17 Top Bulbs for Fall Planting – for Blooms Next Spring

By Jennifer Poindexter

When you’re looking for ideas to brighten up your landscape, planting bulbs is a great option. There’s nothing like natural beauty to add curb-appeal to your landscaping project.

Bulbs are generally less expensive, produce beautiful plants, and can be planted ahead of time. For instance, you may plant things in the fall while the temperatures are cool and get quite the display of color come spring.

If you’re looking for the best bulb options to plant during fall, you’ve come to the right place. Let me walk you through a list of some of the most beautiful and popular flowers to grow from bulbs in the fall.

Once you know your options, it’s up to you. You’ll select which options you like the most or will work best in your planting zone and begin creating your ideal landscape.

Here are the bulbs you should plant in the fall to inspire your next gardening creation:

1. Snowflake

The snowflake plant creates delicate white blooms which grow on the end of grassy foliage. The blooms are solid white and dangle upside down like bells.

This is a hardy plant in zones three through nine and prefers to grow in full to partial sunlight and well-draining soil. These plants bloom in the middle to later portion of spring.

2. Snowdrops

Snowdrops are another perennial plant which produces dangling white blooms. This plant is hardy in planting zones three through seven.

Also, you should grow snowdrops in areas with full to partial sunlight. You can expect this plant to bloom from October to April in most growing locations.

3. Buttercups

Buttercups are gorgeous, rounded flowers with layered blooms. You may grow these flowers as annuals in planting zones four through seven, and they’re hardy in zones eight through eleven.

They grow best in areas with full to partial sunlight and well-draining soil. In hardy locations you may plant these bulbs in fall, and they should bloom between May and August.

4. Grape Hyacinth

Grape hyacinth plants produce rich green foliage and at the end of the stems are vertical blooms that have the rounded shape of a grape.

If you’d like to grow this plant around your home, be sure to select a location with well-draining soil in full to partial sunlight. They’re hardy in planting zones three through nine and though you plant the bulbs in fall, you can expect the flowers to bloom in April or May.

5. Tulips

Tulips are brightly colored flowers that come in both bright and dark colors. They’re an excellent way to add life and beauty to your surroundings.

Should you grow this flower, be sure to select a location with adequately draining soil and with full sunlight. These flowers are hardy in planting zones three through seven and should bloom between March and the end of spring, depending upon the variety of tulip planted.

6. Fritillaria

Fritillaria grows to be approximately one foot in height. At the end of the long blades of foliage, hang speckled bell-shaped blooms.

These plants are hardy in planting zones four through eight. They prefer to grow in areas with dappled sunlight and in consistently damp, well-draining soil. You can expect this plant to bloom in the middle of spring.

7. Windflower

The windflower produces traditional, colorful blooms. You can expect these plants to be hardy in planting zones four through nine.

Plus, they prefer to grow in areas with only partial sunlight. However, if you live in a cooler portion of the US, these flowers can grow in full sunlight. Expect these plants to bloom from late winter to the early portion of spring.

8. Spanish Bluebells

Spanish bluebells get their name honestly. Atop the beautiful green foliage, displays dangling blue blooms shaped like bells. They’re hardy in zones three through eight and enjoy ample sunlight.

However, these plants also prefer periods of dappled shade. These flowers will reach heights around two feet tall and should bloom between April and May.

9. Daffodil

Daffodils consist of bright yellow flowers and rich, green foliage. They’re hardy in planting zones three through eight and prefer a growing location with at least six hours of sunlight and well-draining soil.

When my daffodils begin to pop out of the ground, I know warm weather is on the way. You can expect these flowers to appear in the later portion of winter through early spring.

10. Starflower

This is another plant which receives its name due to its appearance. The plant produces small star-shaped blooms in the midst of dark foliage.

You can grow this plant as a perennial in planting zones five and higher, and the bulbs should be planted in the fall. However, be sure to grow this flower where it will receive six hours of dappled sunlight each day. Expect your starflowers to bloom in the middle or later portion of spring.

11. Crocus

Crocus flowers have cup-shaped blooms and grow low to the ground. They’re hardy in planting zones three through eight.

Be sure to grow this flower in partial sunlight and where it has well-draining soil. You can expect crocus flowers to bloom in late winter to early spring.

12. Allium

Alliums are flowers which grow on the end of long stems. This plant produces small blooms which create a large bowl at the end of the stem.

Be sure to grow allium in areas with full to partial sunlight and well-draining soil. You may also grow them as annuals in planting zones three through nine. Expect allium to bloom in the early summer months.

13. Iris

Iris flowers grow on the end of long stems and come in a variety of colors. They’re also tolerant plants and are hardy in zones three through ten, depending upon your conditions. In rainy locations, they tend to only be hardy through zone eight.

Should you wish to add irises to your landscape, be sure to plant them in full sunlight and well-draining soil. Depending upon variety, iris plants can bloom anywhere from early spring to the middle of summer.

14. Spider Lily

Don’t you love when plants match their names? The spider lily certainly does! These flowers bloom on the end of long stems. Yet, the blooms resemble red spiders with long legs.

If you’re in the market for a unique flower, don’t pass this one up as they’re hardy in planting zones six through nine. Be sure to plant them in full sun to encourage maximum blooms and in fertile, well-draining soil. Spider lilies bloom in early fall.

15. Peony

Peonies are large, vibrant flowers which consist of layered blooms. They’re hardy in planting zones three through eight.

However, they must be grown in a location with ample sunlight and well-draining soil. If you provide adequate care, you can expect your peonies to bloom in the later portion of spring through the early portion of summer.

16. Phlox

Phlox comes in two forms. You have the groundcover variety and the variety which stands upright. The upright variety grows in numerous colors and forms clusters of blooms.

When growing phlox, be sure to select a location with well-draining soil and full sunlight. Even if you can’t provide full sun, upright phlox can handle afternoon shade but will still need morning sunlight. These flowers are hardy in planting zones four through eight and should bloom in the summer.

17. Poppy

Poppy flowers appear on the end of long stems and produce large, colorful blooms ranging from red, white, pink, orange, or blue. This type of flower ranges in height from one to three feet.

Should you wish to add this flower to your garden, be sure to select a growing location with nutrient-dense, well-draining soil and full sun. You can expect poppies to bloom between April and June, and they’re hardy in planting zones two through nine.

You now have seventeen different options for bulbs you can plant in the fall and enjoy throughout the year.

Pick the plants that work best for your planting zone, growing conditions, and provide the look you desire. Then begin creating your floral masterpiece with these fall bulb suggestions.