The 12 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.

We'll get to specifics in a second, but first, there are a few things you should know. 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 plants with enlarged stems that store nutrients, so they can reproduce and come back next year, according to the gardening pros at American Meadows. 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.