LANDSCAPING WITH SPRING BULBS: BLOOM TIME
Spend time planning before planting bulbs in your landscape. Sketch the plan on graph paper
before purchasing bulbs. This advance planning will assure that the proper number of
bulbs are purchased. Since the foliage of spring
blooming bulbs dies by early summer, this plan will provide a record of where the bulbs are
planted in case annuals or perennials
are mixed in later. As you develop this plan, keep in mind that bulbs bloom at different times. Some spring bulbs have overlapping bloom periods, but they still maintain the order in which they bloom. Spring bulbs will bloom from early February to mid June. Summer bulbs will bloom from early summer to fall.
The following is a general idea of various flower's bloom sequences: These bloom cycles are for general reference. The following sequence depends a great deal on the weather in your area as well as the variety of bulbs you plant. To see a sample of the bulbs that grow during each bloom cycle use our filters on the web site to sort by bloom time.
You likely know which bulbs are planted in fall, and which to plant in spring. But by doing a bit of bloom-time planning, you'll achieve a nonstop display of colour from early spring through summer - just by using easy-to-care-for bulbs!
Very Early Spring Blooms:
Early Spring Bulbs like Snowdrops:
Snowdrops, or Galanthus, are often the first spring flowers to appear in season - and they're a great choice for areas that stay cool a bit later in the year. These short-statured plants with small white blooms are incredibly hardy, and most early spring bulbs will flower before the last day of winter!Snow crocus:
The early-blooming varieties within the Crocus genus produce small flowers, with a longer blooming season, than giant crocuses. They'll start blooming in late winter, and can flower in colours of pink, purple, yellow, white, or even blue, depending on variety.Winter aconite:
Imagine a golden floral carpet replacing your winter snow cover! That's very nearly what you'll get from these yellow, early blooming flowers. Winter aconite offers great coverage for bare flowerbeds in early spring. The leaves are very attractive as well!Early snow glories:
Glory-of-the-snow, or Chionodoxa, are another "northern" plant that can actually perform well in both northern and temperate climates. These fabulous blue star-shaped flowers are among the earliest spring flowers you'll see each year. They're also great for naturalizing in yards or flower beds!Dwarf iris mixture:
Some varieties of Dutch irises bloom extra early - usually low-growing dwarf irises! Try a mixture of dwarf irises, such as this one from Breck's. They'll grow year after year and offer early-spring ground cover well before the larger bearded iris bloom.
Early Spring Blooms:
Grecian Windflower:
Grecian windflowers, a daisy-shaped species of anemone, bloom in shades of pink, blue, violet and white in early spring. These perennials make a nice, low-growing groundcover.Giant crocus:
Just like smaller species of crocuses, giant crocus are great for naturalizing. Plant a drift of giant Dutch crocuses of a single colour, or mix colours for a more natural effect. Their larger flowers (usually 4" to 6" in height) provide a lovely, low-growing pop of brightness.Trumpet daffodils:
Trumpet daffodils are the classic daffodils, with cups longer than their petals. They feature a single flower per stem and are very hardy - and bloom soon after the snow melts!Hyacinths:
Jewel-toned hyacinths are early blooming flowers that grow in dense spikes and are among the brightest colours you'll see in early spring. They're often associated with Easter celebrations, and some gardeners "force" the bulbs to bloom in indoor pots for spring decor.Early tulips:
Dwarf tulips, such as the Wild Blue Heart tulip, are low-growing species that provide perfect early spring blooms! Emperor tulips, or Fosteriana tulips, also bloom early in the season. Fosteriana varieties feature large-brightly-coloured cups on stocky stems.
Mid Spring Blooms:
Tulips:
Tulip bloom time typically falls around mid-spring. Mid-season-blooming tulips include jumbo varieties, classic apeldoorn tulips Triumph and Darwin tulips. Many of these tulips make up the traditional Dutch tulip fields, and are great for planting in large, multicoloured drifts. Darwin and Triumph tulips are hybrids bred for exceptionally long bloom times - they may last for a month or longer!Daffodils:
Daffodil bloom times are typically in mid-spring for most variants, including; giant, large-cupped, and small-cupped daffodils. Large-cupped daffodil cultivars feature a cup longer than one-third the length of their petals, but not as long as a trumpet daffodil's. Small-cupped daffodils have (you guessed it!) smaller coronas.Blue grape hyacinths:
Blue Muscari spring bulbs bloom a bit later, and a bit longer, than standard grape hyacinths. The unique colour of blue grape hyacinths really stands out among other mid-spring flowers, and their low habit - growing 6" to 8" - means they pair well with taller flowers.
Late Spring Blooms:
Late season tulips:
Some tulips bloom towards the end of Spring. Late-blooming tulips include some of the fanciest and frilliest flowers: ruffled parrot tulips, peony-flowering double tulips, and some late Triumph varieties. The bright colours of these unusual late spring flowers will put you in the mood for summer.English Bluebells:
English Bluebells bring a magical, fairy forest feeling to your garden. These low-growing blue flowers work well in shade, and they naturalize very quickly. Perfect for a cottage garden!English wood hyacinth:
Sometimes called Spanish bluebells, these plants produce spouts of dangling, bell-shaped flowers. Plant in patches or along the back of a bed to add a bit of mid-height interest. They're very deer-resistant, too!Golden Bells daffodils:
A unique species of daffodil with large golden cups, the Golden Bells daffodil will add plenty of spring colour to your walkway or rock garden. These daffs have a low-growing habit, and perform wonderfully as a carpet or ground cover.Asiatic lilies:
Asiatic lilies are the earliest bloomers of the lilium family, and the easiest to care for! Several types of asiatics - from single-bloom standards to short and spunky border lilies to multicoloured tango lilies - are available to bring your spring garden into bloom.Dutch Iris:
Among the most popular perennials in the late-spring set, bearded Dutch irises grow in a vast variety of colours - and it seems new varieties become available every season! Dutch irises grow from rhizomes, and come back year after year. They're a great "stand alone" planting, or can be mixed with other tall flowers for a garden with heightened style.Alliums:
Another high-rising late-spring bloom, alliums feature a single star-shaped or "pom-pom" bloom per stem. These whimsical spring flowers can be a bit tough to find at big-box stores, but they're worth ordering online or by mail!Hardy gladiolus:
The corms, or roots, of hardy glads are a bit less tender than those of traditional gladiolus plants - so, they can be planted in fall in zones 5 and warmer. Glads grow large spikes of big, brilliant flowers, and hardy glads are so easy to grow!Mountain bells:
Mountain bells are actually a low-growing allium variety. Perfect for borders or rock gardens, these short plants sprout hundreds of yellow, white and purple flowers every spring. Just like tall alliums, mountain bells are very resistant to deer and other animals!Anemone:
It's hard to resist the cute, stocky spring flowers of Ranunculaceae, or anemone plants. They're quite hardy and can be planted in fall. In spring, you'll see prolific blooms in shades of red, blue, violet or white. Some anemone varieties look similar to poppies - making them perfect for the poppy-loving gardener who wants a carefree plant! Others have small, daisy-like flowers. Anemones are sometimes called windflowers.Japanese iris:
Beardless irises bloom alongside their bearded cousins in late spring. Iris ensata, or Japanese iris, along with Louisiana and Siberian iris species, are low to the ground, and feature fluid-looking, butterfly-shaped petals. These relaxed flowers add a touch of elegance to any bed or planting.Lavender mountain lilies:
Lavender mountain lilies, ixiolirion tataricum, provide a mass of fragrant violet-blue flowers. Plant these in fall for a shot of lavender colour in spring! Lavender mountain lilies perform well in bunches, whether planted in a bed, rock garden or border.Daylilies:
Daylilies bloom at the same time as Dutch irises - and just like irises, there are hundreds of cultivars in dozens of colours, shapes and textures! You'll find daylilies (Hemerocallis) in shades ranging from classic red to pastel pink to neon green. Look for candy-coloured daylilies with beautifully-hued centers or piped edges. Try short dwarf daylilies, or big and bold double-flowering varieties. Many daylilies are the "reblooming" sort, meaning that you'll get a second round of flowers later in the season.Oriental Lilies:
These fragrant lilies bloom near summertime, and include such classic flowers as tiger lilies, stargazers and, of course, the standard white Oriental lily. Try staggering Oriental lilies with earlier-blooming Asiatic lilies for a nonstop show running from late spring through early summer!Gladiolus:
lads bloom just at that point of late spring when the weather turns tropical. These big and beautiful flower spikes work well when arranged in a variety of colours - bright Glamini glads have become particularly popular.