In the garden, spring is the time of renewal and growth. For months, trees and plants have been bare and dormant. Now, as the ground thaws, bulbs send up green shoots that welcome life. Even though winter has its own stark beauty, gardeners can’t wait for spring to come around and see all the bright colors outside.
Bulb flowers are some of the harbingers of spring, brightening gardens and landscapes with their cheerful blooms From classic tulips and daffodils to elegant alliums and rare species, there is a diverse array of bulbs to enliven the spring landscape Here is a visual guide to some of the most popular spring flowering bulbs.
Daffodils
Daffodils (Narcissus) are a classic sign of spring. Their trumpet-shaped blooms come in bright yellows, whites, and bicolors. There are more than 13,000 named varieties that vary in size, shape, and bloom time. Types range from small miniatures that are less than 6 inches tall to big doubles that are over 2 feet tall. Blooms can be single, double, cupped, or flat, but they all have the same corona and petals. Plant in drifts or mixed borders.
<img src=”https://www.almanac.com/sites/default/files/image_nodes/daffodil-flowers.jpeg” width=”300″>
Photo via Almanac.com
Tulips
People love tulips for their cup-shaped flowers and wide range of colors. They make gardens and landscapes look better in the spring. There are a lot of different kinds, from species tulips that bloom early to Darwin hybrids and fringed parrots. Single tulips feature a single row of petals. Double tulips have extra petals that make them look fuller. Grow in flower beds and borders.
<img src=”https://www.almanac.com/sites/default/files/image_nodes/types-of-tulips-holland.jpeg” width=”300″>
Photo via Almanac.com
Hyacinths
Hyacinths have dense, spiked flower clusters that bloom in the spring. They are very fragrant and great for forcing. The star-shaped florets pack a sweet scent. Popular colors include blue, pink, purple, yellow, white, and bicolors. Plant in beds, borders, and containers. Grow indoors for winter blooms.
<img src=”https://www.almanac.com/sites/default/files/image_nodes/hyacinth-flower-pink-closeup.jpg” width=”300″>
Photo via Almanac.com
Crocuses
Dainty crocuses are one of the earliest bulbs to bloom. The grass-like leaves emerge first, followed by goblet-shaped blooms in white, yellow, purple, striped, and bicolors. These small bulbs naturalize readily, making them ideal for lawns, rock gardens, and under trees.
<img src=”https://www.almanac.com/sites/default/files/image_nodes/types-of-crocus-flowers.jpeg” width=”300″>
Photo via Almanac.com
Iris
While many irises bloom in summer, some types flower in spring. This includes dwarf bearded irises and reticulated irises, which produce flowers as early as February in some zones. Spring blooming iris grow from bulbs, offering unique patterns and bicolors. Plant in rock gardens, borders, or containers.
<img src=”https://www.easytogrowbulbs.com/images/D/iris-reticulata-blue-flower-m.jpg” width=”300″>
Photo via Easy to Grow Bulbs
Snowdrops
Delicate snowdrops push up through frozen ground in late winter, often blooming while snow still covers the garden. Nodding white bell-shaped flowers appear singularly on slender stems. Broad green leaves emerge after blooms fade. Naturalize in lawns, woodlands, rock gardens.
<img src=”https://www.almanac.com/sites/default/files/image_nodes/snowdrop-flowers-white.jpg” width=”300″>
Photo via Almanac.com
Anemones
While some anemone species bloom in summer or fall, the poppy anemone (Anemone coronaria) flowers in spring. Poppy-like blooms come in shades of red, blue, pink and white with darker centers. Other spring bloomers include Grecian windflower (Anemone blanda) and wood anemone.
<img src=”https://www.easytogrowbulbs.com/images/D/anemone_mr-fokker_blue.jpg” width=”300″>
Photo via Easy to Grow Bulbs
Muscari (Grape Hyacinths)
Dainty clusters of bell-shaped blooms resembling tiny grapes give muscari its common name. These spring flowering bulbs come in shades of blue, purple, white and bicolor. Allow to naturalize in lawns and under trees, or grow in containers.
<img src=”https://www.almanac.com/sites/default/files/image_nodes/muscari-grape-hyacinth-purple.jpg” width=”300″>
Photo via Almanac.com
Fritillaria (Checker Lilies)
Unique bell-shaped blooms nodding on slender arching stems characterize fritillarias. Blooms display unique checkerboard patterns in shades of purple, pink, yellow and white. One of the more unusual bulbs, they deserve greater use in spring gardens and borders.
<img src=”https://www.vanengelen.com/images/Product/medium/15860.JPG” width=”300″>
Photo via Van Engelen
Alliums
From dainty Drumstick alliums to impressiveGlobemaster, ornamental allium add fabulous form and texture to spring gardens. Spherical blooms comprised of dozens of tiny florets are carried atop sturdy scapes (flower stalks), making them excellent cut flowers.
<img src=”https://www.almanac.com/sites/default/files/image_nodes/allium-flowers-purple.jpg” width=”300″>
Photo via Almanac.com
This visual guide covers some of the most popular spring flowering bulbs to enliven the garden after winter. With proper selection and care, these hardy bulbs will continue providing vibrant spring color year after year. Give them a spot in full sun or partial shade with well-drained soil, and they will reward you with a cheerful spring display.
SIBERIAN SQUILL (Scilla siberica)
Zones: 2-8 Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Bloom time: Early spring Height/Spread: Upright spreading habit; 3 to 6 inches tall and wide Uses: Naturalize in open woodlands, or underneath deciduous trees and shrubs. Use as a groundcover or combine with other early bulbs such as daffodils and species tulips.
This exceptionally hardy bulb, native to Siberia, Russia, and Eurasia, is one of the first to bloom in early spring. Brilliant blue bell-shaped flowers grow singularly on slender stems above the grass-like foliage. Bulbs multiply and naturalize quickly, and plants may also self sow. ‘Alba’ is a white flowered variety. Note: Siberian squill has been noted as being invasive in certain areas (see where).
Photo by: Janet Loughrey
Plant in full sun to partial shade in zones 3–9; flowers in spring. 12–24-inch tall and 8–24-inch wide, with an upright, spreading habit. Uses: Let it grow naturally in woodland gardens, rockeries, and mixed borders; plant in troughs or containers.
The nodding bell-shaped flowers of Fritillaria add a unique touch to the spring garden. There are more than 100 species, ranging from the diminutive Michael’s flower (Fritillaria michailovskyi) to the bold upright stands of crown imperial (F. imperialis, pictured). Flowers occur in colors of white, yellow, chocolate, orange, red, and purple, some with patterns or bicolors. This underutilized bulb deserves wider use in the landscape.
Learn more about growing fritillaria.
Photo by: Janet Loughrey
How to choose good bulbs:
Choose bulbs that are large and firm. Avoid bulbs that are mushy, moldy, shrunken, or cracked.
8 Varieties of Flower Bulbs To Plant This Spring For Blooms This Summer!
FAQ
What spring flower grows from a bulb?
HYACINTH (Hyacinthus orientalis) Blooms come in a rainbow of colors including blue, purple, red, pink, orange, coral, yellow, and white. You can plant this bulb with other spring bulbs that bloom at the same time, like daffodils and early tulips. It is easy to take care of.
What do you do with spring bulbs once they have flowered?
When your spring bulbs have finished flowering, deadhead them but leave the foliage to die back naturally. This lets all the nutrients go back down into the bulb, where they can be stored for the winter and used the next year to bloom.
Where is the best place to plant spring bulbs?
Drainage is critical to keep bulbs from rotting. They like loamy or slightly sandy soil because it provides the drainage and nutrients they need. Early-blooming plants can be put under trees that lose their leaves in the fall. They will get enough sun to bloom before the leaves cover them up.
How long do spring bulb flowers last?
Short-lived bulbs: Most properly planted and cared-for bulbs will flower well for 3-5 years and beyond, but some thrive only for a couple of years or even one …Jan 5, 2023
How many spring bulbs stock photos are there?
Browse 8,273 authentic spring bulbs stock photos, high-res images, and pictures, or explore additional potted spring bulbs or spring bulbs pots garden stock images to find the right photo at the right size and resolution for your project. Guy from personal point of view holding a light bulb illuminated by the sunset light on the countryside.
How do you know if a flower is spring-flowering?
While the blooms are still weeks or months away, you can identify many spring-flowering bulbs by their shoots and early foliage. Here are tips for identifying common spring bulbs as they break dormancy. The earliest bulbs to emerge are typically smaller bulbs like snowdrops, crocuses, and squills.
How do you know if a bulb is spring-flowering?
Spring is an exciting time for gardeners, as bulbs planted in fall begin to emerge and show signs of life. While the blooms are still weeks or months away, you can identify many spring-flowering bulbs by their shoots and early foliage. Here are tips for identifying common spring bulbs as they break dormancy.
How do you identify spring bulbs?
Here are some tips for identifying spring bulbs: Flower Shape: Spring bulbs often have a classic flower shape, with petals radiating out from a central point. Look for flowers with a cup-like shape or multiple layers of petals. Flower Color: Spring bulbs come in a wide range of colors, from vibrant yellows and pinks to soft pastels.
What are common spring bulbs?
Here are tips for identifying common spring bulbs as they break dormancy. The earliest bulbs to emerge are typically smaller bulbs like snowdrops, crocuses, and squills. Daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips follow shortly after. Late-blooming bulbs like alliums and irises appear later in spring. Common Spring Flowering Bulbs
Why do tulip flowers bloom in spring?
The Snowdrop is one of the first flowers to bloom in spring. That are often a first indicator of the season and sometimes can even bloom through snow. Arriving in early spring the tulip is said to mean ‘perfect love’ and because of their beauty you can see why.