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Summer is just around the corner, which means that it’s time to start thinking about what you’re going to plant in your garden. Bulbs are great for any kind of flower garden because they come up early and bloom beautifully. All summer bulbs will provide a wonderful show in your garden with different colors, shapes, and sizes. Here are 25 of our favorite summer bulbs.
25 Best Summer Bulbs
1. Dahlia
Dahlias are one of the most popular summer bulbs on the market. They produce large, brightly colored flowers with unique shapes and patterns on top of sturdy stems. These flowers come in shades of nearly every color except blue. Plant them outside once all danger of frost has passed. Dahlia also prefers full sun and well-draining soil.
2. Asiatic Lily
Asiatic lilies are one of the most popular summer bulbs. They’re known for their gorgeous trumpet-shaped flowers and subtle, spicy fragrance. These easy-to-grow flowers come in shades of red, pink, orange, yellow, lavender, and white. Plant them outside once all danger of frost has passed. Also, Asiatic lily prefers full sun and well-draining soil.
3. Begonia
Begonias are a family of tropical plants that come in all shapes and sizes. They produce flowers with unique forms and colors on top of sturdy stems, making them a choice for any flower garden. There are over 1,000 species to choose from, so you’re sure to find one perfect for your location. Plant Begonias outside after all danger of frost has passed. Begonias also prefer partial to full sun and well-draining soil.
4. Crocosmia
Crocosmia is a genus of easy-to-grow summer bulbs native to South Africa. These flowers produce tall, brightly colored stems topped with unique and vibrant blooms in shades of orange and red. The foliage is also beautiful, producing sword-shaped leaves that are silver on the bottom and green on top. Plant it outside once all danger of frost has passed, and you won’t be disappointed.
5. Calla Lily
Calla lilies are popular summer bulbs known for their large, distinctive blooms. They produce flowers on tall stems with a unique layered appearance and vibrant colors. These flowers come in shades of pink, red, yellow, white, orange, and purple. Calla lily also prefers full sun and well-draining soil. In addition, Calla lily works well in containers and mixed flower gardens.
6. Caladium
Caladiums are tropical plants that come in hundreds of varieties. These easy-to-grow summer bulbs produce large, colorful leaves with unique shapes and patterns. Many caladiums have bright white veins running through them to add extra color to the overall appearance. Plant it outside once all danger of frost has passed, and you won’t be disappointed. Additionally, Caladium prefers partial to full sun and moist, well-draining soil.
7. Gladiolus
Gladiolus are summer bulbs known for their sword-shaped blooms. They produce large flowers on tall, sturdy stems in pink, yellow, white, orange, purple, and red. Some varieties have multi-colored blooms with multiple shades on one flower. Plant it outside once all danger of frost has passed, and you won’t be disappointed. Gladiolus also prefers full sun and well-draining soil.
8. Canna Lily
Canna lilies are native to tropical regions and produce large, showy blooms. They grow on sturdy, colorful stems topped with brightly colored flowers in shades of pink, red, yellow, orange, lavender, and white. These easy-to-grow summer bulbs can be a bit invasive over time if you’re not careful. Plant Canna lily outside once all danger of frost has passed. Additionally, Canna lily prefers full sun and moist, well-draining soil.
9. Mexican Shell Flower
Mexican shell flowers are easy-to-grow summer bulbs known for their large, colorful blooms. These showy flowers come in shades of red, pink, yellow, white, orange, and lavender and produce a unique shell-like shape that’s sure to stand out in your flower garden. Plant it outside once all danger of frost has passed. The Mexican shell flower only blooms in the summer, so plant it in the spring for a beautiful summer display.
10. Elephant Ear
The elephant ear is a unique summer bulb known for its large, distinctive leaves. These plants produce a wide array of heart-shaped foliage that comes in colors of green, purple, and pink. Many varieties also have unusual patterns and variegations that make them stand out from the other plants in your garden. They’re hardy enough to grow in USDA zones 3 to 11 and grow up to four feet tall in some locations. Plant it outside once all danger of frost has passed, and you won’t be disappointed.
11. Peacock Orchid
Peacock orchids are exotic summer bulbs that produce large, showy blooms. These flowers come in shades of pink, red, yellow, green, white, and purple with stunning patterns on the petals. They’re best known for their bright colors and unique shape. Plant it outside once all danger of frost has passed. The Peacock Orchid only blooms in the summer, so plant it in the spring for a beautiful summer display.
12. Iris
Irises are popular summer bulbs with showy blooms. These flowers come in shades of purple, blue, pink, red, yellow, and white and produce tall stems topped with sword-shaped petals. The foliage on these plants is also beautiful and comes in a variety of colors. Plant it outside once all danger of frost has passed. In addition, Iris also known as the ‘Queen of Flowers’ is a popular choice for people to plant in their yards. Additionally, Iris prefers full sun and moist, well-draining soil.
13. Gloriosa Lily
Gloriosa lilies are tropical summer bulbs known for their large, colorful blooms. These flowers come in shades of orange, red, yellow, pink, white, and purple and produce stems with wide petals that resemble fire. They’re often grown as annuals in colder climates because they only produce foliage in winter. Plant it outside once all danger of frost has passed. Gloriosa lily is a popular cut flower. Gloriosa lily prefers full sun and moist, well-draining soil.
14. African Lily
African lilies are summer bulbs best known for their large, colorful blooms. These flowers come in shades of pink, red, yellow, orange, white, and purple with unique star-shaped petals. They produce stems topped with wide blooms that resemble a starry night sky. African lily flower is popular in the summer, which makes this plant a choice for your flower garden. Plant it outside once all danger of frost has passed, and you won’t be disappointed.
15. Oxalis
Oxalis is a popular summer bulb that blooms in pink, red, purple, yellow, orange, and white. These flowers produce tall stems topped with umbrella-shaped petals. The foliage on these plants is also beautiful and comes in many colors. Plant it outside once all danger of frost has passed for the best results. Oxalis flower is popular with people who don’t know much about gardening.
16. Peruvian Daffodil
Peruvian daffodils are summer bulbs best known for their large, showy blooms. These flowers come in shades of red, yellow, orange, white, pink, and purple with unique multi-point petals that resemble a starry night sky. They produce tall stems topped with wide blooms that can grow up to six inches in diameter. These bulbs do best when planted outside once all danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed up.
17. Oriental Lily
Oriental lilies are summer bulbs known for their large, showy blooms. These flowers come in shades of yellow, orange, pink, red, purple, and white and produce tall stems topped with wide petals. They can tolerate a light frost. Oriental lily flowers are popular in the summer, which makes this plant a choice for your flower garden. Plant it outside once all danger of frost has passed for the best results. Also, Oriental lilies prefer well-draining garden soil.
18. Pineapple Lily
Pineapple lilies are summer bulbs that produce large, showy blooms. These flowers come in shades of red, orange, yellow, white, pink-purple, and green with unique ruffled petals that resemble a pineapple. They can tolerate a light frost. Plant it outside once all danger of frost has passed for the best results. Pineapple lily flowers are popular in the summer, which makes this plant a choice for your flower garden.
19. Resurrection Lily
Resurrection lilies are summer bulbs that produce tall stems topped with umbrella-shaped blooms. These flowers come in shades of yellow, white, pink, purple, and green with unique ruffled petals. They can tolerate a light frost. Plant it outside once all danger of frost has passed for the best results. Resurrection lily flowers are popular in the summer, which makes this plant a choice for your flower garden. In addition, Resurrection lilies prefer full sun and well-draining garden soil.
20. Rain Lily
Rain lilies are summer bulbs best known for their large, showy blooms. These flowers come in shades of yellow, white, pink-purple, and green with ruffled petals that resemble a rosebud opening up. They produce tall stems topped with umbrella-shaped blooms that can grow up to six inches in diameter. Plant it outside once all danger of frost has passed for the best results. Rain lily flowers are popular in the summer, which makes this plant a choice for your flower garden.
21. Freesia
Freesia flowers are summer bulbs that produce tall stems with large blooms. These flowers come in shades of pink-purple, white, yellow, and red with unique petals that resemble a lily or orchid. They can tolerate a light frost. Plant it outside once all danger of frost has passed for the best results. Freesia flowers are popular in the summer, which makes this plant a choice for your flower garden.
22. Polianthes tuberosa
Polianthes tuberosa is a summer bulb known for its large, showy blooms. These flowers come in shades of white, pink-purple, red, yellow, and orange with unique ruffled petals that resemble stars. Polianthes tuberosa plants produce thick foliage, and tall flower stems topped with umbrella-shaped blooms. Plant it outside once all danger of frost has passed for the best results. These flowers are popular in the summer, which makes this plant a choice for your flower garden.
23. Bearded Iris
Bearded iris flowers are summer bulbs known for their large, showy blooms. They produce tall stems topped with open blooms that can grow up to five inches in diameter. These flowers come in shades of pink-purple, yellow, white, blue-violet, red, and orange. Bearded iris plants accumulate dead leaves near the bottom of their stems, so it’s best to cut down any foliage that has died back before you plant them outside once all danger of frost has passed. Bearded iris flowers are popular in the summer, which makes this plant a choice for your flower garden.
24. Sparaxis
Sparaxis plants are summer bulbs that produce tall stems topped with umbrella-shaped blooms. These flowers come in shades of blue, purple, yellow, and orange with unique ruffled petals. Sparaxis plants accumulate dead leaves near the bottom of their stems, so it’s best to cut down any foliage that has died back before you plant them outside once all danger of frost has passed. Sparaxis flowers are popular in the summer, which makes this plant a choice for your flower garden.
25. Ixia
Ixia flowers are summer bulbs best known for their long, showy petals. These flowers come in shades of yellow, orange, pink-purple, red, and white with unique long ruffled petals that resemble a lily or orchid. Ixia plants accumulate dead leaves near the bottom of their stems, so it’s best to cut down any foliage that has died back before you plant them outside once all danger of frost has passed. Ixia flowers are popular in the summer, which makes this plant a choice for your flower garden.
Conclusion
Summer is one of the best seasons for gardening, and many people will focus on growing flowers. It is because summer flowers come in a wide variety of colors and types, including some of the most beautiful flowers on earth. One type of flower that deserves its category is the so-called “summer bulbs.” These are certain kinds of plants that bloom in the summer and produce large blooms. In summer, their foliage is generally minimal or non-existent, so you’ll only notice the flower itself. Some summer bulbs are true bulbs, while others are rhizomes.
