21 Longest-Flowering Bulbs to Plant This Season

Fall is the time to plant those spring and summer-flowering bulbs, where a little effort now has big, colorful, blooming payoffs later. Long flowering selections make the effort even more worthwhile. 

Whether long-blooming within the season or offering years of returning color, options abound for selections that combine simultaneous, complementary flowering or that can stand alone to anchor the display.

Tulip ‘China Town’

	botanical name Tulipa ‘China Town’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12”
	hardiness zones 3-8

Viridiflora tulips are among the longest-blooming, lasting for three weeks in late spring. They extend the display as earlier bloomers fade, lovely in a mixed planting arrangement or underplanted in pots for a late show.

In addition to their long-lasting flowers are distinct petal markings. Each one has a rich green-feathered streak down the center. ‘China Town’ offers the prettiest contrast in pale pink and moss green. The foliage has creamy margins that highlight the cupped petals.

Viridiflora is the smallest of the tulip groups and houses unique beauties like ‘China Town,’ as well as green selections and richer tones. ‘China Town’ is an Award of Garden Merit recipient from the Royal Horticultural Society. ‘Artist’ in rich orange, ‘Esperanto’ in rose pink, and ‘Spring Green’ in elegant white are other award-winning Viridifloras.

Daffodil ‘Tete-a-Tete’

	botanical name Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-8”
	hardiness zones 3-9

Daffodils burst into color in late winter and early spring with trumpet blooms that herald the season. Their cups of yellow, white, apricot, and pink petals are classic cool season showstoppers.

Plant daffodil bulbs in the fall and choose varieties with staggered bloom times (early, mid, and late seasons) for weeks of color. ‘Tete-a-tete’ is an early-season daffodil with buttery yellow cups and multiple blooms per stem. It’s one of the first to flower with numerous buds. The RHS Award of Garden Merit winner is a sturdy, floriferous dwarf variety.

Daffodils are gorgeous en masse. Cluster bulbs in groupings at three to six inches apart. You can also “force” daffodil bulbs (and others like hyacinths and tulips) indoors to have them bloom earlier than they would in the winter landscape.

Allium ‘Globemaster’

	botanical name Allium ‘Globemaster’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 20-30”
	hardiness zones 5-8

‘Globemaster’ is a hallmark of giant ornamental alliums with spheres of purple florets that measure 10 inches across. Stout stems hold the impressive globes upright for their May display. 

Densely-packed deep lavender florets have a silvery sheen. As each fades, a new floret replaces it for an extended bloom time. After flowering, the petals dry and turn tawny for lasting interest into summer. 

‘Globemaster’ is a sterile variety, so reseeding isn’t an issue. The outstanding performer is an RHS Award of Garden Merit recipient. In addition to planting new bulbs, fall is the time to dig, divide, and transplant existing ornamental allium bulbs.

Fritillaria ‘Crown Imperial Lutea Maxima ’

	botanical name Fritillaria imperialis ‘Lutea Maxima’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-4’
	hardiness zones 5-8

Fritillaria is an elegant and underutilized flowering perennial bulb. Delicate stems give way to pendulous bell blooms that are solid, checkered, or spotted. North American native species like F. affinis and F. biflora make unique wildflower and naturalized planting additions.

A favorite among the genus are the Crown imperial cultivars in yellow, orange, and red. The drooping blooms rise on tall, sturdy stems with a flared, leafy crown in glossy green.

‘Lutea Maxima’ has clear yellow flowers and a long bloom time. Its exotic ornamental value and performance gained it Award of Garden Merit status.

Glory of the Snow

	botanical name Chionodoxa luciliae
	sun requirements Full to part sun
	height 4-6 inches
	hardiness zones 3-8

Glory of the snow is a late winter bloomer, its green shoots popping up through the snow in February and March. Star-shaped purple-blue florets with white centers shine in the quiet landscape. C. luciliae is a larger-flowered species with multiple buds and stems per bulb. 

Foliage fades by late spring or early summer, but glory of the snow naturalizes and self-seeds easily, though not considered invasive. Glory of the snow makes a beautiful winter garden embellishment, ground cover, rock garden planting, and woodland bloom.

Plant bulbs in the fall, placing them close together, two to three inches apart, and three inches deep in the soil.

Foxtail Lily ‘Shelford Pink’

	botanical name Eremurus x isabellinus ‘Shelford Pink’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3-4’
	hardiness zones 5-8

Foxtail lily is a bulbous perennial with towering bloom spikes in late spring. Strappy blue-green leaves form a basal rosette that supports tall, stout stems. The tiny flowers comprise bushy foxtail racemes and open from the bottom to the top.

The Shelford hybrids represent strong-performing cultivars in pink, orange, white, pink, and yellow. The hybrids are available in a mix for a delicious blend of colors. ‘Shelford Pink’ shimmers in pale blush with a sweep of elegance.

Add mulch for winter protection in lower zones. The foliage goes dormant in the summer after flowering.

Hellebore ‘Mother of the Bride’

	botanical name Helleborus ‘Mother of the Bride’
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 18-24”
	hardiness zones 4-9

Hellebores, or lenten roses, feature decorative, nodding blooms atop handsome palmate leaves. Lenten roses bloom in late winter and early spring, with exquisite single or double blooms that can last for two to three months.

‘Mother of the Bride’ bears three-inch flowers in pale apricot with tinges of pink along the edges. The frilly hellebore is part of the Wedding Party series of double-flowering selections. Like Wedding Party, the Honeymoon series boasts improved vigor and numerous blooms per plant but with single flowers. ‘Sandy Shores’ warms the garden with tropical pale peach flowers and deep rose undersides.

Lenten roses are beautiful in a mass. They spread slowly to form a colony, growing best in consistently moist, average soil and dappled light.

Bearded Iris ‘Stairway to Heaven’

	botanical name Iris germanica ‘Stairway to Heaven’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3-4’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Bearded iris brings spring flowers that last into summer. The repeat bloomers experience another flush in the fall.

Bearded iris bears large, ruffly flowers in a rainbow of colors. ‘Stairway to Heaven’ brings decadent, frilly blooms with creamy white standards (upper petals) and denim blue falls (lower petals).

Irises divide easily if you want to expand the colony into other garden areas or if crowding reduces vigor. Replant the divided rhizomes anytime after flowering until one month before the first anticipated autumn frost.

Snowdrops ‘Viridi-apice’

	botanical name Galanthus nivalis ‘Viridi-apice’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 8-10”
	hardiness zones 3-7

Snowdrops bring delicate white bell-shaped blooms and a light, fresh perfume to the late winter landscape. Often appearing through frosty ground, snowdrops bloom as early as January.

‘Viridi-apice’ has unique green tips to its white inner petals and green blotches on its outer petals. It brings a fresh look and a more robust habit than the species.

Plant snowdrops in the fall for late winter blooming, placing them two to three inches apart and four inches deep. Their subtle beauty is ideal for woodlands, naturalized settings, and along pathways. Snowdrops spread to form colonies; divide clumps when they become crowded.

Lily ‘Peppard Gold’

	botanical name Lilium martagon ‘Peppard Gold’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4′
	hardiness zones 3-8

Lilies are beacons of summer with gorgeous trumpet blooms and rich, sweet fragrance. The floral perfume is most intense on summer mornings and evenings to draw in pollinators.

Available in many species and cultivars, from trumpet lilies to Asiatic lilies to tiger lilies, the main feature is prominent, symmetrical blooms. L. martagon ‘Peppard Gold’ is a species lily with pink buds that open to yellow-orange petals blushed in pink with red freckles. Petals uniformly recurve (arch backward). Each stem produces up to 30 of the fragrant blossoms. The vigorous growers naturalize for years of recurrent color.

Lilies emerge with new growth in the spring, growing and flowering through the summer months until yellowing and dying back in the fall. Divide bulbs as they grow to produce more lilies.

Winter Aconite

	botanical name Eranthis hyemalis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6”
	hardiness zones 3-7

To complement snowdrops and glory of the snow, winter aconite flowering bulbs (actually tubers) bring cheer to the winter scene. Bright yellow buttercup flowers appear on low, petite stems. Leaves shoot up among late winter snow and yield a profusion of the pin-cushion blooms.

Winter aconite makes the most significant impact when planted close together (two to three inches apart and three inches deep). Soak tubers overnight before planting in autumn. Winter aconite is dormant in the warm season but still requires some moisture during dormancy.

Amaryllis ‘Red Lion’

	botanical name Hippeastrum ‘Red Lion’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-2’
	hardiness zones 8-11

Amaryllis boasts an extended bloom time ranging from six to ten weeks and up to three months! With large, bold blooms in a variety of colors, it makes a gorgeous garden or houseplant addition.

Amaryllis bulbs flower once annually, and while we associate them with the holidays, their natural bloom time is in late spring to early summer. They bloom indoors at other times of the year by forcing the bulbs.

Fall is perfect for planting amaryllis in the garden bed for warm-climate gardeners. The bulbs need vernalization, or exposure to temperatures of 50-55°F (10-13°C) for a minimum of eight to ten weeks. The blooms offer years of recurring color.

Amaryllis ‘Red Lion’ is a large-flowering variety in rich crimson. It brings months of color with multiple blooms per stem. The bigger the bulb, typically the longer the flowering.

English Bluebells

	botanical name Hyacinthoides non-scripta
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-1.5’
	hardiness zones 5-8

English bluebells add a sweet splash of blue-violet with their graceful bell flowers. The fragrant blooms suspend from arching stems above dense, leafy crowns for about five weeks in spring and summer.

Bluebells enchant not only in flower but also in lore as fairy creations that lure humans to a life of lost wandering. Picking or trampling the bluebells is to ring the fairies to seal one’s fate. 

Bluebells grow best in moist conditions, with a natural habitat of stream banks, wet meadows, and damp woodlands. They need good air circulation to prevent mildew diseases.

Allium ‘Powder Puff’

	botanical name Allium ‘Powder Puff’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 14-18”
	hardiness zones 4-8

‘Powder Puff’ features the high ornament of purple-floret spheres in a more compact, cold-hardy form. This ornamental onion bears deep purple, tennis-ball-sized blooms in late spring and early summer for the border or container display.

Pollinators and other beneficial insects flock to the vibrant flowers. It’s easy to plant these prolific bloomers as single bulbs and leave them until the spring show. Provide well-drained soil and extra winter mulch in lower hardiness zones.

Tulip ‘Golden Parade’

	botanical name Tulipa ‘Golden Parade’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Darwin hybrids bear the most potential of the modern hybrid tulips in perennializing and are also long-blooming. Their true tulip form is simple and elegant, with cupped blooms in rich shades and vivid colors. 

These famous bulbs produce large and stately flowers on tall stems. ‘Golden Parade’ in clear, sunny yellow is instant cheer. Other cultivars range from pure pink (‘Pink Impression’) to bright red (‘Parade’).

Tulips are short-lived and bloom for a few years before fading. Because their vigor is best the first year, many gardeners grow tulips as annuals or short-lived perennials.

Crocus ‘Flower Record’

	botanical name Crocus vernus ‘Flower Record’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-6”
	hardiness zones 4-8

Crocus are the tufts of fine blades and cupped blooms that pop up like sweet surprises in drifts, along walkways, and in grassy areas. They bloom in early spring and last for about three weeks, with flowers that open by day and close at night.

‘Flower Record’ has large, royal purple blooms and a contrasting orange, ruffled center. It naturalizes well, slowly spreading to form a cluster that may benefit from dividing after several years.

Like many of our other spring-flowering favorites, foliage goes dormant after flowering and with warming temperatures. Employ crocus in the front of the border or edge of the potted arrangement with daffodils, tulips, bluebells, and hyacinths.

Camas Lily

	botanical name Camassia spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-4’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Camas lilies are North American natives that naturalize in optimal conditions. They have a long ethnobotanical history surrounding the edible roots. 

Camas lily has tall, upright bloom spikes loaded with starry lavender-blue flowers, drawing all pollinators in April and May. Flowers open from bottom to top and make showy cut specimens. It’s beautiful in meadows, wildflower gardens, and naturalized displays or among perennials that will conceal its fading foliage post-bloom.

Plant camas in groups for impact, with each bulb six inches apart. It grows best in moist, rich, acidic soils. 

Daffodil ‘Salome’

	botanical name Narcissus ‘Salome’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-2’
	hardiness zones 3-8

‘Salome’ is an exquisite peaches-and-cream mid-season bloomer. Partnered with early and late-flowering daffodils, ‘Salome’ spans the heart of spring and adds to weeks of lasting flowering.

‘Salome’ is a popular large-cupped variety and an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner. Its solitary flowers have a peachy-yellow cup surrounded by creamy petals. The tall, upright stems are a good fit for the border, container, and vase as cut flowers. 

Hyacinth ‘Carnegie’

	botanical name Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Carnegie’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 8-12”
	hardiness zones 4-8

Hyacinth ushers in warming temperatures with blooming wands of color and fragrance. Flowers emerge on a single stem in white, pink, lavender, gold, or blue with an intensely sweet perfume.

‘Carnegie’ has large, densely-packed spikes of snowy white florets. They make gorgeous woodland plantings, naturalizing under tree canopies. Easily divide bulbs to reduce crowding and expand the colony.

Pair hyacinth with other spring bloomers like daffodils and tulips. Bring fragrance inside with a single snip – one bloom fills the room with sweetness.

Anemone ‘Blue Shades’

	botanical name Anemone blanda ‘Blue Shades’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4-8”
	hardiness zones 5-8

Also called windflower, these anemones create a carpet of lilac-blue blooms. The clump-forming perennial spreads through seeds and rhizomes to form a ground cover of deep, ferny foliage.

‘Blue Shades’ is a standout with rich blue, daisy-like flowers. Yellow eye centers give a delicate contrast. Plant the bulbs (tubers) this season within 2-3” of each other for a drift of blooms in April.

Windflower requires good drainage to thrive. During the growing season, they prefer humusy, moist soils. Protect plants from drying winds and sun.

Peony ‘Coral Sunset’

	botanical name Paeonia ‘Coral Sunset’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Charming peonies are full-flowered, often semi-double or double, with large, ruffled petals. They bloom once a season, from late spring to early summer, and choosing a few with different bloom times prolongs the seasonal display.

‘Coral Sunset’ glows in warm apricot-orange on strong stems that don’t need staking. The semi-double flower features rose overtones with yellow stamens at the center. ‘Coral Sunset’ is an America Peony Society Gold Medal Selection, and flowers are early to bloom in spring.