It is a little known fact that it is possible to have garden bulbs flowering all through the year.
The Bulb Flowering Calendar below is for Start of the Main Flowering Times. Summer flowering bulbs in particular, will flower over a longer period than the spring and autumn flowering bulbs. There will be different flowering times according to which part of the world you live. The periods outlined are for general UK areas.
Some 'bulbs' that we list for all year round colour are not true buls, but often known as such - such as the hardy Cyclamen - which of course is a corm.
Tubers; Corms: Rhizomes: Stolons and all other types of underground storage organs are listed. Most you will find in the 'bulbs' sections of catalogues and garden centres.
Bulbs Flowering All
through the Year - Calendar
January :
- Cyclamen Coum hybrids - Gorgeous pink, cerise, white and red flowers peeping through the old carpet of leaves.
- Galanthus - or Snowdrops - how to plant - Snowdrops need no introduction, but there is more to growing snowdrops successfully than if often realised. But, well worth the effort.
- Growing Bulbs indoors - January is a good time for bulbs to flower indoors - but of course you will have to do the work several month earlier!
February : March :
- Leucojum vernum Snowpake - A very good alternative for the snowdrops - and often mistaken for them as well.
- More Snowdrops
- Chionodoxa - Glory of the Snow - If you want some bright colours to start the year off - look no further.
- Crocus - Plant in pots, in borders or in the lawn. Crocus will multiply over a few years and give you a colourful carpet
- Eranthis hyemalis - The Winter Aconite - One of the first of tubers to start into growth. Great under trees, mixed in with the shrubs, or colour for the herbaceous border.
- Narcissus early types. Names like Narcissus February Gold should give a clue.
- Iris danfordiae and Iris reticulata varieties - So dainty yet well hardy. Often see them poking up through light snow with no ill effects.
- Ranunculus asiaticus. - A difficult tuber to keep from year top year. best bought as young potted plants in the garden centres. Then you can choose from the huge range of colours.
- Scilla Bulbs - Stunning Blue for this time of year. The sky may be overcast, but these will blaze blue upwards.
- Trilliums - Trinity Flowers - Wake Robin or the Wood Lily. Sure to draw comment for their unusual flowers.
March : April :
- Daffodils or narcissus - Planting and Growing Daffodils. - This is really spring now - once we see the drifts of Daffodils everywhere.
- Corydalis - Not always thought of as 'bulbs' - but some are.
- Crocus - masses of naturalised crocus in lawns or borders are the way forward for a colourful carpet.
- Fritillaria - Crown Imperial and Snake's Head Fritillary Types. Both types will give a show, with the crown Imperials living up to their names. The Snake's Head are great for naturalising in untidy grass!
- Tulips - especially the dwarfs - others follow later - May.
- Muscari - Grape Hyacinths - Bright blues for the edges of borders or around the perimeter of containers.
- Anemone - Tuberous types (some) start flowering in April.
May : June : Growing Bulbs for Summer colour in your garden
- Camassia - Tall blue or white flower spikes - for border or naturalising.
- Tulips - main flowering types. Growing tulip for maximum effect in your garden
- Narcissus - There are some later daffodils for early May.
- Hyacinths - Bulb Fibre for Indoor Hyacinths. Pastel or gaudy colours on these showy bulbs. Not often planted as a garden plant, but you will reap the benefit if you do. Great in containers as well.
- Bluebells - Hyacinthoides - DO NOT pick them from woodlands. Obtain your bulbs from a proper grower and grow your own.
- Begonias | Propagating Tuberous Begonias | Winter Storage |
- Early Alliums - Great bulbs for early summer flower in your garden. Normally towering above all other plants - a great show if planted en-masse.
- Iris ensata - Irises Main Page. These Japanese Iris are becoming very popular, with larger flowers and a huge range of colours.
July : August :
- Cannas. Indian Shot Plant or Canna Lilies. Foliage and flowers - often contrasting. good for large tubs.
- Cardiocrinum - The Giant Himalayan lily. - This one stands head and shoulders above everything.
- Irises various - the traditional time of the showy flag irises - Bearded types and the like.
- Gladiolus - Tall spikes of colourful flowers with a wide range of styles - mini through to huge butterfly flowers.
- Dahlias - early | Winter Storage of Dahlias | Dahlia Cuttings | Dahlias really start to come into their own now, with the bedding types first soon followed by the Tuberous pompoms, cactus and decorative types.
- Crocosmia - Growing these bulbs - corms - needs a bit of attention for maximum success, but they are so often neglected!
- Dierama - Wandflower or Angel's Fishing Rods. Noding cerise blooms along arching stems.
- Agapanthus - The African Lilies make a stunning show with blue predominant - though there are white and pinkish types.
- Alliums - the ornamental onions have their main season in this period, and make a grand show if planted in drifts.
- Galtonia viridiflora - candicans - A rare bulb that can be planted in almost any garden - and be an assett
September : October :
- Crocosmia also July August, but will carry on late into the autumn, with traditional autumn hues of rusty orange, reds, and golds.
- Colchicum Autumnale - Meadow Saffron Crocus Fantastic colour in your garden from growing these Autumn flowering bulbs - corms.
- Schizostylis coccinea Kaffir Lily- my favourite at this time of year. looks so delicate - but is quite hardy - the flowers thriving through all but the severest of frosts.
- Storing Begonia Tubers for Winter
November : December : Growing bulbs for winter flowering in your garden
- Anemone blanda - Whites, mainly blues but also pink forms will brighten up this time of year.
- Nerine bowdenii and others - Guaranteed to turn heads - the shocking pink really outshines everything else at this time.
- Schizostylis still in flower.
- Hyacinths forced indoors for Christmas. - There will still be a bit of late bulb flower outside - but this is traditionally the time for the Hyacinths that have been specially prepared.
So - ready to give bulbs a go and widen your horizons? Stay tuned to this section which will bring you all the information you need to get planting bulbs in your garden.