After a long colorless winter, spring means flowers. And among the best spring flowers, bulbs are a gardener’s not-so-secret weapon. Because the bulbs are perennial and come back year after year, you can enjoy them year after year.Plants such as grape hyacinths are also naturalized.
One important thing to remember about most spring-flowering bulbs (and related types of bulb-like structures such as corms, tubers, and rhizomes) is that they must be planted in the fall in order to produce flowers the following spring. It means that you have to Usually, the bulbs can be planted as long as the ground is not frozen, so it’s early October to mid-December in most of the country. Also, make sure the bulbs you buy can survive the winter in your USDA Hardiness Zone. (Find your zone here.)
But if you forgot to plant spring-blooming bulbs last fall, don’t worry! Spring is a great time to buy bulbs. See the bulbs blooming to learn what you like and order early from our online nurseries to find the widest selection. Plus, there are only a limited number of bulbs available in any given year, so pre-ordering is wise (you can’t just “get more”). Vendors will ship the bulbs to you when it’s time to plant them in your area.
Ahead, our favorite flowering bulbs to make your garden a spring showpiece:
A relative of the amaryllis, when there’s still snow on the ground in early spring, these petite, attractive white flowers with nodding heads appear. Snowdrops are deer and rodent resistant, so they are a good choice if hungry garden visitors tend to eat other bulbs.
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-7
Read more: How to Plant and Care for Galanthus, or Snowdrop Flowers
buy snowdrops
If planted in warm climates in the fall, it will produce spectacular flowers in early spring. In colder climates, it can be planted in spring for early summer flowers (although the corms must be dug up before winter and replanted next year, as they cannot withstand prolonged freezing temperatures).
USDA Hardiness Zones 7-11
see anemone
These majestic flowers are a must-have for your spring garden. Tulips come in every imaginable hue and bloom in early, mid or late spring depending on the variety. There are also double-flowered and frilled flowers. Most types of tulips bloom best in the first year and taper off after that. However, some types, such as the Darwin hybrids, usually come back for several years.
Read more: 19 Facts Every Tulip Lover Should Know
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8
buy tulips
The strong scent of these beautiful, hardy spring-flowering bulbs makes them well worth planting. It comes in various shades of blue, white and pink, blooms in mid to late spring and gives reliable return performance for many years. Rodents tend to leave them alone.
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8
see hyacinths
These adorable flowers look like their full-sized hyacinth little brothers. It has a mild grape-like scent and makes a beautiful plant for rock gardens and the edges of beds and sidewalks.
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8
buy grape hyacinth
These unique flowers have large nodding bell-shaped flowers above the grassy foliage. They are very striking in appearance, with unique shapes and colors ranging from checkered to bright orange to deep purple.
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-7
See fritalaria
The lively little heads of crocuses often appear when the snow is still on the ground. They come in a variety of bright shades, from the purest white to deep purple. However, since they are a delicacy for digging rodents such as chipmunks, plant them with other tasteless bulbs such as daffodils to avoid feeding exclusively to rodents in your neighborhood.
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8
see crocuses
Tiny white bells on arching stems make these delightful flowers just right for sidewalk edging.
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8
See leuco jam
These beloved flowers pop from the slender, sword-like leaves that produce orchid-like blooms in mid to late spring. They make excellent cut flowers and come in a variety of colors such as white, yellow, and amethyst.
USDA Hardiness Zones 5-8
buy dutch iris
Sunny yellow daffodils herald the arrival of spring. These are some of the most carefree and reliable bulbs. In addition, rodents and deer avoid them. They bloom early, mid-season, or late in the season, depending on the variety, and range from a few inches to about two feet in height.
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-9
buy daffodils
Alliums are striking globular flowers that make a striking accent in spring beds. Rodents tend to leave allium alone. Their height ranges from a few inches to a few feet.
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9
buy allium
From late spring to early summer, beautiful frilled flowers that look like paper bloom. The roots should be planted in the fall, but some varieties can be planted in the spring.
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-9
buy paper bar
Make Erin Sanson Rich
Arricca SanSone writes on health and lifestyle topics such as prevention, country living and women’s day.