Petals & Roots: This is How I Plant Bulbs – For a Display That Will Give Uninterrupted Flowers Through Spring

One of the loveliest things about spring is watching the garden slowly come back to life, with new flowers appearing as the days grow longer. Rather than having all your spring color arrive at once, I love the idea of creating a display that unfolds gradually, giving you something beautiful to enjoy over several months.

You don't need a large garden or elaborate planting scheme to achieve this – just a few well-chosen containers and bulbs that flower at different times. In this weekend's episode of Petals & Roots, which you can watch below, I’ve chosen three of my favourite spring bulbs, each bringing something a little different to the display.

Delicate iris reticulata are among the first to appear, followed by cheerful narcissi, before elegant tulips bring the season to a beautiful finale. By choosing bulbs with staggered flowering times, you can create a succession of color that keeps your patio, terrace or front porch looking lovely from late winter right through to the end of spring.

What You Need

• Three types of spring bulbs with different flowering times
• Three pots of different sizes (you'll find more container inspo below)
• Organic compost, such as this from Amazon
• Bulb feed, which you can find at Walmart
• A bulb dibber; this is my go-to, from Amazon
• Horticultural grit
• Watering can, from Target

The Secret to Non-Stop Color? Start Early

I always think Iris reticulata (or dwarf iris) are one of the most exciting signs that spring is on its way. These miniature bulbs are often among the first to flower, sometimes appearing when the garden still feels very much in the grip of winter.

Their intricate flowers are surprisingly striking for such small plants, with beautiful shades of violet, deep purple and blue, often marked with contrasting yellow or white details.

I love their jewel-like quality. Iris reticulata are particularly lovely in containers because you can position them somewhere close to the house, where their delicate flowers can be appreciated properly. I would choose a relatively shallow pot or a smaller terracotta container (as shown in the image above) planting plenty together for a generous display.

Iris also look beautiful grouped with other early spring pots, particularly when you repeat the same variety across several containers. Their flowering period is relatively short, but that's part of the appeal of this approach: they provide that first little moment of spring before the next flowers take over.

You can find a selection of dwarf iris bulbs available from Amazon.

Allow The Bigger Blooms to Follow

Narcissi are a wonderful way to carry the display forward, with their cheerful sunshine flowers. And because there is so much variety to choose from, they can bring a completely different feeling to a container depending on the varieties you grow.

Traditional golden-yellow flowers are always lovely, but I'm particularly drawn to softer shades of creamy white, pale lemon and apricot, which feel a little more understated. There are also some beautiful miniature varieties that work especially well in pots.

Another reason I love growing narcissi in containers is their versatility. You can create a really abundant display by planting several bulbs together, or choose a more delicate variety for a softer, less formal look. Some are wonderfully fragrant, too, making them a lovely choice for a pot near a front door, patio or somewhere you regularly sit outdoors.

You can find large 'fortissimo' daffodil bulbs at Walmart.

For me, tulips are the real showstoppers of the spring garden. I love the softer, more romantic shades of blush, peach and buttery yellow, but deeper burgundy, plum and almost-black varieties can look wonderful too. You can even choose different flower forms, from elegant single tulips to ruffled parrot varieties, depending on the look you want to create.

Tulips are particularly effective in larger containers, where you have room to create a generous display. I like the idea of choosing one variety and planting it in abundance, rather than mixing too many different colours and shapes together.

This gives the container a really considered feel. Choose later-flowering varieties to help extend the season, such as these apricot 'Orange Dordogne' tulips from Amazon.

Although each pot will have its own flowering moment, I think it's worth considering how the three containers will look together. You don't necessarily need to use identical pots, but choosing containers that share a similar material, color or style will help create a more cohesive display.

Terracotta is one of my favourite choices for spring bulbs because its warm, earthy tones work beautifully with almost every flower shade.

What to Shop

Petals & Roots is a bi-weekly video series fronted by me, Rachel Bull, Head of Gardens at Homes & Gardens. Every second Sunday on social, I share my seasonal gardening and flower arranging expertise and advice.

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