The Best Bulbs to Plant in the Spring, So Your Garden Looks Lush All Summer
Bulbs are an easy way to add color to your yard with little work from you. Dig a hole, and you’re pretty much set for pretty flowers with almost zero maintenance. Seriously. While you may have planted spring-blooming bulbs such as daffodils and tulips last fall, other bulbs can be planted in the spring for blooms later this season. So, it’s not too late to fill your garden with summer flowers.
As you’re shopping for bulbs, you’ll see other botanical terms that are similar, such as corms or tubers. These are other types of storage adaptations that allow plants to reproduce and come back next year. But don’t worry; bulbs, corms and tubers are all planted the same way, no matter what they’re called (though you should read the plant tag or description to know how deep to plant each type).
When planting, wait until all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up, which can be as late as May or early June in some parts of the country. And pay attention to your USDA Hardiness zone (find yours here). Some summer bulbs are considered “tender perennials,” which means they cannot survive freezing temperatures. For these, lift, or dig them up, before the ground freezes, and store indoors in a cool, dark place until the ground warms again next spring when you can replant them.
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Ready to get growing? Here are the best bulbs to plant in the spring:
1. Canna Lily
- How Much Sunlight It Needs: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight per day)
- Why We Love It: Dramatic foliage, exotic blooms in bright colors, tropical flair
2. Caladium
- How Much Sunlight It Needs: Part shade; morning sun OK
- Why We Love It: Heat lover, striking foliage
3. Anemone
- How Much Sunlight It Needs: Full sun
- Why We Love It: Exquisite blooms, attracts butterflies, deer resistant
4. Dahlia
- How much Sunlight It Needs: Full sun
- Why We Love It: Attracts pollinators, hundreds of sizes, colors, and varieties
5. Crocosmia
- How Much Sunlight It Needs: Full sun
- Why We Love It: Easy-to-grow, attracts pollinators, blooms from midsummer to fall
6. Daylily
- How Much Sunlight It Needs: Tolerates part shade but blooms better in full sun
- Why We Love It: Super-tough, low maintenance perennial
7. Elephant Ear
- How Much Sunlight It Needs: Part shade, though morning sun is OK
- Why We Love It: Dramatic foliage with tropical flair
8. Asiatic Lily
- How Much Sunlight It Needs: Full sun but will tolerate a little shade
- Why We Love It: Low-maintenance; cold-hardy to zone 3
9. Oriental Lily
- How Much Sunlight It Needs: Full sun
- Why We Love It: Strong fragrance, low maintenance, cold-hardy to zone 3
10. Begonia
- How Much Sunlight It Needs: Part sun to full shade
- Why We Love It: Easy-to-grow, long-lasting blooms from summer to frost
11. Peacock Orchid
- How Much Sunlight It Needs: Full sun
- Why We Love It: Late summer blooms, fragrant
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