29 Flowering Bulbs You’ll Love Growing

This quirky, checkered beauty will make people do a double-take! Its purple and white bell-shaped blooms are a stunning addition to the garden. Perfect for adding a little drama to a shady spot.

• Growing Zones: 4–8
• When to Plant: Fall
• Flowering Season: Spring
• Colors: Purple, White
• Sunlight: Partial shade
• Soil: Moist, well-drained
• Height/Spread: 12-15 inches / 4-6 inches

Ranunculus flowers look like they’re made from delicate paper. Their multi-layered petals and rich colors brighten up any garden bed. Plant these bulbs for show-stopping cut flowers that will make your vases overflow.

• Growing Zones: 8-10 (can be grown as annuals in cooler zones)
• When to Plant: Fall or spring
• Flowering Season: Late spring to early summer
• Colors: Red, Pink, Orange, White, Yellow
• Sunlight: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained, rich
• Height/Spread: 12-18 inches / 6-12 inches

Alliums bring a little whimsy to the garden with their tall, spherical blooms. They rise above other plants in vibrant purple, white, or pink shades. They also attract pollinators while keeping pests away—talk about pulling double duty!

• Growing Zones: 4-9
• When to Plant: Fall
• Flowering Season: Late spring to early summer
• Colors: Purple, White, Pink
• Sunlight: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained
• Height/Spread: 12-48 inches / 6-12 inches
• Guide: How to Grow Alliums

Amaryllis is the star of indoor winter gardens. With its massive, trumpet-shaped blooms, this one is a favorite for holiday décor. It’s a flowering bulb that keeps giving, with blooms lasting for weeks.

• Growing Zones: 8-11 (indoors in colder zones)
• When to Plant: Late fall
• Flowering Season: Winter to early spring
• Colors: Red, Pink, White, Orange
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained
• Height/Spread: 18-36 inches / 12-24 inches

Nerine is your garden’s best-kept secret, with its delicate, spidery flowers that burst out in late fall. Pink, almost electric, these flowers love basking in full sun. They bring much-needed life when everything else is winding down.

• Growing Zones: 7-10
• When to Plant: Spring
• Flowering Season: Late summer to fall
• Colors: Pink, White
• Sunlight: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained
• Height/Spread: 18-24 inches / 6-12 inches

Tulips are a staple in the flowering bulb garden, coming in every color you can imagine. Their upright, cup-shaped flowers make them a spring essential. Plant a variety of early, mid, and late bloomers for a continuous show.

• Growing Zones: 3-8
• When to Plant: Fall
• Flowering Season: Early to late spring
• Colors: Every color imaginable
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained
• Height/Spread: 10-24 inches / 4-6 inches
• Guide: Best Spring Flowering Bulbs

Leucojum, also called the Summer Snowflake, is like a taller, fancier cousin of the snowdrop. Its little white bells nodding in the breeze are a lovely addition to damp garden spots. Best of all, deer usually pass them by.

• Growing Zones: 4-8
• When to Plant: Fall
• Flowering Season: Late spring to early summer
• Colors: White
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Moist, well-drained
• Height/Spread: 12-18 inches / 6-12 inches

Tuberose flowers smell like summer evenings in the countryside—intoxicating and rich. Their tall stems hold clusters of fragrant, creamy white blooms. If you love scented gardens, this one’s a must.

• Growing Zones: 8-10
• When to Plant: Spring
• Flowering Season: Late summer to fall
• Colors: White
• Sunlight: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained
• Height/Spread: 24-36 inches / 12-18 inches

Anemones bring a splash of color with their bright, poppy-like flowers in red, white, and blue. Their fern-like foliage adds texture, and they look stunning when mass-planted. They’re also great for cutting flowers and blooming for weeks.

• Growing Zones: 7-10
• When to Plant: Fall (spring in colder zones)
• Flowering Season: Spring and fall
• Colors: Red, White, Blue, Pink
• Sunlight: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained
• Height/Spread: 12-18 inches / 6-12 inches

Snowdrops are the brave little soldiers of the garden, blooming when everything else is still fast asleep. Their nodding white flowers push up through late-winter snow, reminding you that spring is just around the corner. They multiply year after year, turning into lush drifts.

• Growing Zones: 3-7
• When to Plant: Fall
• Flowering Season: Late winter to early spring
• Colors: White
• Sunlight: Partial shade
• Soil: Moist, well-drained
• Height/Spread: 6-8 inches / 3-4 inches

Calla lilies exude elegance with their sleek, curving flowers in whites, pinks, and deep purples. They’re equally happy in a vase or a flower bed. These beauties will thrive if you’ve got a damp corner in the garden.

• Growing Zones: 8-10 (can be grown as annuals in cooler zones)
• When to Plant: Spring
• Flowering Season: Summer
• Colors: White, Pink, Purple, Yellow
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Moist, well-drained
• Height/Spread: 24-36 inches / 12-18 inches

Crocuses are like the garden’s early risers, popping up when you need them most. You can spot their cheerful blooms in late winter or early spring. They’re small but mighty, bringing color to bare soil when you thought winter would never end.

• Growing Zones: 3-8
• When to Plant: Fall
• Flowering Season: Late winter to early spring
• Colors: Purple, White, Yellow
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained
• Height/Spread: 3-6 inches / 3-6 inches

The Autumn Crocus isn’t what it seems! It surprises by blooming in fall, long after its leaves have disappeared. Its pink or purple flowers look like spring came back for an encore.

• Growing Zones: 4-8
• When to Plant: Late summer
• Flowering Season: Fall
• Colors: Pink, Purple
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Moist, well-drained
• Height/Spread: 4-6 inches / 3-6 inches

Begonias are your go-to for those shady nooks where little else will bloom. Their ruffled, bold flowers bloom from summer through frost, making them perfect for hanging baskets or garden borders.

• Growing Zones: 9-11 (grown as annuals in cooler zones)
• When to Plant: Spring
• Flowering Season: Summer to fall
• Colors: Red, Pink, White, Yellow, Orange
• Sunlight: Partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained, rich
• Height/Spread: 12-18 inches / 12-24 inches

Hyacinths pack a powerful punch—both in color and scent. Their tightly packed blooms come in pastel shades and release a sweet fragrance into the air. Plant them in clusters to turn your spring garden into a perfume factory.

• Growing Zones: 3-9
• When to Plant: Fall
• Flowering Season: Early spring
• Colors: Blue, Pink, White, Purple, Yellow
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained
• Height/Spread: 6-12 inches / 3-6 inches

Lilies are the grand dames of the summer garden. Their tall stems, spotted petals, and vibrant colors make them a favorite for both gardens and bouquets. Plus, their fragrance can fill an entire room.

• Growing Zones: 3-9
• When to Plant: Spring or fall
• Flowering Season: Summer
• Colors: White, Pink, Orange, Red, Yellow
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic
• Height/Spread: 36-48 inches / 12-18 inches

Iris blooms look almost sculpted with their dramatic falls and standards. These flowering bulbs love the sun and come in every color under the rainbow. They’re also easy to grow and deer-resistant—what’s not to love?

• Growing Zones: 4-9
• When to Plant: Fall
• Flowering Season: Early spring
• Colors: Purple, Blue, White, Yellow
• Sunlight: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained
• Height/Spread: 6-12 inches / 3-6 inches

If you want color and fragrance all in one, Freesias are your best bet. Their cheerful blooms come in reds, yellows, and purples. Their fragrance is clean and sweet, making them excellent for pots near doors and windows.

• Growing Zones: 9-10 (grown as annuals in cooler zones)
• When to Plant: Fall or spring
• Flowering Season: Late spring to early summer
• Colors: Red, Yellow, White, Pink, Purple
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained, sandy
• Height/Spread: 12-18 inches / 6-12 inches

Gladiolus grows tall and proud, with spires of flowers that rise up like soldiers on parade. They come in just about every shade you can think of and make fantastic cut flowers. Plant them for a burst of color in midsummer.

• Growing Zones: 7-10 (can be grown as annuals in cooler zones)
• When to Plant: Spring
• Flowering Season: Summer
• Colors: Red, Pink, Orange, Yellow, White, Purple
• Sunlight: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained
• Height/Spread: 36-60 inches / 12-18 inches

With its bright yellow flowers, Winter Aconite is like a ray of sunshine in early spring. It loves to spread, creating a sunny carpet under trees. Plant it where you’ll see it first thing to beat the winter blues.

• Growing Zones: 3-7
• When to Plant: Fall
• Flowering Season: Late winter to early spring
• Colors: Yellow
• Sunlight: Partial shade
• Soil: Moist, well-drained
• Height/Spread: 3-6 inches / 3-6 inches

Scilla looks like something out of a fairytale with its delicate, star-shaped blue flowers. These bulbs are happiest when they can spread, making them great for naturalizing in a woodland garden. They’re also a hit with early pollinators.

• Growing Zones: 2-8
• When to Plant: Fall
• Flowering Season: Early spring
• Colors: Blue, White
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained
• Height/Spread: 4-8 inches / 3-6 inches

Dutch Iris are the workhorses of cut-flower gardens. Their tall, slender blooms in blues, whites, and yellows are perfect for bouquets. They’re easy to grow and come back every year without much fuss.

• Growing Zones: 5-9
• When to Plant: Fall
• Flowering Season: Late spring to early summer
• Colors: Blue, White, Yellow, Purple
• Sunlight: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained
• Height/Spread: 18-24 inches / 6-12 inches

Oxalis brings a playful, shamrock-like foliage to the garden. It’s not just about the leaves; its small flowers are charming in pink, white, or lavender. Perfect for adding a little magic to the edges of paths or pots.

• Growing Zones: 6-11
• When to Plant: Spring
• Flowering Season: Late spring to fall
• Colors: Pink, White, Lavender
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained
• Height/Spread: 6-12 inches / 6-12 inches

Cannas are the summer garden drama queens with bold leaves and tropical flowers. Their large blooms and striking foliage make them stand out in beds or containers. If you want to bring a little tropical flair to your garden, these are your plants.

• Growing Zones: 7-10 (grown as annuals in cooler zones)
• When to Plant: Spring
• Flowering Season: Summer to fall
• Colors: Red, Orange, Yellow, Pink, White
• Sunlight: Full sun
• Soil: Moist, well-drained
• Height/Spread: 24-60 inches / 18-24 inches

Chionodoxa, also called Glory of the Snow, is a true spring gem. Its star-shaped flowers in blue and white appear just as the snow melts, creating carpets of color. Perfect for naturalizing in grassy areas.

• Growing Zones: 3-8
• When to Plant: Fall
• Flowering Season: Early spring
• Colors: Blue, White, Pink
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained
• Height/Spread: 4-6 inches / 3-6 inches

Daffodils are the classic harbingers of spring, with their cheery yellow or white trumpets. They’re easy to grow and multiply generously over time. Plant these flowering bulbs in clusters for a bright pop of early-season color that will come back stronger every year.

• Growing Zones: 3-9
• When to Plant: Fall
• Flowering Season: Early to late spring
• Colors: Yellow, White, Orange
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained
• Height/Spread: 6-24 inches / 6-12 inches

Camassia is one of those under-the-radar plants that should be in every garden. Its tall spikes of blue or purple flowers bloom in late spring after most bulbs have finished. It’s especially great for wet, boggy areas where other plants might struggle.

• Growing Zones: 4-8
• When to Plant: Fall
• Flowering Season: Late spring to early summer
• Colors: Blue, Purple, White
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Moist, well-drained
• Height/Spread: 24-36 inches / 6-12 inches

Babiana is like a little South African treat for your garden. Its star-shaped blooms in vivid purples and blues bring a pop of color to borders. Plus, it’s a magnet for butterflies.

• Growing Zones: 8-10
• When to Plant: Fall or spring
• Flowering Season: Late spring to early summer
• Colors: Blue, Purple, Pink
• Sunlight: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained, sandy
• Height/Spread: 12-18 inches / 6-12 inches

Eucomis will have people stopping to ask what on earth it is. Its tall flower spikes resemble pineapples, adding a quirky tropical feel to the garden. It’s perfect for adding a little fun and conversation to borders or containers.

• Growing Zones: 6-9
• When to Plant: Spring
• Flowering Season: Summer to fall
• Colors: White, Green, Purple
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Well-drained
• Height/Spread: 12-24 inches / 12-18 inches