If you didn't have a chance to plant autumn bulbs, don't stress! You can still have a stunning garden this summer if you plant bulbs in the spring. But you shouldn't just plant any bulb. Each bulb has a specific planting and blooming season, so it's important to choose the right ones. Discover which five bulbs you can plant this spring for a delightful floral garden in summer!
Pink Rain Lily
Image credits: Blowing Puffer Fish via Flickr
Pink rain lilies (Zephyranthes grandiflora) belong to the amaryllis family boasting cheerful blooms up to 3 inches in size. They flower in late spring, summer, or autumn depending on the particular cultivar.
Plant them in zones 7 to 10 in full sun or partial shade, where they will get around two to six hours of sunlight each day. Wait until after the last spring frost before planting them 1 inch deep in soil that is high in organic matter. Then, water to keep the soil moist.
Fun Fact: The popular name rain lily, originates from their tendency to flower after heavy rainfalls!
Ornamental Onions
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Ornamental Onions or Allium provide plenty of options when it comes to planting bulbs for summer flowers. There are over 700 different types of Allium you can choose from! They can even create an elegant foundation garden around your home.
Allium plants grow well in zones 4 to 9 when you cultivate them in the full or partial sun where they can get at least two hours of daily sunlight. Depending on the cultivar they blossom from spring through summer in a range of colors from golden yellow to soft purple. As a general rule when you are planting Allium bulbs, place them 5 inches deep in soil that has excellent drainage.
Note: There are many different types of Allium. While you can plant cultivars like 'Millenium' in spring for July and August blooms, it is better to plant other varieties such as 'Giant Ornamental Onion' or Allium Gigantum in the autumn. Always remember to check the planting requirements for your cultivar.
Peacock Orchids
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Peacock orchids (Gladiolus murielae) produce summer blooms that look like white stars with splashes of deep maroon. To successfully cultivate these flowers, plant them 2 to 6 inches deep a few weeks after the first frost or when the soil is at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit. It is best to grow them in clusters, so cultivate as many as five in a group, and space them 6 to 8 inches apart. Make sure to choose a location that gets six hours of daily sunlight and water to keep the soil moist.
Fun Fact: Peacock Orchids grow from corms instead of true bulbs. Essentially corms are a type of bulb that has a stem surrounded by a mini storage center of nutrients to help the plant grow. In contrast, true bulbs have a mini version of an entire plant in them.
Giant Summer Hyacinth
Image credits: Tony Rebelo via Openverse
To enjoy beautiful blooms late in the summer, consider giant summer hyacinth (Ornithogalum candicans) which flower from August to September. You'll adore their little white bell flowers which will infuse your garden with a delicate floral fragrance.
Giant summer hyacinths thrive in zones 6 to 10 in full sun to partial shade. When planning your garden design, pick a spot that has two or more hours of daily afternoon sunlight. Then in spring, plant bulbs 6 inches deep, space them 8 to 12 inches apart, and water to keep the soil moist.
Pro Tip: If you love these delicate blooms, dig up your bulbs in autumn before temperatures reach 28 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep them dry and store them in vermiculite between 63 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit to overwinter them.
Spider Lily
Image credits: Didier Baertshiger via Flickr
Spider lily (Hymenocallis × festalis) will add a unique contrast to any flower garden! The blooms on spider lilies are aptly named for their long petals which cascade out of the central flower. These elegant plants grow in zones 7 to 10 and bloom in August and September with their showy flowers.
To grow spider lilies in your garden, plant them 5 inches deep in mid-spring where they will get between two and six hours of direct sun each day. When burying the bulb, the very top should be at least 1 inch below the surface. Then, water regularly so that the soil feels moist to the touch.
Stunning Summer Blooms
Enjoy a standout garden when you plant summer-blooming bulbs in spring! Whether you plant zephyr lilies, ornamental onions, peacock orchids, spider lilies, or giant summer hyacinths you are sure to have a stunning array of colors uplifting your garden all summer!
What bulbs do you plant in spring for bright summer blooms? Share your gardening expertise in the comments below to help fellow gardeners cultivate a stunning floral landscape!