Welcome Spring with Colorful, Long-Lasting Blooms from Spring Bulbs.
Spring is the perfect time to bring vibrant colors into your garden with spring-flowering bulbs. By planting in the fall, you can enjoy a continuous burst of color for months, complementing your spring-flowering trees, shrubs, and other flowers.
Start early with snowdrops, one of the first blooms to appear as winter fades. These delicate white flowers grow on plants between six and ten inches tall, making them perfect for rock gardens, borders, and informal landscapes. They thrive in sunny or partly shaded areas.
Add more color with crocuses, which come in shades of white, purple, lavender, and yellow. The Large Flowering Pickwick variety is particularly eye-catching, with its white petals streaked with purple and vibrant red-orange stamens. Be mindful of wildlife, though—crocuses are a favorite for critters, so you may need to protect them with a repellent as they emerge.
For continuous color throughout the season, select a mix of early, mid, and late spring tulips and daffodils. Check plant labels or use guides like Longfield Gardens’ Bloom Times Guide to help plan for a colorful display that lasts up to three months.
For early spring, consider Emperor, Kaufmanniana, and Greigii tulips. The Double Early Foxtrot tulip is another great choice, known for its peony-like blooms and pink petals ranging from soft white to deep rose. Its sturdy stems make it a durable option for various weather conditions.
Mid-spring brings Darwin Hybrid and Triumph tulips, such as the glowing, two-toned Apricot Impression. As a Darwin hybrid, it offers long-lasting blooms. Finish the season with dramatic parrot tulips, fringed tulips, and lily tulips, along with other late-blooming varieties to extend your garden’s display and provide flowers for arrangements.
Don’t forget daffodils, which come in many shapes and sizes. Some have long trumpets, while others have short or split trumpets. The blooms can be one solid color, or have contrasting trumpet and petal colors. The Cyclamineus Tete-a-Tete daffodil is a charming option for early to mid-spring. Although it stands only seven inches tall, its bright yellow flowers, often three per stem, are noticeable from afar.
Pair mid-spring tulips and daffodils with Armenian grape hyacinths for a splash of cobalt-blue. These small, fragrant flowers last for weeks and are a beautiful addition to any part of your garden.
To transition from spring to summer, consider planting Purple Sensation alliums. These late-spring bloomers feature four-inch purple globe-shaped flowers atop tall, sturdy stems. Critter-resistant like daffodils and hyacinths, they also make excellent additions to fresh and dried flower arrangements.
This fall, take time to plant a variety of spring bulbs to enjoy a beautiful, long-lasting garden. By selecting bulbs that bloom at different times, you’ll have months of continuous color and beauty.