Flower Bulb Bloom Time

Flowers that grow from bulbs bloom throughout the year.

It is a common misconception to think that all bulb flowers bloom in the spring. Flowers that grow from bulbs appear at different times throughout the year. While many of the better-known bulb flowers do make their appearances in the springtime, there are numerous bulb flowers that bloom in the summer and fall. Moreover, some bulb flowers can be forced to grow and bloom indoors, which is a common practice during the winter months.

Spring Blooming

Many of the best-known and most popular bulb flowers bloom in the spring. These include daffodils, which have sunny blooms in shades of yellow, orange and cream; tulips, which feature cup-shaped blooms in a broad spectrum of colors; muscari, which have tiny blue florets on spike-like stalks; and hyacinths, which resemble muscari but are larger and come in red, pink, purple, white and blue.

Summer Blooming

Several bulb flowers bloom in the summertime, after the flowers of the spring blooming bulbs have faded. These include gladiolus, which are tall spikes covered in showy blooms of many colors; agapanthus, which feature tall, slender stems topped in an explosion of purple florets; lilies, which come in many sizes and colors; and cannas, which have clusters of florets in many colors on short spikes.

Fall Blooming

Some bulbs bloom in the fall, when the landscape is gradually losing the vibrancy of spring and summer and transitioning into the starkness of winter. Fall-blooming bulb flowers provide a welcome bit of color during this time. They include zephyranthes, which are short, lily-like flowers in shades of rose, pink, yellow and white; schizostylis, which have spike-like stems topped with rose-pink florets; begonias, which feature round, densely-petaled flowers in a variety of hues; and dahlias, which are large, showy blooms with pointed petals in an assortment of vibrant colors.

Forcing Bulbs

While bulb flowers rarely appear out of doors in the winter, many people force them to grow indoors during the wintertime. Some of the bulbs that are commonly forced to grow indoors are cylcamens, which have delicate blooms in pink, white, red, and rose; paperwhites, which are strongly scented white flowers; lilies; and hyacinths. These bulbs may be placed in water-filled bulb vases or in soil-filled containers.

Planting Bulbs to Bloom at Different Times

You can plant bulbs throughout the year to ensure that your garden has a display of colorful bulb flowers from one season to the next. Plant spring blooming bulbs in the fall. Plant summer blooming bulbs in the late winter, spring or fall, depending on the specific type of bulb flower. Plant fall blooming bulbs in the late winter or spring, depending on the type of bulb flower.

References

• "Sunset: Basic Gardening Illustrated"; Editors of Sunset Books and Sunset Magazine, 1968