies. As the tulips fade the Shasta/Becky Daisies come to life and bloom their little heads off. The white flowers dance in the breeze. If you deadhead they keep reblooming. Nice long bloom period. These grow stronger by the year. (You guessed it--I have some.) Phlox Subulata: Groundcover that blooms early spring. If you plant around your bulbs the bulbs come through it. Blooms purple, pink or white as a carpet of blooms. Rest of the year it's green and happy, very low to the ground. Low maintenance. I've only transplanted it, never done seeds. Yep, I have some. Columbine: Grow well from seed. It will take a couple years for them to gain some size, but you'll have beautiful blooms. I personally have trouble with Columbine. I think it's my soil. Mine get about 24" high, last about 3 years, and that's it. My aunt's got as big as a bush, but didn't make it through the 2014-15 winter. Sweet William grows well from seed. You'll have pink and white blossoms in mid spring. Gaillardia grows well from seeds. Bright orange and yellow blooms depending on which seed you get. Short-lived perennial so they are around a couple years before they disappear and you can keep planting more seed to keep the cycle going. Look at Craigslist or post on Craigslist for iris if you're interested. Many people have to divide roots of daylilies, iris or peonies and want someone to adopt their babies. They are usually unnamed, but if that doesn't bother you then you're in luck. They all come back like clockwork for years and years. This was probably too much information! Heidi

I would transplant in the fall. The roots might get damaged if they stayed in the pots all winter.

I did a Google search for Virginia bluebell roots and clicked the ‘images’ button and got this There are quite a few pictures there that look like yours (if the link doesn’t work, try to do your own Google image search...) ACK! The link didn't appear at all! Try a Google search....