21 Best Summer Bulbs to Plant in March

There’s nothing like growing a fantastic flower garden in the summer. To do it successfully, get your favorite bulbs in the ground in spring. Plant them in March, after the risk of frost has passed or indoors in colder climates. 

Bulbs are small structures that grow in the ground. They contain all the plant’s genetic information and enough energy to produce fresh growth the following season. They work like tiny batteries that fuel the next season’s blooms. 

These varieties are incredibly easy to care for. They need basic maintenance and can survive after periods of neglect. They’ll grow in containers, hanging gardens, and patio containers. Plant them in shady spaces where other summer flowers won’t grow. 

Plant the tubers in March in well-drained soil. Start them indoors if you live in a colder climate. Water frequently and by summer, you’ll enjoy your first bright orange blooms. 

Calla Lily ‘Black Eyed Lady’

	botanical name Zantedeschia aethiopica ‘Black Eyed Lady’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 8-10

Calla lilies may not be true lilies but they’re just as impressive. The Black Eyed Lady varieties are some of the most impressive bloomers, with their soft yellow hues and black center. They’re so inviting that they look like plastic candies from the set of Willy Wonka—they’re actually poisonous, so don’t try them!

Plant them in well-drained soil with full to partial sun. They work magically in garden beds, containers, or as bordering flowers for yards. They’re incredibly easy to maintain as long as they get enough sun and water. Ensure frost has passed before planting.

Pair them with deep green evergreens and other perennial flowers. You can harvest them as cut flowers or give them away as gifts for green thumbs in the spring. 

Dahlia ‘Cloudy Sky’

	botanical name Dahlia ‘Cloudy Sky’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-6’
	hardiness zones 7-10

Dahlias are native to Central America and Mexico. They’ve become one of the most popular summer bulbs around the world. The ‘Cloudy Sky’ varieties are some of my favorites, with their multi-colored pink, white, and red hues. They almost resemble a Van Gogh painting. 

Plant them in full sun in March (or just after your last frost) in well-drained soil. Once they establish in your soil, they’ll last from summer to early fall. They need plenty of regular watering. They are relatively pest and disease-resistant, so they make perfect bulbs for beginning gardeners. 

Gladiolus ‘Fidelo’

	botanical name Gladiolus ‘Fidelo’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3-5’
	hardiness zones 7-10

Gladiolus are stunning bulbs in the Iris family. The ‘Fidelo’ varieties are some of my favorites, with fuchsia-colored flowers growing up their tall branches. They’re especially striking as border flowers in front yards and around garden beds. 

They’re incredibly easy to grow and maintain. Plant them in well-drained soil and water them regularly throughout the growing season. They’ll last from midsummer to early fall, just before the first frost arrives. If you have plenty of flowers in your garden, trim their stalks and use them as decorative flower arrangements. 

Lily ‘Casa Blanca Oriental’

	botanical name Lilium ‘Casa Blanca’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-6’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Lilies are some of the world’s most popular warm-weather bulbs. There are over 100 species of these majestic summer bloomers to choose from. The Casa Blanca varieties are my favorite, with their royal white blooms and mesmerizing fragrance. They smell like the sweetest floral perfume. 

Besides being beautiful and aromatic, these incredible flowers are very easy to grow. Plant your bulbs in well-drained soil in areas with some shade. Their blooms will last for several weeks through the summer. 

Begonia ‘Pink Double’

	botanical name Begonia ‘Pink Double’
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height Up to 18”
	hardiness zones 9-11

Pink double begonias are stunning pink blooms that appear throughout the warm season. They have big, double layered pedals with soft pink hues. When they bloom, they will be some of the fullest flowers in your garden, attracting pollinators like bees and hummingbirds. 

Plant these beautiful bulbs in containers, pots, or shaded garden beds. They’ll thrive under trees and in the corners of your yard. Plant them in well-drained soil in containers with plenty of drainage holes. Other than watching for over-watering and too much sun exposure, these begonias are very low maintenance. 

Pair these adorable flowers with trailing plants, lysimachia, and colorful Coleus plants. Keep them away from direct sun and they will thrive through the summer. 

Calla Lily ‘Golden Star’

	botanical name Zantedeschia aethiopica ‘Golden Star’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 8-10

Golden Star calla lilies are stunning summer flowers that bring luscious golden flowers to your garden. Their flowers resemble delicate yellow champagne flutes dancing above tropical looking green leaves. 

Plant them in March in well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. They thrive in garden beds or containers. Once they’re in the ground, you just have to monitor the soil moisture and water them occasionally in dry conditions. 

Once the summer arrives, they’ll shoot out brilliant yellow blooms and big green leaves. Plant them with other calla lily varieties for an array of colors in your summer garden. 

Dahlia ‘Deutschland’

	botanical name Dahlia ‘Deutschland’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-6’
	hardiness zones 7-10

Deutschland dahlias are as bold as a Berlin nightclub. They have dramatic red blooms that are up to 8 inches wide. If you’re looking for stunning showstoppers to plant in spring, these bulbs will do the job. 

Like most dahlias, the Deutschland varieties are incredibly easy to grow. Simply keep up with their watering and watch for signs of root rot. Their red blooms will last through the season and attract tons of beneficial pollinators to your garden. 

Gladiolus ‘Flirty’

	botanical name Gladiolus ‘Flirty’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3-6’
	hardiness zones 7-10

Flirty Gladiolus are surely enchanting, with their royal purple blooms and tall stems covered in blooms. They’ll last through the summer and into fall. They’re so beautiful that they may take away from other flowers in your garden. 

Plant these bulbs in early spring after the last threat of frost has passed. Choose a sunny garden bed or container with high-quality well-drained soil. Their tall blooms will last through summer and into fall. 

Like other gladiolus, these purple bloomers are low maintenance. Even if you have zero experience growing bulbs, you’ll find these amazing plants effortless to grow. 

Begonia ‘Red Double’

	botanical name Begonia ‘Red Double’
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height Up to 18”
	hardiness zones 9-11

The Grateful Dead were on to something when they wrote the song Scarlet Begonias. Red Double begonias fit that romantic summer evening vibe the band was going for. They have multiple layers of bright red ruffled pedals and dark green foliage. 

They’ll grow incredibly well in containers or shady areas of your garden. Grow them in hanging gardens indoors and use them for pops of color where other flowers won’t grow. They make excellent hedges around shady areas under trees and buildings. 

Plant these bright red begonias outdoors after the last frost. Make sure they’re hollow side up and get them between 1 or 2 inches deep in well-drained soil. Keep the soil nice and moist but not waterlogged. You should get epic red blooms as soon as the weather warms up in summer. 

Calla Lily ‘Pasja’

	botanical name Zantedeschia aethiopica ‘Pasja’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 8-10

Pasja calla lilies are so gorgeous they’ll distract you from all your other garden plants. They’re one of my favorite summer bulbs, with their mesmerizing pink to purple hues. They’re almost like psychedelic champagne flutes dancing in your garden. 

Plant them in March for stunning blooms in summer. They can highlight other lily varieties or be the stars of your flower garden. They also work well in containers and pots. If you have a special antique pot, these flowers will make it shine. 

Like other calla lilies, they need well-drained soil and natural sunlight. They can handle some shade or full sun so they’ll be right at home anywhere in your garden. 

Lily ‘Salmon Party Oriental’

	botanical name Lilium ‘Salmon Party Oriental’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-6’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Salmon Party Oriental lilies are truly incredible. They have white to soft orange flowers with crimson to red freckles. They almost look like their namesake with their coloration. Like other lilies, they have a soft and enchanting fragrance. 

These bulbs are easy to grow and maintain. Plant them in areas with plenty of direct sun for the best blooms. Use well-drained soil and grow them in containers or garden beds. Use them in patios and entryways to fill the spaces with luscious aromas. 

Gladiolus ‘Jester’

	botanical name Gladiolus ‘Jester’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3-5’
	hardiness zones 7-10

There’s nothing funny about Jester varieties. They’re truly stunning, with yellow petals and red accents. They’re truly amazing and easy to grow and maintain. 

They grow long stems covered in bright flowers. They grow best in full sun and become some of the brightest flowers in your garden. Plant bulbs 4 to 6 inches deep in well-drained soil in spring just after the last frost. Keep their soil moist but not soggy, and they’ll flourish through the season. 

Begonia ‘White Double’

	botanical name Begonia ‘White Double’
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height Up to 18”
	hardiness zones 9-11

White Double begonias are stunning snow-colored flowers that bloom brightly in the summer. They’re incredibly easy to grow and maintain. Even if you’ve never grown flowering bulbs before, you’ll have no problems with these begonia varieties. 

These bulbs last from spring to early fall. They thrive in shady spaces, including patios, sides of homes, and wooded areas. Grow them in containers or hanging containers where their white flowers can drape out of. 

Plant them in well-drained soil in partial to full shade. Get them in the ground shortly after the last frost in March or start them in containers indoors. Plant them with other colorful begonias to add a touch of white framing. 

Dahlia ‘La Luna’

	botanical name Dahlia ‘La Luna’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-6’
	hardiness zones 7-10

La Luna dahlias are some of the most delicate and romantic flowers you can grow. They thrive all summer long and look like large bouquets of moonlight. Their soft yellow hue can appear soft cream or white. 

Plant them in March after the last threat of frost has passed. They grow best in full sun or partial shade in well-drained soil. 

Try these dahlias in containers around your garden or home. Cut a few flowers to use as indoor bouquets or summer flower arrangements. 

Calla Lily ‘Red Alert’

	botanical name Zantedeschia aethiopica ‘Red Alert’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 8-10

Red Alert calla lilies look like red lipstick sculptures decorating your garden. They’re one of the most vivid summer bloomers you can grow. Grow them for bold red hues that attract beneficial pollinators to your garden. 

They are easy to grow and maintain and are relatively pest and disease-resistant. Plant them in well-drained soil after your last frost and make sure their soil stays moist through the growing season. 

Whether you’re planting them in containers or garden beds, they’ll make striking additions to your garden. Try growing them with White Double begonias and blue hydrangeas for the ultimate 4th of July flower bouquet. 

Begonia ‘Yellow Double’

	botanical name Begonia ‘Yellow Double’
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height Up to 14”
	hardiness zones 9-11

Yellow Double begonias are colorful begonias to plant in March. They’ll produce stunning yellow flowers throughout the summer. They appear like ruffled yellow roses with green foliage and vibrant multilayered blooms. 

After the last threat of frost has passed, get them started directly outdoors or indoors in containers. Plant them hollow side up about 1 to 2 inches deep in well-drained soil. 

These incredibly easy to grow flowers require very little maintenance. Like other ‘Double’ varieties of begonias, they prefer plenty of shade. These varieties do especially well in hanging baskets along porches and outdoor patios shaded by trees. 

Dahlia ‘Wittem’

	botanical name Dahlia ‘Wittem’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-6’
	hardiness zones 7-10

‘Wittem’ varieties are gorgeous bulbs that have timeless white flowers that resemble crystal chandeliers. Their complex shapes look stunning in containers or outdoor garden beds. They grow so abundantly that you can clip away flower stalks and grow them in ornamental vases. 

These summer bloomers prefer well-drained soil and plenty of sunlight. Plant them 1 to 2 inches deep with their tuber’s eye facing towards you. They’ll last through summer and into fall. 

Calla Lily ‘Apricot Frost’

	botanical name Zantedeschia aethiopica ‘Apricot Frost’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 8-10

‘Apricot Frost’ calla lilies have soft pink to apricot colored petals that add a touch of soft color to your garden. They’re easy to grow and maintain and work well planted with other more dramatic calla lily varieties. 

Plant them after the last frost and grow them in well-drained soil. They thrive in full sun or partial shade. They’ll last through summer and even into fall. If you want flowers you can depend on through the season, these are them. 

Lily ‘Stargazer Oriental’

	botanical name Lilium ‘Stargazer’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-6’
	hardiness zones 3-9

‘Stargazer’ lilies have incredible pink flowers with icing-white trim and vibrant crimson freckles. They look like they belong in a tropical rainforest. Like other lilies, they have a fragrance that will put you in a trance. 

Grow these showstoppers in garden beds or containers. Plant them 4 to 6 inches deep in well-drained soil. Maintain a consistent watering schedule and watch them grow vigorously. They’re great for bouquets and romantic flower cuttings in vases. 

Canna Lily ‘Yellow Futurity’

	botanical name Canna ‘Yellow Futurity’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 6-10

‘Yellow Futurities’ are great canna lily varieties that are low maintenance and stunning. They’re magnificent blooms that last all summer. Their blooms look like stunning yellow bananas growing on exotic foliage.