25 Bulbs to Plant in Spring for Summer and Fall Blooms

Create an oasis of color, form and fragrance with these spring-planted bulbs that bloom in summer and fall.

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Updated on February 22, 2023

By: Hannah Ross and Lynn Coulter

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Plant Spring Bulbs for Showy Flowers Into the Fall

While autumn-planted daffodils and tulips leap to mind at the mention of bulbs, there are a host of bulbs to plant in spring for spring, summer and fall beauty. These opulent flowers and ornamental foliages help fill gaps in the garden when other plants might fade. Explore selections of bulbs to plant in spring and get tips for growing these unique spring-planted bulbs for bold impact, such as Dahlia 'Maarten Zwaan' (shown here) and other choices for sun or shade.

Once you’ve selected a planting site with the recommended sun exposure, work organic matter into the soil for drainage (this helps prevent wet, rotting bulbs). Incorporate an organic bulb fertilizer to boost soil health. Some bulbs do not require water at planting time but plants should be regularly watered once they're actively growing. Many spring-planted bulbs excel as container plants, too — although for canna lilies and other plants with large root systems, opt for dwarf varieties (unless you have a giant pot).

Ever-popular garden lilies Dutch irises could be added to this list, although whether to plant in fall or spring depends on your growing zone. In general, plant bulbs after all danger of frost has passed. Some will bloom heartily in their first season while others will grow more robust if they can perennialize. Enjoy a lush garden thanks to spring-planted bulbs.

Learn More: Tips for Planting Summer-Blooming Bulbs

Agapanthus

Also called lily of the Nile or African lily, agapanthus is a treasured ornamental. With a similar foliar form to amaryllis and a sparkling likeness to allium flower, lovers of either should seek agapanthus for its summer bloom time. Low-growing, lance-shaped foliage sends up 24 to 30-inch tall stems adorned by bursts of tiny bell-shaped blooms, from white to lavender blue. While you'll commonly find agapanthus grouped for sale with spring-planted bulbs, it technically grows from a bare-root start rather than a bulb; for practical purposes, handle it like a bulb.

Plant in sun to part shade at 12 inches apart and one inch deep, and enjoy blooms from June to July. Plants may take a couple of seasons to get established before blooming. Hardy in USDA Gardening Zones 8 to 10.

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Caladium

Every gardener needs a trusty plant that can lend color and light to shady spots. Caladium is an easy-growing tropical plant with heart-shaped leaves levitating atop graceful stems. With varieties ranging from classic white variegation to painterly splashes of pink, caladium has quick-growing ornamental value — no flowers necessary. Plant bulbs a foot apart at a depth of 1 inch in a full shade to part sun location; foliage height will reach 24 to 30 inches. Hardy to Zone 10; excellent container plant.

BUY ONLINE: Amazon, $18.33

Canna Lily

This tropical stunner makes a fantastic focal element for the summer garden. Reaching 6 to 8 feet tall, this specimen has stage presence with its punchbowl spikes of bright blooms and broad, lime-green leaves. For those who love the look but not the size, dwarf varieties are available.

Plant canna lilies 18 to 24 inches apart and 12 inches deep in full sun. Cut spent blooms back to the second or third leaf from the ground through the summer to maintain a manageable size. Spreading quickly by rhizomes, cannas are likely to flower in their first season. Hardy to Zones 7 to 10.

Explore fourth-generation family-run Horn Canna Farm for an impressive selection. Pictured are Tropicanna canna (striped leaves and orange blooms), Tropicanna Gold (green and yellow striped leaves and yellow and orange flowers) and Tropicanna Black (dark leaves and red blooms).

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Crinum Lily

Also called cape lily or swamp lily, crinum (Crinum 'Mexican Pink' shown here) are classic Southern bulbs, often passed as heirlooms between neighbors and across generations. With 15 to 20 fragrant trumpets on each hefty stem, crinum makes a delightful impact with little effort. Plant cape lily in full sun to part shade, with bulbs 24 inches apart and an inch deep. Crinum naturalizes eagerly, adapting to a range of soils from dry to boggy. Plant Delights Nursery has a delectable selection. Practice patience, as crinum likely will not bloom in its first season, but will pay off over time. Hardy in Zones 7 to 10.

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Crocosmia

Featuring sword-shaped leaves and fiery, tubular flowers, Crocosmia (Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora, also known as Montbretia) brings a bright spark to the summer garden. While this species originated in South Africa, it is cultivated worldwide for its orange to red, long-lasting flowers. Crocosmia bulbs should be planted in full sun, 3 to 4 inches apart and 2 inches deep; they bloom from June to July with impressive 2 to 3-foot tall flowers. Crocosmia takes a few seasons to get established before blooming vigorously for years to come. Notable varieties include Emily McKenzie, George Davidson, and Orange Lucifer. Hardy in Zones 7 to 10.

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Dahlia

With a luxurious rainbow of hues and forms, dahlias (Dahlia 'Karma Sangria' pictured) are a darling of the local flower movement. These stars of the late summer and early fall garden are grown from tubers and excel in well-drained, sunny locations. In hot Southern gardeners, dahlias perform best with afternoon shade. Regardless of the zone, dahlias benefit from deep mulch through summer, as well as the support of stakes and twine (or horizontal netting). Dahlias bloom eagerly in their first season and continue to perform if tubers are properly divided. Hardy in Zones 8 to 11 (although growers in Zone 7 may overwinter under mulch or row cover).

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Gladiolus

Gladiolus or “glads” are classic cottage flowers, often found persistently blooming around long-abandoned homesteads. Hybrid gladiolus are common for ornamental gardening and cut flower use, while species glads (like Gladiolus byzantinus) offer unique, subtle forms and slightly earlier blooms. Plant in full sun, 3 to 4 inches apart and 6 inches deep, and await the midsummer to early fall show (abundant even in their first season). Glads’ flowering spikes are found in a range of color, from pretty pastels to candy shop shades. Hardy in Zones 7 to 10. Pictured: Gladiolus 'Safari.'

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Pineapple Lily

Pineapple lily, or Eucomis autumnalis, is an easy-to-grow stunner. This exotic plant bears stems of flowers that open slowly from the bottom up, and they’re crowned with lime-green leaves that may remind you of pineapple crowns. Invite pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies with containers of this South African sun-lover, which is hardy in Zones 7 to 10.

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Rain Lily

Also known as zephyr or fairy lily, the rain lily is an enchanting addition to summer gardens. The foliage is grassy in shape, offering up a profusion of angelic, open-faced flowers. Rain lilies were brought to North America in the 1800s from Central America, and they relish hot summers. White rain lilies are hardy to Zones 7 to 10, but the pink are hardy only to Zones 8 to 10. Still, northerly growers can successfully tend zephyr lilies in pots, moving them indoors when temperatures drop below 50. Plant bulbs are 1 to 2 inches deep and 3 to 4 inches apart. Old House Gardens recommends planting the tiny bulbs as soon as possible after you receive them.

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Tuberose

Not even the priciest perfume can rival the alluring charm of tuberose’s honeyed scent. This late summer bloomer is native to Mexico. Its aroma beckons not only gardeners and florists, but also bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Plant tuberose bulbs an inch deep and 6 inches apart in a sunny to lightly shaded space, and enjoy 36-inch tall blooms in August and September. While the flowers are most commonly white, dreamy cultivars can also be found in yellow, blush and lavender. Hardy in Zones 8 to 10 (may overwinter in Zone 7, but performs better when lifted and replanted in spring).

BUY ONLINE: Burpee, $9.95

Anemone

While some anemones bloom in spring, fall anemones, also called autumn windflowers, start blooming in late summer and continue until frost. Soak these small, easy-to-grow bulbs (Anemone spp. and cvs.) in lukewarm water for no more than 4 hours before planting. Place them 3 inches deep and 4 to 6 inches apart in the garden after the last spring frost. In containers, plant them 2 inches deep and 4 inches apart. (Be sure your container is big enough; varieties range from 6 inches to 4 feet tall.) Fall anemones usually need one growing season to get established and bear lots of blooms. Most are hardy in Zones 4 to 7. They need a period of cold and dormancy, so gardeners don't usually bring container-planted windflowers inside to overwinter.

See More: Colorful, Easy-Care Anemones

Amaryllis

Florist amaryllis (Hippeastrum) like 'Ice Queen' (shown here) are potted bulbs that have been forced into bloom, but you can plant your own. These bulbs like a snug fit, so use pots one or two inches wider in diameter than the bulbs themselves. Cover them with potting soil, leaving the top one-third of the bulbs uncovered. Keep them in a cool spot until the flowers open. When they fade, enjoy the foliage as a houseplant. After the weather’s reliably warm, you can move your plants outside, but don’t be disappointed if they don’t rebloom. Hardy in Zones 9 to 11.

Florist amaryllises are sometimes confused with Amaryllis belladonna, commonly called Naked Ladies. These bulbs can be planted in the spring, in gardens or containers, at the depth indicated on their labels. Leave the bulb tips exposed. The plants will reach 24 to 36 inches tall. After the leaves die, trumpet-shaped flowers appear on bare (naked) stalks from late summer to early fall. Hardy in Zones 7 to 10.

Learn More: How to Grow and Care For Amaryllis

Calla Lily

White calla lilies are classic wedding flowers but they're also available with yellow, pink, orange, rose, dark red and lavender blooms. Plant the bulbs any time of year in Zones 8 to 10. In other zones, plant them after the last spring frost and when the soil has warmed up to 60 to 65 degrees. Place the bulbs 4 inches deep with the growing tips facing up and they'll bloom from early to late summer. Shown here: 'Be My Main Squeeze,' a citrus-orange calla lily that grows 18 inches to 2 feet high. It's hardy in Zones 8 to 12. Callas also make lovely houseplants.

Learn More: How to Grow Calla Lily Flowers

Elephant Ears

Add drama to your garden or containers with tropical elephant ears (Colocasia esculenta). Wait until all danger of frost has passed in spring and the soil is about 65 degrees before planting them outside. If you prefer, start them indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost. Check the light requirements for your variety; some take full sun while others need partial shade or filtered sunlight. Plant the bulbs, pointy ends up, in 5-inch deep holes. The tops should be about an inch below the soil. Elephant ears can be grown as annuals in Zones 3 to 8 or dug and stored indoors over the winter. Most are hardy in Zones 9 to 11. This Royal Hawaiian 'Maui Gold' elephant’s ear is hardy in Zones 8 to 11 and reaches 24 to 40 inches tall. Other elephant ears range from 1 to 8 feet tall.

Note that both alocasia and colocasia are commonly called elephant ears, and while the plants are similar, they're not the same.

Yellow Foxtail Lily

Also known as desert candles, yellow foxtail lilies (Eremurus stenophyllus) send up dramatic spikes of flowers from late spring to early summer. These bulbs don’t like to be moved, so grow them in the garden instead of in containers. Plant them 5 inches deep and space them 8 to 10 inches apart after all chance of frost has passed and the ground has warmed up to about 55 degrees. They're winter hardy in Zones 5 to 8 but usually need to be well-mulched to survive in Zones 5 to 6. (Remove the mulch in early spring). The plants range from 72 to 96 inches tall.

Chocolate Cosmos

Most cosmos are annuals grown from seeds, but chocolate cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus) is a tender perennial that grows from tubers you can handle like bulbs. Its chocolatey scent and dark purple blooms attract butterflies. Start the tubers indoors several weeks before the last spring frost or directly in the garden after all risk of frost has passed. Dig and store them in a frost-free place if your winters are cold or, if they’re in containers, bring them inside to overwinter. Watch for the flowers to open in midsummer to late summer on plants that grow 16 to 24 inches high. Hardy in Zones 7 to 11.

Learn More: How to Plant, Grow and Care for Cosmos Flowers

Stargazer Lily

'Stargazer' lilies (Lilium orientalis 'Stargazer') should be planted 6 to 8 inches deep outdoors in fall or early spring. Their gorgeous pink and white blooms open in summer on plants that mature at 4 feet tall. A new hybrid, 'Golden Stargazer' has yellow blooms with red speckles. If you grow these bulbs indoors, use pots that are at least 6 inches in diameter. They need bright, indirect light and night temperatures no lower than 60 degrees. If they’re forced into bloom, they probably won’t bloom again. Hardy in Zones 4 to 9.

Learn More: How to Grow Stargazer Lilies

Allium

Eye-catching alliums are easy-to-grow and send up globes of tiny flowers on thin stems. While they're best planted in the fall so they get a period of winter chill, you can plant them in spring. Just be aware that they may not flower as well since they'll have less time to establish roots. They'll catch up in later years and bloom from late spring to early summer. Alliums can also thrive in containers. Give them loose, well-draining soil and place them at the depth indicated on their tags or labels. (Large bulbs need to be planted deeper than small ones.) The leaves will emerge before the flowers, which are available in yellow, blue, purple or white. Alliums range from 5 inches to 4 feet tall and most are hardy in Zones 4 to 8.

Mexican Shellflower

You might hear Mexican Shellflower (Tigridia pavonia) called tiger flower, jockey's cap lily or peacock flower. These small bulbs can be planted in spring for splashy midsummer- to late-summer flowers. The blooms have three colorful petals around a center cup of smaller spotted or freckled flowers. Look for them in shades of pink, red, orange, yellow, magenta or white. Flowers close in the early evening, so each bloom lasts just one day. Hardy in Zones 8 to 10, the bulbs should be dug and stored in the fall or treated as annuals. Left outside, they’ll die when the temperatures drop below 10 degrees. The plants reach 12 to 18 inches tall and can be grown in containers.

Peacock Orchid

Gladiolus acidanthera, or peacock orchid, isn’t really an orchid. It's related to irises and gladioluses and should be planted in spring for midsummer- to late-summer blooms. Plant the bulbs 3 to 5 inches deep in the garden. To overwinter them, dig them up after the leaves turn yellow and before the first fall freeze. Brush off any soil, let them dry and store them in peat moss in a box with good air circulation. Keep them at about 50 degrees until you’re ready to replant them outside. If you prefer, pot them up, keep them in a sunny window and move them back outside in warm weather. The plants grow 18 to 24 inches tall. Hardy in Zones 4 to 9.

Gloriosa Lily

Exotic gloriosa lilies (Gloriosa) are deciduous, climbing vines that flower from midsummer to frost. You may hear them called fire lilies. Plant the tubers after all danger of frost has passed or start them indoors and move them outside when the weather is reliably warm. Carefully lower the fragile tubers horizontally into 2- to 4-inch deep holes. Give them supports with thin wires to climb and they can grow to 5 to 6 feet tall. Gloriosas can be treated like annuals or dug up before the first frost and stored indoors in a cool location. Some gardeners grow them in containers so they don’t have to worry about damaging the vines, which are also fragile, when they bring them in. Hardy in Zones 8 to 10. Pictured here: Gloriosa rothschildiana.

Chinese Ground Orchid

Also known as Chinese summer ground orchid, hyacinth orchid or urn orchid, Bletilla striata is an easy-to-grow terrestrial orchid. 'Pink', shown here, has pinkish or purplish-lavender flowers that open from late spring to summer and resemble the blooms of cattleya orchids. Grow the bulbs in containers or plant them outside in the spring, placing them 2 to 3 inches deep and 4 inches apart. Mature plants reach 1 to 2 feet high. Hardy in Zones 5 to 9, insulate the bulbs with a layer of mulch in Zone 5. You can also pot up the bulbs and bring them in for the winter.

Ranunculus

Sometimes called Persian buttercups, ranunculus are cool-season flowers you can plant in spring for late-summer blooms. Plant them in the garden with their "claws" facing down after the last spring freeze, placing them 2 to 3 inches deep and 6 to 8 inches apart. For a head start, plant the bulbs indoors in containers about 12 weeks before your average last frost date. Place them 2 inches deep and 3 to 4 inches apart. When the leaves turn yellow and die, remove the foliage, stop watering and let the bulbs go dormant. Ranunculuses mature at 8 to 18 inches tall and are hardy in zones 8 to 11. In colder climates, gardeners often treat them like annuals. This ranunculus is 'Tecolote Gold'.

Learn More: Growing Ranunculus

Freesia

Sweetly scented freesias belong to the iris family. They grow best when temperatures are around 55 to 60 degrees; the flowers stop when the mercury rises above 70 degrees. Plant freesias in the fall if you're in Zones 9 or 10, where they are winter hardy. In Zones 3 to 8, plant them in the garden in spring for late summer blooms, placing them one inch deep with the pointed ends up. Treat freesias like annuals when the temperatures drop or dig them up before the first frost, let them dry and store them in sand or peat moss in a cool, dark, dry location. Freesias can grow 12 to 24 inches tall. Look for them with single or double blooms in a variety of colors.

Begonias

In late spring or very early summer, when the soil is reliably warm, tuck begonia tubers into your garden or containers. Place them hollow side up and cover them with about an inch of soil and they'll bloom throughout the summer. For a head start on the flowers, grow the tubers indoors in pots 8 weeks before the date of your average last frost. These cold-sensitive plants can survive outdoors only in frost-free areas of Zones 9 and 10. In other zones, enjoy them as annuals or pot them up to bring indoors before frost. You can also dig up the tubers, brush off the soil, store them in a cool, dry, dark place and replant them when the ground warms up again. Shown here: 'Angelique' fragrant begonia.

Learn More: Begonias: How to Plant, Grow and Care for Begonias

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25 Bulbs to Plant in Spring for Summer and Fall Blooms

Related To:

Shop This Look

Plant Spring Bulbs for Showy Flowers Into the Fall

Agapanthus

Caladium

Canna Lily

Crinum Lily

Crocosmia

Dahlia

Gladiolus

Pineapple Lily

Rain Lily

Tuberose

Anemone

Amaryllis

Calla Lily

Elephant Ears

Yellow Foxtail Lily

Chocolate Cosmos

Stargazer Lily

Allium

Mexican Shellflower

Peacock Orchid

Gloriosa Lily

Chinese Ground Orchid

Ranunculus

Freesia

Begonias

Fall-Blooming Bulbs

Spring Bulbs to Plant This Fall 13 Photos

Tips for Planting Summer-Blooming Bulbs