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When to Plant Bulbs Outdoors
Timing Bulb Plantings
Every commonly planted bulb species has a specific time or times recommended for when they’ll bloom and when to plant them, by garden season or plant hardiness zone.
Still, bulbs most often are available in garden centers only at two times of the year, in spring and in autumn. This often cause concern and confusion.
To help, we’ve done all the hard work for you. You’ll find right time to plant those bulbs—95 bulb species and families in all—in our convenient Planting-Time Recommendations charts, that follow. In them, you’ll quickly find:
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- When to plant spring-blooming bulbs
- When to plant late-spring and summer-blooming bulbs
- When to plant autumn-blooming bulbs
- When to plant winter- and early spring-blooming bulbs
- When to plant bulbs with different planting dates by plant hardiness zone
Consult the tables to find the garden season, bulb species, flowering time, and outdoor garden planting times you need.
How Deep to Plant Bulbs
Planting bulbs in the right season is vital to success, as is with planting them at the right depth for each species of bulb. One of the most common causes of poor results or failure to bloom is planting bulbs too deep or too shallow.
For all the information you’ll need about why it’s important to plant your bulbs at the right depths, read our complete article about bulb depths and habits [See: Bulb Planting Depths].
Here, however, are two charts with depth-of-planting information you’ll need to plant the most common spring-blooming/autumn planted and summer or autumn-blooming/spring or summer planted garden flower bulbs:
Planting-Time Recommendations
Often, gardeners want to separate flowers they can plant right now from those that they should plant later.
These helpful, easy-to-use lists divide the garden year into four planting seasons making it easy and quick to find planting-time recommendations for every commonly-planted bulb species. Simply reference the season you’re in to see the bulbs you can plant now.
Every bulb listed is linked to the full species information found in its listing page in our convenient Bulbs Plant Guide [See: Bulbs]. For some species, the four seasons are divided into early, mid, and late timings. It’s a great help in making your plantings of those bulbs a success.
The bulbs’ seasons of bloom are also listed. With them, you’ll quickly plan successions of flowers and time the peak displays of the bulbs in your flower beds.
A number of bulb species appear more than once in two or more lists. You can plant those bulbs in each of the seasons in which they appear in the lists.
Still other bulb species must be planted at different times of the year in different areas. Match your location and climate, using the U.S.D.A. plant hardiness zone references given.
Bulbs to Plant in Spring
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- Amaryllis, True (Amaryllis belladonna). Plant: Late Spring to Early Summer. Blooms: Early Autumn.
- Asparagus Fern (Asparagus densiflorus). Plant: Spring. Blooms: Spring.
- Begonia, Hardy (Begonia grandis). Plant: Spring, hardiness zones 6 to 8 (only). Blooms: Midsummer to Autumn.
- Begonia, Iron-Cross (Begonia masoniana). Plant: Spring, hardiness zones 6 to 8 (only). Blooms: Foliage plant with insignificant flowers.
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- Begonia, Rex (Begonia X rex-cultorum hybrids). Plant: Spring, hardiness zones 6 to 8 (only). Blooms: Foliage plant with insignificant flowers.
- Begonia, Tuberous (Begonia X tuberhybrida hybrids). Plant: Spring. Blooms: Summer to Autumn.
- Blazing-Star (Liatris species). Plant: Spring. Blooms: Late Summer to Autumn.
- Buttercup (Ranunculus species). Plant: Spring, hardiness zones 3 to 7 (only). Blooms: Spring to Summer, depending on hardiness zone.
- Buttercup, Persian (Ranunculus asiaticus and hybrids). Plant: Spring, hardiness zones 4 to 7 (only). Blooms: Early Spring to Summer, depending on hardiness zone.
- Caladium, Fancy-Leaved (Caladium X hortulanum). Plant: Late Spring. Blooms: Foliage plant with insignificant flowers.
- Cape-Cowslip (Lachenalia species). Plant: Spring, hardiness zone 8 (only). Blooms: Late Winter to Early Spring.
- Corn-Lily (Ixia species and hybrids). Plant: Spring, hardiness zones 4 to 8 (only). Blooms: Late Spring to Summer.
- Crocus, Longflower (Crocus longiflorus). Plant: Spring. Blooms: Autumn.
- Dahlia (Dahlia hybrids). Plant: Spring, hardiness zones 4 to 8 (only). Blooms: Summer to Autumn.
- Daylily (Hemerocallis species). Plant: Spring, hardiness zones 3 to 6 (only). Blooms: Late Spring to Autumn.
- Dog-Tooth-Violet (Erythronium species). Plant: Spring, hardiness zones 3 to 4 (only). Blooms: Spring.
- Elephant’s-Ear (Colocasia esculenta). Plant: Late Spring. Blooms: Foliage plant with insignificant flowers.
- Flame Freesia (Tritonia species). Plant: Spring, hardiness zones 4 to 8 (only). Blooms: Early Summer to Autumn.
- Four-O’Clock (Mirabilis jalapa). Plant: Spring. Blooms: Late Summer.
- Freesia (Freesia species and hybrids). Plant: Spring, hardiness zones 4 to 8 (only). Blooms: Spring, hardiness zones 7 to 10; summer, hardiness zones 4–6.
- Fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris). Plant: Spring, hardiness zones 2 to 3 (only). Blooms: Spring.
- Ginger, True (Zingiber officinale hybrids). Plant: Spring. Blooms: Summer.
- Gladiolus (Gladiolus species). Plant: Spring, hardiness zones 3 to 8 (only). Blooms: Spring.
- Habranthus (Habranthus species). Plant: Spring. Blooms: Summer, Autumn.
- Hyacinth, Summer (Galtonia candicans). Plant: Spring, hardiness zones 6 to 8 (only). Blooms: Late Summer to Autumn.
- Kangaroo’s Paw (Anigozanthos species and hybrids). Plant: Spring or Early Autumn. Blooms: Winter to Spring.
- Lily (Lilium species and hybrids). Plant: Spring or Early Autumn. Blooms: Summer.
- Lily-of-the-Incas (Alstroemeria species). Plant: Spring. Blooms: Late Spring to Summer.
- Lily-of-the-Nile (Agapanthus africanus). Plant: Spring to Autumn. Blooms: Summer.
- Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria majalis). Plant: Early Spring. Blooms: Spring.
- Lily, Blackberry (Belamcanda chinensis). Plant: Spring. Blooms: Late Summer to Early Autumn.
- Lily, Blood (Scadoxus species). Plant: Spring. Blooms: Spring to Summer.
- Lily, Fire (Cyrtanthus species). Plant: Spring. Blooms: Summer.
- Lily, Gloriosa (Gloriosa superba). Plant: Spring. Blooms: Spring to Autumn.
- Lily, Pineapple (Eucomis species). Plant: Spring. Blooms: Summer.
- Lily, Scarborough (Cyrtanthus elatus). Plant: Spring. Blooms: Summer to Autumn.
- Lily, Spider (Hymenocallis species). Plant: Spring. Blooms: Summer.
- Lily, Toad (Tricyrtis hirta). Plant: Spring. Blooms: Summer to Autumn.
- Lily, Torch (Kniphofia uvaria). Plant: Spring. Blooms: Summer.
- Lobster-Claw (Heliconia bihai). Plant: Spring to Autumn. Blooms: Summer to Autumn.
- Montebretia (Crocosmia X crocosmiiflora). Plant: Spring. Blooms: Summer.
- Nasturtium, Bitter-Indian (Tropaeolum tuberosum). Plant: Spring, hardiness zone 8 (only). Blooms: Spring to Summer.
- Orchid Pansy (Achimenes species). Plant: Late Spring to Early Summer. Blooms: Summer to Autumn.
- Society Garlic (Tulbaghia violacea). Plant: Spring. Blooms: Late Spring to Summer.
- Stream-Orchid (Epipactis gigantea). Plant: Spring. Blooms: Summer.
- Tiger Flower (Tigridia pavonia). Plant: Spring, hardiness zones 4 to 6 (only). Blooms: Summer to Winter.
- Tree Gloxinia (Kohleria hybrids). Plant: Spring. Blooms: Summer.
- Trillium, Snow (Trillium grandiflorum). Plant: Spring. Blooms: Spring.
- Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa). Plant: Spring. Blooms: Summer to Autumn.
- Wandflower (Sparaxis species). Plant: Spring, hardiness zones 4 to 7 (only). Blooms: Spring to Early Summer.
- Woodlily (Clivia species). Plant: Spring or Autumn. Blooms: Late Winter to Spring.
- Zephyr Lily (Zephyranthes species). Plant: Spring. Blooms: Summer to Autumn.
Bulbs to Plant in Summer
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- Amaryllis, True (Amaryllis belladonna). Plant: Late Spring to Early Summer. Blooms: Early Autumn.
- Daffodil, Winter (Sternbergia lutea). Plant: Late Summer. Blooms: Autumn.
- Gladiolus (Gladiolus species). Plant: Summer, hardiness zones 9 to 11 (only). Blooms: Spring.
- Gloxinia, Florist’s (Sinningia speciosa hybrids). Plant: Early Summer. Blooms: Summer.
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- Iris, German-Bearded (Iris X germanica hybrids). Plant: Summer, hardiness zones 4 to 7 (only). Blooms: Summer; Spring and Autumn, depending on variety of hybrid).
- Lily, Naked (Lycoris species). Plant: Late Summer. Blooms: Late Summer to Autumn.
- Lily-of-the-Nile (Agapanthus africanus). Plant: Spring to Autumn. Blooms: Summer.
- Lobster-Claw (Heliconia bihai). Plant: Spring to Autumn. Blooms: Summer to Autumn.
- Meadow-Saffron (Colchicum autumnale). Plant: Summer. Blooms: Late Summer to Early Autumn.
- Nerine (Nerine species). Plant: Late Summer to Autumn. Blooms: Autumn.
- Orchid Pansy (Achimenes species). Plant: Late Spring to Early Summer. Blooms: Summer to Autumn.
- Wood-Sorrel (Oxalis species). Plant: Late Summer to Autumn. Blooms: Winter to Summer.
Bulbs to Plant in Autumn
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- Aconite, Winter (Eranthis-hyemalis). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Late Winter to Spring.
- Amaryllis, Florist’s (Hippeastrum hybrids). Plant: Autumn to Winter. Blooms: Late Winter to Spring.
- Aristea (Aristea ecklonii). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Late Spring to Early Autumn.
- Baboon Flower (Babiana species). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Late Spring to Early Summer.
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- Begonia, Hardy (Begonia grandis). Plant: Autumn, hardiness zone 9 (only). Blooms: Midsummer to Autumn.
- Begonia, Iron-Cross (Begonia masoniana). Plant:Autumn, hardiness zones 9–11 (only). Blooms: Foliage plant with insignificant flowers.
- Begonia, Rex (Begonia X rex-cultorum hybrids). Plant: Autumn, hardiness zones 9 to 11 (only). Blooms: Foliage plant with insignificant flowers.
- Buttercup (Ranunculus species). Plant: Autumn, hardiness zones 8 to 11 (only). Blooms: Spring to Summer, depending on hardiness zone.
- Buttercup, Persian (Ranunculus asiaticus and hybrids). Plant: Autumn, hardiness zones 8 to 11 (only). Blooms: Early Spring to Summer, depending on hardiness zone.
- Calla Lily, Common (Zantedeschia species). Plant: Early Autumn. Blooms: Late Summer to Autumn.
- Camass (Camassia species). Plant: Early Autumn. Blooms: Late Spring.
- Canna (Canna species and hybrids). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Summer to Autumn.
- Cape-Cowslip (Lachenalia species). Plant: Autumn, hardiness zones 9 to 10 (only). Blooms: Late Winter to Early Spring.
- Corn-Lily (Ixia species and hybrids). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Late Spring to Summer.
- Crocus, Spring (Crocus species). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Autumn; Late Winter to Early Spring, depending on species.
- Cyclamen, Florist’s (Cyclamen persicum). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Winter to Spring.
- Daffodil (Narcissus species). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Late Winter to Early Spring.
- Dahlia (Dahlia hybrids). Plant: Autumn, hardiness zones 9 to 11 (only). Blooms: Summer to Autumn.
- Daylily (Hemerocallis species). Plant: Autumn, hardiness zones 7 to 10 (only). Blooms: Late Spring to Autumn.
- Dog-Tooth Violet (Erythronium species). Plant: Early Autumn, hardiness zones 5 to 9 (only). Blooms: Spring.
- Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Spring to Summer.
- Flame Freesia (Tritonia species). Plant: Autumn, hardiness zones 9 to 10 (only). Blooms: Early Summer to Autumn.
- Freesia (Freesia species and hybrids). Plant: Autumn, hardiness zones 9 to 10 (only). Blooms: Spring, hardiness zones 7 to 10; summer, hardiness zones 4–6.
- Fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris). Plant: Autumn, hardiness zones 4 to 9 (only). Blooms: Spring.
- Fumaria (Corydalis species). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Spring.
- Gladiolus (Gladiolus species). Plant: Autumn, hardiness zones 9 to 11 (only). Blooms: Spring.
- Glory-of-the-Snow (Chionodoxa species). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Early Spring to Summer.
- Grape Hyacinth (Muscari species). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Early Spring.
- Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Spring.
- Hyacinth, Summer (Galtonia candicans). Plant: Autumn, hardiness zones 9 to 10 (only). Blooms: Late Summer to Autumn.
- Hyacinth, Wood (Hyacinthoides species). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Spring.
- Iris, Blue-Flag (Iris versicolor). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Summer.
- Iris, Crested (Iris cristata). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Spring.
- Iris, German-Bearded (Iris X germanica hybrids). Plant: Autumn, hardiness zones 8 to 10 (only). Blooms: Summer; Spring to Autumn, depending on hybrid.
- Iris, Reticulated (Iris reticulata). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Early Spring.
- Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Spring to Early Summer.
- Kangaroo’s-Paw (Anigozanthos species and hybrids). Plant: Early Autumn. Blooms: Winter to Spring.
- Lily (Lilium species and hybrids). Plant: Early Autumn. Blooms: Summer.
- Lily-of-the-Nile (Agapanthus africanus). Plant: Spring to Autumn. Blooms: Summer.
- Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria majalis). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Spring.
- Lily, Mariposa (Arisaema triphyllum). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Late Spring to Early Summer.
- Lobster-Claw (Heliconia bihai). Plant: Early to Late Autumn. Blooms: Summer to Autumn.
- Lords-and-Ladies (Arum italicum). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Spring.
- Nasturtium, Bitter-Indian (Tropaeolum tuberosum). Plant: Autumn, hardiness zones 9 to 11 (only). Blooms: Spring to Summer.
- Nerine (Nerine species). Plant: Late Summer to Autumn. Blooms: Autumn.
- Onion, Ornamental (Allium species). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Spring to Summer.
- Poppy, Matilija (Romneya coulteri). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Late Spring to Summer.
- Snowdrop (Galanthus species). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Late Winter to Early Spring.
- Snowflake (Leucojum species). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Spring or Autumn, depending on species.
- Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum species). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Spring.
- Squill (Scilla species). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Early Spring.
- Squill, Striped (Puschkinia scilloides). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Late Winter to Spring.
- Star Grass (Hypoxis species). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Spring to Summer.
- Star-of-Bethlehem (Hypoxis species). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Spring to Summer.
- Starflower, Spring (Ipheion uniflorum). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Early Spring.
- Swamp Lily, Southern (Crinum americanum). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Spring to Summer.
- Tiger Flower (Tigridia pavonia). Plant: Autumn, hardiness zones 7 to 11 (only). Blooms: Summer to Winter.
- Tulip (Tulipa species). Plant: Autumn to Winter. Blooms: Spring.
- Wake-Robin (Trillium species). Plant: Autumn, hardiness zones 8 to 10 (only). Blooms: Spring.
- Wandflower (Sparaxis species). Plant: Autumn, hardiness zones 8 to 10 (only). Blooms: Spring to Early Summer.
- Windflower (Anemone species and hybrids). Plant: Autumn, hardiness zones 8 to 10 (only). Blooms: Late Winter to Spring.
- Wood Sorrel (Oxalis species). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Winter to Summer.
- Woodlily (Clivia species). Plant: Autumn. Blooms: Late Winter to Spring.
Bulbs to Plant in Winter
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- Amaryllis, Florists’ (Hippeastrum hybrids). Plant: Late Autumn to Winter. Blooms: Winter to Spring.
- Daffodil, Paperwhite (Narcissus species). Plant: Winter. Blooms: Winter to Early Spring.
- Gladiolus (Gladiolus species). Plant: Winter, hardiness zones 9 to 11 (only). Blooms: Spring.
- Tulip (Tulipa species). Plant: Autumn to Winter. Blooms: Spring.