Spring bulbs are some of the first flowers to bloom, brightening up our gardens and providing nectar for early pollinators. Whether you have a large garden or just a window box, you can enjoy colourful flowers for six months of the year with these spring flowering bulbs.
One of the greatest gifts you can give to your future self is to plant some spring bulbs this autumn. It's a quick, easy job with a big payoff. Once planted, you can forget about your bulbs until they pop up through the soil and bloom, lifting your spirits on grey, late winter days. Most spring flowering bulbs come back year after year, and many naturally spread to create a carpet of colour.
Spring bulbs flower at different times, from early snowdrops and crocuses that bloom in winter to camassias and alliums that flower in late spring and early summer. In small gardens, plant different types of bulbs together to enjoy a continuous display of flowers from late winter to early summer. If you have a large garden, plant tulips, narcissi or alliums en masse to create bold swathes of colour.
Here are ten of my favourite spring flowering bulbs in roughly the order you can expect them to appear in your garden. If you're not sure what specific varieties to choose, check out our ready-made spring bulb collections.
1. Snowdrops
Snowdrops may look delicate, but these hardy flowers thrive in harsh winter conditions, often poking up through late winter snow. They bloom from January to March, though you may see them as early as December in mild parts of the country. Galanthus nivalis, the common snowdrop, is the most widespread variety. Combine these with Galanthus woronowii (giant snowdrop) and Galanthus nivalis f. pleniflorus 'Flore Pleno' (double snowdrop) for a varied winter display.
Plant your snowdrop bulbs as soon as they arrive in moist, well-drained soil. Snowdrops prefer partial shade to full sun and look wonderful planted in drifts under deciduous trees or in lawns. If left alone, they will naturalise and spread over time.
2. Irises
There are two types of irises that flower from bulbs in spring: Iris reticulata and Dutch irises. Although they differ in size and when they flower, both varieties need well-drained soil and plenty of sun to flourish.
Iris reticulata grows to around 15 cm and flowers early, in February and March. The delicate blue and purple flowers are flecked with white and yellow. These spring-flowering bulbs will thrive in rockeries, pots, and sandy, gritty or chalky soils.
Dutch iris bulbs (Iris hollandica) give you large flowers on tall, sturdy stems. They bloom later than Iris reticulata, in late spring and early summer, and come in a wider variety of colours, including blue, yellow, purple and white. Dutch irises make excellent cut flowers and look their best in the garden when planted with early-flowering perennials, such as salvias and hardy geraniums.
3. Crocuses
Crocuses flower around the same time as Iris reticulata, and the two make excellent companions. Purple crocuses are my favourite, but you can mix them up with yellow and white cultivars for a bit of variety. The earliest crocuses to flower are cultivars of Crocus tommasinianus and Crocus chrysanthus, which bloom in February and March. Large-flowering crocuses (Crocus vernus) flower a little later, from March to April, and have larger, goblet-shaped blooms.
You can grow crocuses in pots and borders, but they look particularly lovely naturalised in grassy areas. Crocuses need plenty of sun, but Crocus tommasinianus cultivars are more shade tolerant, which makes them a good choice for naturalising under trees.
Autumn-flowering crocus bulbs, including Crocus sativus (which produces saffron) are usually available around the same time as spring bulbs. Make sure you have the correct variety, or you may end up with an unexpected burst of autumn colour!
4. Daffodils (Narcissus)
When the sun returns, so do the daffodils. Their cheerful flowers brighten gardens throughout spring and give you early blooms to cut and bring into your home. Narcissus are wonderfully varied, from the petite ‘Tête à Tête’ to showy double-bloomed cultivars like 'Bridal Crown'. Don't forget the elegant Narcissus tazetta 'Paperwhite', which you can force and grow indoors for Christmas flowers.
Narcissus bloom at different times, from as early as January through to as late as May, depending on how warm or cold the winter has been. Trumpet daffodils peak in March and April, but there are so many beautiful types of narcissus that it seems a shame to restrict yourself to just one form. Our guide to the 13 Types of Daffodils explains how daffodils are categorised and includes examples of each flower type to help you choose the best varieties for your garden.
Daffodils are best planted in early autumn to help the bulbs develop strong roots. You can plant them almost anywhere – in beds, pots or grassed areas – as long as they get a decent amount of sun. Read our How to Grow Daffodils guide to find out everything you need to know to grow daffodils successfully.
5. Muscari (grape hyacinth)
These small spring bulbs with bright blue flowers look a little like miniature bunches of grapes. Muscari bloom for three to four weeks between March and May, and while they're best known for their true blue flowers, their colours range from white and pale yellow to pastel pink and lilac.
Plant muscari in pots or in groups at the front of a border. They are a natural companion to smaller narcissi: pair baby blue Muscari azureum with soft yellow Narcissus 'Minnow' in a pastel border, or if you prefer stronger colours, combine the deep purple tones of Muscari latifolium with the vibrant yellow of Narcissus ‘Tête à Tête’ or Narcissus 'Cornish Gold'.
Muscari need moist, free-draining soil, particularly in spring. They prefer full sun, but will also grow well under the canopy of deciduous trees and shrubs. Muscari will naturally spread over time and have a tendency to self-seed; if you want to control their spread, remove the flowers as they begin to fade.
6. Hyacinths
Hyacinths are the Marmite of spring bulbs: some people love them, others love to hate them. Often, it's the distinctive strong scent that makes or breaks this plant. However, if you've only experienced hyacinths grown indoors, then I beg you to try them outside before writing them off. In the fresh air, their perfume carries beautifully on the faintest breeze; the fragrance distinctive but never overwhelming.
Common advice is to plant new hyacinth bulbs each year, but most of the time, they will flower in subsequent years, just with fewer flowers. This gives the plants a looser, more informal appearance. If you love a hyacinth's characteristic vibrant, densely packed flower heads and intense scent, then plant new bulbs in pots each year. If you prefer a more subtle scent and less chunky appearance, plant them in your garden and let them grow and spread naturally.
7. Tulips
When it comes to colour, you can't beat a bed of tulips. Whether you prefer the elegance of a single tulip, the ruffled, layered petals of a double late cultivar, or the bizarre colours and forms of a parrot tulip, there's something to suit every garden style and preference. There are so many varieties available that it's worth reading our guide to the 15 tulip divisions to get an idea of what might work best in your garden.
Tulips bloom between March and May, depending on the variety and the weather conditions. Individual flowers last just a few weeks, so it's worth combining early and late flowering tulips for a longer-lasting display.
Tulips look wonderful planted in pots, as a block in a large border or interspersed with herbaceous perennials or shrubs in a mixed border. Species tulips are the best for naturalising, and if you're growing tulips for cut flowers, choose a long-stemmed variety, such as a Darwin hybrid. Find out more about how to grow tulips in our tulip plant care guide.
8. Bluebells
There are few sights more magical than a carpet of bluebells illuminated by shafts of sunlight through a woodland canopy. In large gardens, you can let bluebells naturalise in the grass or under mature trees. To get a similar feel in a smaller space, plant groups of bluebells underneath a smaller Amelanchier tree or shrub.
As a woodland plant, bluebells grow best in dappled or partial shade in moist, fertile soil. With the right conditions, they will spread vigorously. If you don't want them taking over your borders, plant your bulbs in a pot sunk into the ground.
9. Camassia
Camassias flower from late spring to early summer, bridging the gap between spring flowering bulbs and summer perennials. The pretty star-shaped flowers bloom in shades of blue, purple, pink or white depending on the variety. Shorter camassias, like Camassia quamash, are the best choice for naturalising, whereas Camassia leichtlinii cultivars produce tall spires of flowers that are great for cutting.
Unlike many spring bulbs, camassias will happily grow in heavy clay soil. They need the soil to be moist when in flower, but the bulbs can cope with dry summer conditions once dormant. You can plant camassias in pots, but they tend to grow better and live longer in the ground.
10. Alliums
These playful spring bulbs with their characteristic round flower heads add a playful feel to borders, beds and pots. Giant alliums are a real statement flower, with enormous architectural blooms that can grow to the size of a football! Smaller alliums look equally lovely either planted en masse or scattered throughout a mixed border. Alliums vary in height from 30 cm to two metres, so choose a variety that suits your planting location.
Most alliums flower in May and June, but some varieties bloom later, in July or even August. They need plenty of sun and well-drained soil, but you can leave them in the ground over winter. Plant alliums in a bed or pot where they won't be disturbed, and they'll flower year after year. Read our guide to growing alliums to find out more about caring for alliums and which varieties to plant for a continuous display of flowers.
And don't forget…
If you really can't get enough of spring bulbs, here are some other flowers to add to your shopping list:
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Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) flowers very early in the year. It grows in shade, and its sunny yellow flowers make it a lovely companion for snowdrops.
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Scilla siberica has vibrant violet-blue flowers that bloom in March and April. This petite plant naturalises readily and looks wonderful planted with yellow narcissi.
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Fritillaria meleagris has distinctive snakeskin markings on its pink and purple flowers. This native species prefers damp, fertile soil.
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Ranunculus corms are more tender than most spring bulbs, but if you have the right growing conditions, they are worth the extra effort. The ruffled, multi-layered blooms make spectacular cut flowers in April and May.
Related pages
Get detailed information on planting and caring for different types of flower bulbs in the following articles:
