14 Popular Flowering Bulbs—and When to Plant Them in Your Garden

As some of the very first plants to peek through the ground at the end of a long winter, flowering bulbs—planted in the fall—are viewed as a harbinger of spring. And spring-planted bulbs, which bloom during summer and fall, signal your landscape's transition into autumn.

Both types are worth adding to your own garden beds, but it's important to consider all of your options before creating a plan.

Flower garden with Tulip bulbs — jameslee999 / GETTY IMAGES

Fall-Planted Bulbs

Fall-planted bulbs are those that bring the first pops of color to your spring landscape, says Ryan McEnany, public relations and communications specialist for Bailey Nurseries. Early bloomers like snowdrops, crocus, daffodils, hyacinth, squill, and tulips are some of the most common fall-planted bulbs. "These are starts of the spring landscape because they bring color and texture to the garden before most other perennials and shrubs begin to leaf out or bloom, so it's a fabulous transition from the doldrums of winter into the lushness of spring and summer," he says.

Spring-Planted Bulbs

Bulbs planted in spring add color and texture to the summer and fall garden, working in concert with annuals, perennials, and shrubs moving in and out of their peak season, says McEnany. "I love using bulbs and tubers as the filler to really pull the entire landscape together," he says. "[They] pop up among the foliage of other plants or fill in a low gap in the planting plan, for a [more complete] and polished look." His favorite spring-planted bulbs include dahlias, lilies, gladiolus, calla lilies, and begonia.

Popular Flowering Bulbs

Bulb flowers planted in the fall and spring bring gorgeous color and texture to your garden throughout the season. Follow this guide to know when, where, and how to plant the most popular varieties of flowering bulbs.

Plant in Fall: Snowdrops

Snowdrops in garden — Â© Jackie Bale / GETTY IMAGES

The common snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis, is a fall-planted bulb that produces a flower with a delicate fragrance and snow-white petals in late winter and early spring, says Linda Langelo, Colorado State University horticulture specialist. Though the bulbs will spread, or naturalize, you'll want to start off with a mass to make an impact, she says.

Bulb spacing: 2 to 3 inches deep x 2 to 3 inches apart
Zone: 3 to 9
Growing conditions: Full sun to part shade, all soils

Find Your Gardening Zone

Plant in Fall: Daffodils

Daffodils in springtime — Peter Mulligan / GETTY IMAGES

Sunny yellow daffodils are one of the most iconic spring bloomers, and you have plenty of specific varieties to choose from, says Langelo. "Spring-flowering daffodils are classified into 14 divisions, from Trumpet to Miniature," she says. "There are many showy flowering daffodils to choose from in the trumpet, large cupped, and small classifications to beautify your garden."

Bulb spacing: "This depends on the bulb size," says Langelo, but she offers this general rule: "Plant to a depth 2 to 3 times the size of the bulb, which works out to be about 8 inches deep."
Zone: 3 to 9
Growing conditions: Full sun to partial shade; slightly acidic to neutral soil

Plant in Fall: Crocus

Beautiful crocus flowers — Katrin Ray Shumakov / GETTY IMAGES

Plant spring-blooming crocuses in the fall; choose from color palettes that include purple, yellow, lavender, cream, and white, says Langelo. "Dorothy is a yellow flowering, and Ard Schenk is a white, and Crocus sieberi Tricolor are wonderful options," she says. "Crocuses are one of the first to bloom in spring from February to March and make a great splash of early garden color or color in your lawn."

Bulb spacing: 3 inches deep x 3 to 4 inches apart
Zone: 3 to 8
Growing conditions: Full sun; gritty, well-drained, poor soil

Plant in Fall: Hyacinth

Hyacinths in blue, purple and pink — Sarsmis / GETTY IMAGES

The rich fragrance of hyacinths makes them a popular springtime hostess gift. "Hyacinthus orientalis cultivars come with single or multiple stems, single or double flowers, and are white to cream, pink, blue to purple, and densely to loosely packed," says Langelo. "Honeybees and bumblebees like the fragrant, single-flowered varieties."

Bulb spacing: 4 to 5 inches deep x 5 to 6 inches apart
Zone: 4 to 8
Growing conditions: Full to partial sun; well-drained, moderately fertile soil

Plant in Fall: Squill

Squill or Scilla flowers — Nadya So / GETTY IMAGES

Deer-resistant, pollinator favorite scilla sibirica blooms with small blue petals in spring. "If you are looking for a cut flower for spring, plant squill in the landscape," says Langelo. "Planting them in mass gives you two to three weeks of blue or white nodding blossoms."

Bulb spacing: 2 to 4 inches deep x 2 to 4 inches apart
Zone: 2 to 8
Growing conditions: Full sun to part shade; well-drained soil

Plant in Fall: Tulips

Tulips in garden — zorankrstic / GETTY IMAGES

With more than 3,000 varieties of tulips to choose from, there's a color that's perfect for your garden. "If you have hot, dry summers and cold winters, tulips are the perfect choice," says Langelo. You want the bulbs in the ground about six to eight weeks before the ground freezes. "In warmer climates, plant in December; in colder climates plant in September and October," says Langelo.

Bulb spacing: 6 to 8 inches deep x 4 to 6 inches apart
Zone: 3 to 7
Growing conditions: Full sun to part shade; well-drained soil

Plant in Fall: Allium

Allium flowers — Yuliya Shauerman / GETTY IMAGES

One of the most popular allium varieties, Allium giganteum, produces 6-inch globes of purple blooms in June. "These bulbs are native to dry habitats, making them great for the west and southwest United States because they can tolerate drought," she says. "One of the best bulbs for attracting the most pollinators from bees, butterflies, moths, and others."

Bulb spacing: 8 inches deep x 12 inches apart
Zone: 5 to 8
Growing conditions: Full sun; fertile, well-drained soil

Plant in Fall: Bluebells

Bluebells, a transplant from western Europe, are popular, pollinator-friendly plants now endangered in their native habitat, says Langelo. "If you have a wooded landscape, then these bulbs will do well and make a great show with their stunning bluebell flowers," she says.

Bulb spacing: 12 inches deep x 12 inches apart
Zone: 4 to 9
Growing conditions: Dappled sunlight; well-drained, loamy soil

Plant in Spring: Dahlias

Perennial in zones 7 to 10 and annual in other parts of the country, fall-blooming dahlias offer vibrant color to your late-season landscape. "These are high maintenance but well worth it, blooming from mid-summer to fall," says Langelo. "There are an astounding 10 different classification of dahlias to choose from: single, anemone, collarette, waterlily, decorative, fall, pompon, cactus, semi-cactus and miscellaneous. They are a great cut flower."

Bulb spacing: 3 to 7 inches deep (depending on how tall the variety will grow) x 24 to 36 inches apart
Zone: 3 to 10
Growing conditions: Full sun; loose, fertile soil

Plant in Spring: Lilies

Lilies in the garden — igaguri_1 / GETTY IMAGES

Asiatic lilies, trumpet lilies, and Easter lilies are some of the most popular versions of this plant, which looks more delicate than it is. Look for a color, shape, and texture that complements your climate and other landscaping.

Bulb spacing: 6 inches deep x 6 to 8 inches apart
Zone: 4 to 9
Growing conditions: Full sun to light shade; well-drained soil

Plant in Spring: Gladiolus

Gladiolus flowers — Julia Klueva / GETTY IMAGES

Tall cylinders at the tops of gladiolus stalks show off multiple, outward-facing, trumpet-shaped blooms in vibrant shades of red, purple, and pink. Technically grown from corms, not bulbs, these flowers are classified into three main groups.

Bulb spacing: 4 to 6 inches deep x 5 to 6 inches apart
Zone: 7 to 10
Growing conditions: Full sun; well-drained, humus soil

Plant in Spring: Calla Lillies

Calla lilies — angeluisma / GETTY IMAGES

A favorite of wedding florists, the calla lily is a winter-hardy herbaceous perennial in zones 8 to 10, says Langelo. "Its common name, calla lily, comes from the Greek word 'kallos,' meaning 'beauty' or 'a thing of beauty,'" she says. "This can be an indoor flower in a potted plant in indirect light or out in the garden in a very moist location."

Bulb spacing: 3 to 4 inches deep x 6 inches apart
Zone: 8 to 10
Growing conditions: Full sun to part shade; moist soil

Plant in Spring: Begonia

Pink Begonias — oopoontongoo / GETTY IMAGES

Red, orange, pink, white, and yellow begonias are known for their overlapping petals and petite flowers. "These are popular annual plants for landscape borders or for growing indoors as a houseplant," says Langelo. "They are equally suited in hanging baskets, containers, or window boxes."

Bulb spacing: Plant shallowly in soil x 6 to 12 inches apart
Zone: 2 to 10
Growing conditions: Partial sun to partial shade; well-drained soil

Agapanthus

Agapanthus is often called Lily of the Nile, says Langelo, "but the genus name of agapanthus comes from the Greek word agape, meaning love, and anthos, meaning flower." Evergreen in zones 8 to 10, this flower thrives in the ground or in a container.

Bulb spacing: 2 inches deep x 12 inches apart
Zone: 8 to 10
Growing conditions: Full sun to part shade; moist soil

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Tell us why!