Flowers that grow from bulbs are cherished for their ability to store energy underground, ensuring vibrant blooms year after year. These plants emerge from specialized structures like true bulbs, corms, or tubers, which hold nutrients to fuel growth. Their life cycle often involves a period of dormancy, making them low-maintenance choices for gardeners.
The diversity of these flowers is remarkable, offering a spectrum of colors, shapes, and sizes. From delicate, star-shaped blossoms to bold, trumpet-like forms, they cater to various aesthetic preferences. Some produce fragrant blooms, while others are prized for their striking architectural shapes, perfect for borders, containers, or naturalized settings.
Bloom times vary widely, spanning late winter to fall, depending on the species and climate. Early bloomers may push through snow, signaling spring’s arrival, while others dazzle in summer or add color to autumn gardens. Heights range from a few inches to several feet, allowing for versatile placement in landscapes.
Most thrive in well-drained soil and prefer full sun to partial shade, though specific needs differ. Planting typically occurs in fall for spring blooms or spring for summer displays. In colder regions, tender types require lifting and storing over winter to protect them from frost.
These flowers are ideal for both novice and experienced gardeners due to their resilience and ability to naturalize. With proper care, such as allowing foliage to die back naturally to nourish the bulb, they can provide reliable beauty for years, enhancing gardens with minimal effort.
Flowers That Grow From Bulbs
Tulip (Tulipa spp.)
Tulips are iconic spring flowers with cup-shaped blooms in a wide range of colors, including red, yellow, pink, purple, white, and bi-colors. They have long, slender stems and broad, lance-shaped leaves.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Early to late spring, depending on the variety.
- Height: 6–24 inches (15–60 cm).
Daffodil (Narcissus spp.)
Daffodils feature trumpet-shaped flowers, typically yellow or white, with a central corona (trumpet) surrounded by six petals. Leaves are long, narrow, and grass-like.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Early to mid-spring.
- Height: 6–20 inches (15–50 cm).
Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis)
Hyacinths produce dense, fragrant flower spikes with star-shaped blooms in shades of blue, purple, pink, white, or red. Leaves are strap-like and glossy.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Mid spring.
- Height: 6–12 inches (15–30 cm).
Crocus (Crocus spp.)
Crocuses are small, goblet-shaped flowers in purple, white, yellow, or lavender, often with delicate veining. They have grass-like leaves with a white central stripe.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Late winter to early spring.
- Height: 3–6 inches (7–15 cm).
Allium (Allium spp.)
Alliums, or ornamental onions, produce spherical clusters of star-shaped flowers in purple, pink, white, or blue atop tall, sturdy stems. Leaves are long and strap-like.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer.
- Height: 6 inches–4 feet (15 cm–1.2 m), depending on variety.
Iris (Iris spp., bulbous types like Dutch Iris)
Bulbous irises, such as Dutch Iris, have elegant, orchid-like flowers in blue, purple, white, or yellow, with three upright petals and three downward sepals. Leaves are narrow and sword-like.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer.
- Height: 18–24 inches (45–60 cm).
Lily (Lilium spp.)
Lilies feature large, trumpet-shaped or bowl-shaped flowers in white, pink, red, orange, yellow, or bi-colors, often with freckles or bold patterns. Leaves are lance-shaped and grow along the stem.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Early to late summer.
- Height: 2–6 feet (60 cm–1.8 m).
Freesia (Freesia spp.)
Freesias produce fragrant, funnel-shaped flowers in white, yellow, pink, red, or purple, arranged in one-sided spikes. Leaves are narrow and grass-like.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer.
- Height: 12–18 inches (30–45 cm).
Gladiolus (Gladiolus spp.)
Gladioli have tall spikes of funnel-shaped flowers in red, pink, white, yellow, purple, or bi-colors. Leaves are long, sword-shaped, and upright.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Mid to late summer.
- Height: 2–5 feet (60 cm–1.5 m).
Snowdrop (Galanthus spp.)
Snowdrops have small, white, bell-shaped flowers with green-tipped petals that hang downward. Leaves are narrow and strap-like.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Late winter to early spring.
- Height: 4–10 inches (10–25 cm).
Amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.)
Amaryllis produces large, trumpet-shaped flowers in red, pink, white, or orange, often with multiple blooms per stem. Leaves are strap-like and emerge after flowering.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Winter to early spring (often forced indoors).
- Height: 18–24 inches (45–60 cm).
Anemone (Anemone spp., bulbous types like Anemone blanda)
Bulbous anemones, like Anemone blanda, have daisy-like flowers in blue, pink, white, or purple with yellow centers. Leaves are low-growing and fern-like.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Early to mid spring.
- Height: 4–8 inches (10–20 cm).
Begonia (Begonia tuberhybrida)
Tuberous begonias produce large, showy flowers resembling roses or camellias in shades of red, pink, orange, yellow, or white. Leaves are heart-shaped, often with a glossy or textured surface.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Summer to early fall.
- Height: 12–18 inches (30–45 cm).
Dahlia (Dahlia spp.)
Dahlias offer a wide variety of flower forms, including pompon, cactus, and dinnerplate, in nearly every color except true blue. Leaves are broad and pinnate.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Mid-summer to fall.
- Height: 1–6 feet (30 cm–1.8 m), depending on variety.
Ranunculus (Ranunculus asiaticus)
Also called Persian buttercups, ranunculus produce multi-petaled, rose-like flowers in red, pink, white, yellow, or orange. Leaves are finely cut and fern-like.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer.
- Height: 10–18 inches (25–45 cm).
Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum)
Cyclamen have delicate, swept-back flowers in pink, white, red, or purple, with heart-shaped, silver-marbled leaves.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Fall to spring (often grown indoors).
- Height: 6–12 inches (15–30 cm).
Scilla (Scilla siberica)
Also known as Siberian squill, scilla produce small, bell-shaped, bright blue or white flowers in loose clusters. Leaves are narrow and grass-like.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Early spring.
- Height: 4–8 inches (10–20 cm).
Muscari (Muscari armeniacum)
Commonly called grape hyacinths, muscari have tight clusters of tiny, bell-shaped flowers in blue, purple, or white, resembling small grapes. Leaves are narrow and grass-like.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Mid to late spring.
- Height: 6–8 inches (15–20 cm).
Chionodoxa (Chionodoxa luciliae)
Known as glory-of-the-snow, chionodoxa produce star-shaped flowers in blue, white, or pink with white centers. Leaves are narrow and strap-like.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Early spring.
- Height: 4–6 inches (10–15 cm).
Ixia (Ixia spp.)
Also called African corn lilies, ixia produce star-shaped flowers in white, yellow, pink, or red, often with contrasting centers, on wiry stems. Leaves are grass-like.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer.
- Height: 12–18 inches (30–45 cm).
Sparaxis (Sparaxis tricolor)
Known as harlequin flowers, sparaxis have vibrant, star-shaped blooms in red, orange, yellow, white, or pink, often with contrasting markings. Leaves are sword-shaped.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer.
- Height: 10–16 inches (25–40 cm).
Leucojum (Leucojum aestivum)
Known as summer snowflake, leucojum have white, bell-shaped flowers with green-tipped petals, resembling snowdrops. Leaves are long and strap-like.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Mid to late spring.
- Height: 12–18 inches (30–45 cm).
Fritillaria (Fritillaria imperialis)
Known as crown imperial, fritillaria produces striking clusters of bell-shaped flowers in orange, yellow, or red, hanging beneath a crown of green leaves atop a tall stem. The flowers have a musky scent.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Mid to late spring.
- Height: 2–4 feet (60–120 cm).
Camassia (Camassia leichtlinii)
Camassia, or wild hyacinth, features spikes of star-shaped flowers in blue, purple, or white, rising from a rosette of long, grass-like leaves.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer.
- Height: 2–3 feet (60–90 cm).
Tigridia (Tigridia pavonia)
Known as tiger flowers, tigridia have exotic, triangular flowers with three large outer petals in red, pink, yellow, or white, often with spotted or mottled centers. Leaves are narrow and pleated.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Mid to late summer.
- Height: 12–24 inches (30–60 cm).
Eremurus (Eremurus robustus)
Called foxtail lilies or desert candles, eremurus produce tall, dense spikes of tiny, star-shaped flowers in white, pink, yellow, or orange. Leaves are strap-like and form a basal rosette.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Early to mid summer.
- Height: 4–8 feet (1.2–2.4 m).
Ornithogalum (Ornithogalum umbellatum)
Known as star-of-Bethlehem, ornithogalum have clusters of star-shaped white flowers with green stripes on the undersides of petals. Leaves are narrow and grass-like with a white midrib.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer.
- Height: 6–12 inches (15–30 cm).
Brodiaea (Brodiaea laxa)
Also called cluster lilies, brodiaea produce loose umbels of funnel-shaped flowers in blue, purple, or white. Leaves are slender and grass-like.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer.
- Height: 12–24 inches (30–60 cm).
Nerine (Nerine bowdenii)
Nerine, often called Guernsey lilies, produce clusters of delicate, trumpet-shaped flowers in vibrant pink, red, or white, with slightly curled petals. Leaves are strap-like and appear after blooming.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Late summer to early fall.
- Height: 18–24 inches (45–60 cm).
Crinum (Crinum asiaticum)
Known as spider lilies, crinum have large, fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers in white, pink, or red, borne on sturdy stems. Leaves are long, broad, and strap-like.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Late summer to fall.
- Height: 2–4 feet (60–120 cm).
Zephyranthes (Zephyranthes candida)
Called rain lilies, zephyranthes produce small, crocus-like flowers in white, pink, or yellow, often blooming after rain. Leaves are narrow and grass-like.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Late summer to fall.
- Height: 6–12 inches (15–30 cm).
Eucomis (Eucomis comosa)
- Description: Known as pineapple lilies, eucomis have spikes of star-shaped flowers in white, green, or purple, topped with a tuft of leaf-like bracts resembling a pineapple. Leaves are broad and strap-like.
- Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Mid to late summer.
- Height: 18–24 inches (45–60 cm).
Gladiolus callianthus)
Also called Acidanthera or peacock orchids, these have fragrant, white, star-shaped flowers with dark purple centers. Leaves are long and sword-shaped.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Late summer to early fall.
- Height: 2–3 feet (60–90 cm).
Lycoris (Lycoris radiata)
Known as spider lilies or hurricane lilies, lycoris produce clusters of bright red, pink, or white flowers with long, curved stamens, resembling spiders. Leaves appear after flowering
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Late summer to early fall.
- Height: 18–24 inches (45–60 cm).
Colchicum (Colchicum autumnale)
Often called autumn crocus, colchicum have goblet-shaped flowers in pink, purple, or white that emerge without leaves. Foliage appears in spring and dies back before blooming.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Early to mid fall.
- Height: 6–12 inches (15–30 cm).
Hymenocallis (Hymenocallis narcissiflora)
Known as Peruvian daffodils or spider lilies, hymenocallis have white, fragrant flowers with long, spider-like petals and a central cup. Leaves are long and strap-like.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Mid to late summer.
- Height: 18–24 inches (45–60 cm).
Canna (Canna indica)
Canna lilies produce bold, tropical flowers in red, orange, yellow, or pink atop tall stems. Leaves are large, broad, and often bronze or green, giving a lush appearance.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Mid summer to fall.
- Height: 2–6 feet (60 cm–1.8 m).
Triteleia (Triteleia laxa)
Also called triplet lilies, triteleia have loose clusters of funnel-shaped flowers in blue, purple, or white. Leaves are slender and grass-like.
Characteristics:
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer.
- Height: 12–18 inches (30–45 cm).
General Tips for Growing Bulb Flowers
- Planting Time: Most bulbs are planted in fall for spring blooms, except for summer-blooming bulbs like gladiolus, which are planted in spring.
- Storage: In cold climates, tender bulbs (e.g., gladiolus, freesia) should be dug up after foliage dies and stored in a cool, dry place over winter.
- Watering: Bulbs generally need moderate water during growth but dislike waterlogged soil.
- Fertilization: Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring to support growth and blooming.