7 Perennial Bulbs to Plant in Spring – to Infuse Your Yard with Summer and Fall Color that Returns Every Year
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The darker days of winter are slowly making their departure and lighter evenings remind us that spring is nearly here. That's why I'm not waiting any longer to curate my list of perennial bulbs to plant in spring, to make the most of the second bulb planting window that is fast approaching.
While bulb planting is largely done in fall, there are numerous bulbs to get in the ground in the spring months, too. In fact, early spring provides an opportunity to plant some perennial bulbs you didn't quite get around to in fall. Ticking this off your spring gardening checklist will leave you with a burst of late season color in summer and fall that then returns every year.
You should wait until frost has passed and the ground is workable to plant bulbs in spring
7 Perennial Bulbs to Plant in Spring
There are quite a few perennial bulbs to plant in spring, with many fall-flowering bulbs making the cut and those on the list of unusual bulbs to plant in spring.
Before choosing any of the below for your yard, familiarize yourself with your US hardiness zone and the conditions in your outdoor space (like soil type and lighting) to make sure your chosen perennials will thrive for years to come.
1. Crocosmia
Crocosmia 'Saracen’ is a compact variety, reaching just 2.5ft in height
- US hardiness zones: 6-9
Although technically growing from corms, crocosmia falls on the list of perennial bulbs to plant in spring, especially if you want a fiery display towards the end of summer and into early fall.
It's a beautiful clump-forming perennial with crocosmia varieties coming in a range of red, orange, and yellow hues.
With arching stems of funnel-shaped flowers, they make excellent additions to cut flower gardens and sunny borders.
When planting in spring, ensure crocosmia corms are planted at around three times their depth and 4-8 inches apart, with the pointed end facing upwards.
See the selection of crocosmia bulbs at Burpee.
2. Freesia
Freesia is commonly started indoors in fall for earlier blooms
- US hardiness zone: 9-10
Freesia is one of the most delicate blooms, adored for its sweet fragrance and bright colors.
In cooler climates, it's quite common to plant freesia bulbs (or corms) undercover in fall, often in a greenhouse, to achieve early blooms while protecting this tender perennial from harsh winter conditions.
But, once spring comes around and the risk of frost has passed you can plant freesia bulbs directly outdoors. In this case, you can typically expect freesia blooms from mid-summer.
These plants prefer well-draining soil and a full-sun position, and the bulbs should be planted at a depth of 2 inches and 2-4 inches apart. A bulb planting tool with a depth marker (like this Miracle-Gro one from Walmart) can help you with these measurements.
They come in a wide range of colors, including white, red, yellow, pink, and purple. You can purchase a mix of freesia bulbs on Amazon for a vibrant display.
3. Nerine
Nerines are best known for their vibrant pink hues, but they also come in darker shades of pink and white
- US hardiness zones: 7-10
Nerine, or Guernsey lily, is a beautiful perennial with tall stems topped with clusters of elegant blooms. It flowers in fall, making spring the optimal time for planting.
In fact, it's often best to wait to plant nerine bulbs until late spring so they can make use of the warm ground to establish roots.
It should be noted that nerines do not always bloom in the first year, as they focus on establishing, but thereafter are considered reliable bloomers and even make the list of underrated November flowers.
When planting nerine bulbs, good drainage is essential. They're also a good choice for a container garden as they enjoy being packed tightly together.
Plant nerine bulbs shallowly, with the pointed tip sitting just above surface level.
4. Bearded Iris
Bearded irises have unique fuzzy lower petals
- US hardiness zones: 3-9
The optimal time to plant iris bulbs (technically rhizomes) is in fall, but you can often get away with planting bearded iris varieties in early spring if you didn't get a chance in fall.
When planting bearded irises in early spring (as soon as the ground becomes workable after frost), flowers may appear from late spring into early summer. Though, just like other bulbs that prefer fall planting, there is a risk of fewer blooms in the first year as they focus on establishing.
Nonetheless, iris rhizomes quickly spread, forming dense mats of abundant blooms as the years go on. That's why it's important to divide irises after flowering to avoid overcrowding.
'The key for irises is to not plant the rhizomes too deeply,' says gardening expert Laura Janney, CEO of The Inspired Garden Masterclass. 'Lay them flat and just barely cover them with soil,' she adds.
They come in a wide range of colors, from the bright red 'Bernice's Legacy' iris (rhizomes on Amazon) to the unique faded pink and purple of 'Blowing Kisses' (rhizomes on Amazon).
Explore more in Burpee's iris selection.
Laura Janney is a renowned landscape architect and designer, and CEO of The Inspired Garden Masterclass. She won the Houzz Best in Design award in 2023 for her work in the New York area. Driven by the belief that flowers feed the soul, Laura sees gardens as more than simply outdoor spaces – they are living, breathing sanctuaries that awaken the senses.
5. Pineapple Lily
Eucomis is native to South Africa, found growing in grasslands, woodlands, and forests
- US hardiness zones: 7-10
Despite its name, pineapple lily (or Eucomis) is not a true lily, and its name is rather explained by its striking appearance, with tufted leaves reminiscent of a pineapple.
Eucomis blooms from late-summer to mid-fall, coming in a range of colors from green and white, to pink and deep purple, making it one of the best summer bulbs.
The white-green varieties are particularly eye-catching and unusual, like Eucomis 'Autumnalis' (which you can by bulbs of on Amazon), If you're looking for a mix of hues, this Eucomis bulb mix from Amazon is a good starter pack.
Pineapple lily bulbs benefit from being planted as soon as late frost has passed and the soil is warming up in early spring.
They do well in well-draining, fertile soil, and enjoy sun but tolerate partial shade.
You should plant bulbs at a depth of 4-6 inches and 6-8 inches apart.
6. Gladioli
Gladiolus is one of the two birth month flowers for August, alongside poppies
- US hardiness zones: 7-10
Gladioli technically comes from a corm, rather than a bulb, but these perennials are best planted in spring (around April) for a summer display that lasts into fall.
There are so many different types of gladioli to choose for your yard, each with tall flower spikes, funnel-shaped blooms, and sword-shaped foliage.
From 'Charming Lady' (which you can find bulbs of at Burpee) with pink blooms, to 'Fiesta Orange' (bulbs from Amazon) with a yellow-orange bicolor flowers, these plants come in every color.
When planting gladioli corms, you should aim for a 4-6 inches in depth and apart.
Once gladioli finish flowering, it can be a good idea to lift and store corms because they are tender perennials and may not survive freezing winter temperatures.
7. Oriental Lily
Oriental lilies have huge, fragrant flowers
- US hardiness zones: 5-9
While it's often preferred to plant oriental lily bulbs in fall, early spring planting is possible once frost has passed.
The one caveat is that planting lily bulbs in spring will bring a later season for these showy blooms, which have large fragrant flowers. Flowering may also be less vigorous as a result.
'I recommend to plant in clumps so you can make an impact,' says Laura Janney.
'They need full sun but don't like to get overly hot and may experience heat stress in the form of leaf scorch, so you may want to pick a spot that gets afternoon shade or have other taller plants providing some coverage,' she adds.
There are so many different varieties of oriental lilies to choose from, many with two-tone flowers and striped patterns. For example, 'Dizzy' lily (bulbs available at Burpee) has pink speckled petals and 'Garden Party' lily (bulbs available at Burpee) has yellow-striped petals.
You can also purchase a mix of oriental lily bulbs from Burpee for an impressive display.
You should plant oriental lily bulbs 6-8 inches deep, as they're larger bulbs.
FAQs
Why Haven't My Spring-Planted Bulbs Bloomed?
A lack of blooms is one of the risk that comes with spring bulb planting, especially for bulbs that prefer to be planted in fall. It could be that the bulbs didn't have sufficient cold exposure to trigger blooming or that you made a bulb planting mistake, like planting at the wrong depth. If they're perennial bulbs, they're likely to bloom in the second year, using the first to focus on establishing.
Perennials are great investment plants to add to the yard, offering returning displays and often becoming low-maintenance as they establish. When fall comes around, don't forget about the best perennials to plant in fall for spring color.
Shop Bulb Planting Essentials
This hand bulb planter tool has a depth marker to help plant bulbs correctly. It punches a hole in soil, making bulb planting more convenient.
These green gardening gloves have long sleeves to protect hands and arms when working in the yard. They have leather palms for reinforcement.
This long-handled bulb planter tool make bulb planting less strenuous. It has a step to use more force easily when digging holes for bulbs.
