Grab your bulb digger and set out these fabulous flowering bulbs for show-stopping spring blooms.
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As garden catalogs fill your mailbox, it is hard not to get excited aboutspring-blooming bulbs.
From classic tulips anddaffodilsto exotic-looking fritillaria, there are hundreds of bulbs to choose from.
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However, not all bulbs thrive in the unique growing conditions of the Southeast.
Were here to help you identify the best bulbs to plant in fall for a magnificent spring display.
When selecting bulbs, consider flowering time, especially when pairing two or more varieties.
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Many species include early- and late-blooming cultivars.
One planting strategy is to incorporate bulbs that flower at different times to ensure a continuous bloom throughout spring.
Consider height as well as flower color when pairing bulbs.
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Bulbs also have an upside and a down side.
The showy hybrids are simply bred for one big show and do not typically perpetuate.
Though not as showy as their hybrid counterparts, species tulips readily naturalize in the garden.
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Plant them on a berm or in an area that is somewhat dry in summer to encourage establishment.
Jonquil Daffodils
Daffodils are divided into divisions based mainly upon shape or form.
Jonquil is a division of daffodils widely adapted to southern gardens and quite tolerant of clay soils.
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Most have narrow, dark green foliage and wonderfully fragrant flowers.
They produce multiple flowers per stem and are very hardy plants.
Each cultivar has a slightly different combination of yellow, white, cream, and gold.
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Intermix several varieties to create a striking display along the length of the bed.
Flowers attract bees and butterflies, making a great addition to pollinator gardens.
Alliums also work well in rock gardens and mixed borders.
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They are commonly massed in lawns, where the linear foliage disappears among grass blades when the flowers fade.
Tuck crocus along pathways or mass in woodland gardens and watch winter-weary bees flock to the blooms.
Plants in the Southeast thrive in partial shade conditions, where soil moisture is consistent.
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Winter aconite is perfect for naturalizing in woodland gardens.
Individual blooms are bell-shaped and provide a rich source of pollen for native bees.
Grape hyacinth readily naturalizes in lawns and under trees, producing drifts of color in mid spring.
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Drooping, bell-shaped flowers sport white petals with green dots along the edge.
Plants tolerate wet soils and look lovely lining stream banks.
Unlike most iris, these darlings grow from a bulb, not a rhizome.
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They are easy to grow, resist deer browsing, and tolerate black walnut trees.
Chess flower bulbs have an unusual shape that tends to capture water, which can cause bulbs to rot.
Plant bulbs on their sides in well-drained soil to avoid this problem.
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The star-shaped blooms are produced in loose, upright clusters.
Each white to pale blue petal has a distinctive, dark blue line along its center.
Use white squill for edging paths or plant in masses under trees and shrubs.
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Avoid the closely related Siberian squill (Scilla siberica) which is invasive in several states.
Plant as a skirt beneath taller spring flowering bulbs like daffodils.
Plants naturalize well and tolerate black walnut trees.
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Snowdrops readily naturalize and are best planted in drifts along woodland edges or under large trees.
Tuck clumps into rock gardens or along pathways.
Plants tolerate clay soil and grow well beneath black walnut trees.
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Flower spikes open sequentially from the bottom to the top, with approximately twenty flowers per stem.
These showy blooms make excellent cut flowers and attract native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Plants require good moisture to bloom but tolerate drier soils when dormant.
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Spring Starflower
This dainty flower reaches just six inches tall, making a lovely edge for pathways.
Flowers are typically pale blue to lavender, darkening along the midrib and toward the tip of each petal.
Pink and white cultivars are also available.
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The spicy-scented blooms are good for cutting and naturalizing in lawns, borders, and woodland gardens.
