Fall Flowering Bulbs

All of us know about spring flowering bulbs like the beautiful daffodils, roses and tulips that bloom in spring. But there are many flowers that bloom in autumn and they are grown from flowering bulbs. Fall flowering bulbs are typically planted in spring or early summer and they bloom during the fall. Some fall flowers in season are dahlia, colchicums, cyclamen and magic lily. The number of fall flowering bulbs are quite limited as the majority of flower bulbs for fall planting bloom in spring and summer. However, if you want to keep your flower garden looking colorful with bright flowers in autumn, you will need to plant them with flowering bulbs in spring.

Flower Bulbs for Spring Planting

To add visual appeal to your garden in autumn, with a riot of fresh blooms, you need to plan ahead. The best way to ensure that you have beautiful fall flowers, is to plant a selection of flowering bulbs during spring or summer. Some of the best fall flowering bulbs are cyclamen, autumn crocus and even some hardier varieties of lilies. The most spectacular of fall flowering plants are colchicum or meadow saffron crocus. They grow very close to the ground and in great profusion. The blooms are a beautiful purple and lavender in color and their size ranges anywhere from 2 inches to 8 inches in diameter. They have multiple petals and are star shaped, and they require well drained soil with a moderate amount of sunlight to grow. A single saffron crocus bulb produces a large number of flowers. The meadow saffron crocus is one of the most stunning purple fall flowers.

Another fall flowering bulb is cannas. There are many varieties of cannas that can be planted in spring and the most common of them come in colors of yellow, orange, red, and pink. Some cannas are also of a striped and spotted variety. They grow up to 5 to 6 feet in height and they require well drained soil with lots of sunlight to grow. A variety of lily that blooms in early autumn in the months of August to September is the belladonna lily. These plants grow to a height of up to 36 inches and produce bright pink funnel shaped flowers with large petals. Another variety of lily that flowers in fall is the calla lily. This hugely popular flower blooms in the months of July to October, these flowers are funnel shaped and grow in the colors of pink, yellow, and white.

If you are looking for something exotic, that will make your garden come alive with a riot of colors, then you cannot go wrong with peacock orchids. These fall blooming bulbs look very similar to gladiolus and the flowers are white in color with a deep purple center. The plant grows up to 3 feet in height and requires well drained soil with partial sunlight. They are highly fragrant and they bloom in profusion. Other flowering bulb that are popular among gardeners and landscape artists are tuberous begonias. They come in a lot of different colors from the brilliant fuchsia to a sober peach. These plants require rich soil with moderate sunlight to grow.

Some other fall flowering bulbs that you can plant in spring or early summer are asters, goldenrod, anemones, cornflower, marigold, thunbergia, violas, pansies, snapdragons, and nasturtiums. Adequate sunlight, well drained soil and proper fertilizers will produce the most amazing looking flowers during fall in your garden.