7 Bulbs We’re Planting Now for Summer Blooms
Summer blooming bulbs offer gorgeous blossoms after many other plants finish flowering. They’re easy to care for, lying dormant from fall through winter. Seasoned grower Jerad Bryant shares these seven favorite bulbs; plant them in late winter for midsummer blooms!
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When you talk of planting bulbs, most growers think of tulips, daffodils, and snowdrops. Though these spring-blooming bulbs are lovely, they’re nowhere near as showy as summer-blooming bulbs! From begonias to dahlias, these species bloom vivid, large, and uniquely shaped flowers.
Though gorgeous, these summer lovers prefer warm temperatures year-round; they’ll struggle in climates with recurring winter frosts. Cold climate gardeners fear not—you can also grow these summer bloomers! Instead of leaving them in the ground, you’ll dig them up in autumn and store them in an indoor location that’s cool and dark for the winter.
Whether you love lilies, gladiolus, dahlias, or begonias, there’s an option on this list for you. We cover several popular varieties of each kind so you can choose your favorites. Without further ado, here are the seven bulbs we’re planting now to ensure vibrant summer blooms.
Tuberous Begonia
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common name Tuberous Begonia |
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botanical name Begonia spp. |
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sun requirements Partial to full shade |
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height 1-2’ |
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hardiness zones 10-12 |
Tuberous begonias are worth their difficult care requirements. They grow lower to the ground than most begonias, forming cute and compact structures. Lush and fleshy green leaves sometimes have white venation. Some varieties have purple or maroon leaves!
The blooms are more spectacular than the leaves—they resemble camellia flowers, with double or single petals arranged in perfect symmetry. They come in colors like orange, white, and pink, and some varieties have multi-colored flowers.
Tuberous begonias are frost tender. They’ll survive outdoors from USDA hardiness zones 10 through 12. In zones 9 and below, dig up the tubers in the fall after their leaves wither. Store them with perlite or dry sand in a cool location like an unheated garage or root cellar. Plant them in pots indoors two or three months before your last average spring frost date, and transplant them outdoors after the date.
Popular Varieties
Which variety is right for you depends on your favorite color! The best begonias are the ones you enjoy looking at. Try double types, as they offer blooms with many rows of petals instead of a single row.
Look for ‘Orange Double,’ ‘Red Double,’ or ‘Yellow Double’ for fiery shades! ‘White Double’ and ‘Pink Double’ are better for gardeners who prefer soft shades in their yard.
Canna Lily
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common name Canna Lily |
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botanical name Canna x generalis |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 2-6’ |
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hardiness zones 8-11 |
Though canna lilies have lilies in their name, they’re not true lilies! They’re tropical beauties that are slightly frost-resistant. Tall, fleshy stems emerge from underground rhizomes. Off the stems sprout strappy green leaves that resemble those of bananas.
Fiery blooms in shades of red, yellow, and peach emerge at the tips of canna stems. Unlike most other plants, this species survives in soil or ponds, working well as an aquatic plant in freshwater systems. Gradually expose it to water by dunking it for short periods. After a week or two the plant should fare well in water for the rest of the growing season.
If you leave the blooms after they fade, fleshy seeds will form inside bumpy, rough seed pods. You may collect the seeds to try growing seedlings. Chop off the spent blossoms if you don’t intend to cultivate the seedlings; the plant will redirect its energy toward producing more flowers!
Popular Varieties
Three main varieties are our favorites. ‘The President’ is perfect for red lovers; it has blooms with multiple rows of scarlet petals. ‘Yellow Futurity’ offers lemon-colored flowers, while ‘Apricot Frost’ has subtle peachy shades.
Calla Lily
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common name Calla Lily |
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botanical name Zantedeschia spp. |
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sun requirements Full sun to full shade |
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height 1-3’ |
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hardiness zones 7-10 |
Calla lilies, like cannas, aren’t true lilies though their flowers look like lily flowers! They sprout cup-shaped blossoms and long, fleshy green leaves. Underneath the soil, they bud from hardy corms that allow them to resist drought, frost, and intense sunlight.
Calla lilies typically sprout white blooms with yellow floral parts inside. Because of their popularity, breeders created new types with yellow, red, orange, and purple blossoms for home gardeners. These colorful cultivars are gorgeous, though they’re often less hardy than calla lily species.
Most callas thrive year-round in warm zones 7 through 10. In cold regions, dig up the corms in the fall and overwinter them indoors to protect them from frost. Or, pot up the bulbs in containers and treat your specimens like houseplants!
Popular Varieties
Many calla lilies exist, but these gorgeous cultivars stand out. ‘Pasja’ is unlike any other type; it sprouts deep purple blooms that shift to light pink as they age! Another unique type is the ‘Black Eyed Lady.’ It sports creamy yellow-white blossoms with dark throats at the center around the yellow floral parts.
If you prefer solid colors, opt for ‘Golden Star’ or ‘Red Alert.’ ‘Golden Star’ grows green leaves with white speckles and bright yellow blossoms. ‘Red Alert’ grows scarlet-red flowers, as its name suggests.
Dahlia
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common name Dahlia |
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botanical name Dahlia spp. |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 1-6’ |
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hardiness zones 7-10 |
Don’t trust anyone who says they dislike dahlias—they’re one of the most intricate, stunning, and bodacious blooming plants gardeners enjoy! Species, cultivars, and hybrids offer limitless possibilities of flower color, shape, and size.
The American Dahlia Society acknowledges 29 different groups of dahlias based on their flower type. Look for groups like cactus, semi-cactus, pompon, and anemone. They’re some of the most cultivated types worldwide.
Not only do dahlia flowers exhibit incredible characteristics, but so too do their leaves! Some are deep black-purple while others are bright or dark green. They sprout from underground tubers, like potatoes, that allow them to stay hardy in warm regions.
Popular Varieties
Choose dahlias that you like to look at. There are hundreds of hybrids, and it pays to be choosy! I love red dahlias like ‘Deutschland,’ as their scarlet petals stand out under direct sunlight. Yellow lovers should try ‘La Luna,’ a perfect type with many rows of creamy yellow petals.
Other hybrids display many colors in their blooms! ‘Cloudy Sky’ offers splashes of pink, red, and white to form the perfect Valentine’s Day combination. ‘Orange Nugget’ is similar, though it has peachy outer petals and bright orange inner ones.
Gladiolus
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common name Gladiolus |
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botanical name Gladiolus spp. |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 1-6’ |
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hardiness zones 7-10 |
Gladiolus also goes by sword lily because of its sword-like leaves! They’re tall, perky, and straight with pointed ends. Long, slender flowering spikes with blossoms all along the stem grow from the center of the foliage clumps.
You’ll often see these flowers in bouquets from florist’s shops. They perform well after you cut them, continuously blooming long after removal from the plant.
I recently dried some gladiolus spikes and was surprised to find them blooming a week after I removed them from the water! Though they may continue opening without water, it’s best to leave them submerged so they stay perky and fresh.
Popular Varieties
We picked these cultivars for their exceptional ornamental qualities and easy caretaking needs. ‘Flirty’ sprouts dozens of dark purple blossoms with white stripes. It’s perfect for cut flower arrangements! ‘Helvetia’ is another multi-color type. Its flowers have pale white centers and red outer margins.
Single-color types are equally as beautiful! Look for ‘White Prosperity’ if you like white blossoms, and choose ‘Fidelio’ if you prefer pink-fuschia shades.
Oriental Lily
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common name Oriental Lily |
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botanical name Lilium spp. |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 1-6’ |
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hardiness zones 3-9 |
Oriental lilies are true lilies! They’re arguably the showiest, with large statures, giant blossoms, and triangular leaves. The blooms come in all sorts of colors, sizes, and structures, and they sprout from belowground bulbs. They’re also incredibly fragrant!
Hardier than most other summer bloomers on this list, these plants survive from zones 3 through 9, depending on the species or cultivar. Plant them in early spring; they’ll erupt with flowers later than most other species, during late summer or early fall.
If you’d like blooms sooner than late summer, you may force the bulbs to grow earlier than usual. Plant them in pots indoors during late winter, and transplant them outdoors after the danger of frost passes in your region.
Popular Varieties
‘Casa Blanca’ is a classic white cultivar that resembles Easter lilies. It grows three or four feet tall and is perfect for borders, tree wells, or pollinator gardens; the blossoms attract pollinators and ants.
Two other hybrids are precious treasures in North America. Look for ‘Salmon Party’ for creamy white and orange blossoms with brown speckles. One of the most popular types is the ‘Stargazer’ lily. It’s similar to ‘Salmon Party’ except its petals are crimson with pink margins and brown spots, and its blooms stand up instead of down.
Asiatic Lily
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common name Asiatic Lily |
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botanical name Lilium spp. |
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sun requirements Full sun to partial shade |
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height 2-5’ |
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hardiness zones 4-8 |
Asiatic lilies are like the oriental hybrids, except they’re shorter and more compact. The blooms aren’t fragrant, though they often have more variegation and variation than the oriental types. They’re early bloomers, erupting with flowers in spring or early summer.
When you plant both Asiatic and oriental hybrids, you’ll have gorgeous blossoms in your yard during the entire growing season. There will be no shortage of color!
These stunning plants grow from underground bulbs that spread over time. After a few years of growth, you can divide the clumps and propagate the small offsets in new locations. Easy to grow, stunning, and hardy, these lily species are essential bulbs in the flower garden.
Popular Varieties
These three Asiatic cultivars are some of the showiest varieties. ‘Red Velvet’ resembles tiger lilies, though its petals are red with brown specks instead of orange. ‘Patricia’s Pride’ offers multi-color petals with maroon throats and cream-white margins.
Double petal varieties lack pollen for pollinators, though they’re attractive in cut flower bouquets. ‘Sundew Double’ is the perfect example of a double petal type. It sports multiple rows of yellow petals with brown specks throughout.
