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A garden doesn’t have to lose its color after the spring blooms fade. With the right mix of summer- and fall-blooming bulbs, you can keep flowers coming for months. Many of these plants are easy to grow, return year after year in the right climate, and look just as good in containers as they do in flower beds.
Here are 15 bulbs that can keep your garden blooming from summer well into fall.
Calla Lily
Calla lilies are loved for their smooth, trumpet-shaped flowers that bring a simple, elegant look to any garden. They grow best in USDA hardiness zones 8-10 and prefer partial shade or bright, indirect light. Plant the bulbs in early spring, and you’ll usually enjoy blooms from late spring through early summer.
Related: 18 Beautiful Flowers That Give Rose-Like Vibes
Gladiolus
Gladiolus sends up tall flower spikes covered with colorful blooms that add height and color to borders and garden beds. Plant the corms in spring for flowers that appear from mid-summer into early fall.
They grow well in USDA hardiness zones 7-10 and perform best with regular watering and occasional fertilizer. Their bright blooms also attract hummingbirds and bees.
Lilies
Lilies are hard to overlook once they begin flowering. Their large blooms and pleasant fragrance make them one of the highlights of the summer garden. Whether you prefer colorful Asiatic lilies or fragrant Oriental varieties, there’s a lily for almost every style of landscape.
They grow well in USDA hardiness zones 4-9 and do best in well-drained soil with plenty of sunshine and consistent moisture.
Begonia
Begonias earn their place in the garden with colorful flowers and attractive foliage. Some varieties grow upright, while trailing types spill beautifully from hanging baskets, window boxes, and containers.
They’re best suited for USDA hardiness zones 9-11 and prefer partial shade with rich, well-drained soil. Slugs, snails, and aphids may occasionally become a problem, so it’s worth checking the plants from time to time.
Related: 13 Flowers That Multiply Easily Using Stem Cuttings
Canna
Cannas bring a tropical look with their large leaves and bold flowers in shades of red, orange, yellow, and pink. They thrive during the hottest part of summer and continue blooming for weeks.
These bulbs grow best in USDA hardiness zones 7-10 with full sun and evenly moist soil. Butterflies and hummingbirds are frequent visitors, though spider mites and caterpillars can sometimes feed on the foliage.
Iris
Irises have been a favorite for generations because of their unique blooms and wide range of colors. Bearded, Siberian, and Japanese irises each offer something a little different for the garden.
Most varieties grow well in USDA hardiness zones 3-9 and prefer sunny locations with well-drained soil. Plant the rhizomes in late summer or early fall for flowers the following spring and early summer.
Allium
Alliums produce large, globe-shaped flower heads that seem to float above the garden on sturdy stems. Their unusual shape adds texture to flower beds while attracting bees and butterflies.
These bulbs grow best in USDA hardiness zones 4-8 with full sun and well-drained soil. Plant them in fall for blooms the following late spring or early summer.
Related: 14 Gorgeous Orange Flowers That Will Liven Up Your Space
Freesia
Freesias are well known for their sweet fragrance, making them a popular choice for both gardens and fresh-cut bouquets. Their colorful blooms brighten containers, borders, and flower beds.
They grow well in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 and prefer fertile, well-drained soil with regular moisture. Plant the bulbs in fall for flowers that appear in spring and early summer.
Agapanthus
Agapanthus, often called Lily of the Nile, produces large rounded clusters of blue, purple, or white flowers that rise above long, narrow leaves.
Plant the bulbs in early spring for blooms that appear in late summer. They grow best in USDA hardiness zones 7-11. Popular varieties include ‘Peter Pan,’ ‘Midnight Blue,’ and ‘Twister.’
Dahlia
Dahlias are available in an incredible range of colors, flower shapes, and sizes. Whether planted in borders, raised beds, or containers, they keep blooming from midsummer until the first frost.
They prefer full sun and rich, well-drained soil and are hardy in USDA hardiness zones 8-11. Bees and butterflies visit the flowers throughout the blooming season.
Related: 18 Annual Flowers That Grow Fast for a Stunning Summer Garden
Liatris
Also known as blazing star or gayfeather, liatris produces tall purple flower spikes that bloom from the top downward, giving the plant a distinctive look in flower beds.
Native to North America, it grows well in USDA hardiness zones 3-9. Full sun and well-drained soil produce the best flowers, and the blooms attract butterflies, bees, and many other pollinators.
Autumn Crocus
Autumn crocus brings fresh color just as many summer flowers begin to fade. Its goblet-shaped blooms appear in shades of purple, pink, and white during late summer and early fall.
One of its most unusual traits is that the flowers appear before the leaves, giving rise to the nickname “naked lady.” Every part of the plant is poisonous if eaten, so plant it where children and pets can’t easily reach it.
Chrysanthemums
Few flowers are more closely linked with fall than chrysanthemums. Available in nearly every color, mums begin blooming as summer flowers slow down and continue well into autumn.
They grow well in USDA hardiness zones 5-9 with full sun and well-drained soil. Their ability to handle cooler temperatures makes them one of the most dependable flowers for late-season color.
Asters
Asters fill the garden with cheerful daisy-like blooms from late summer through fall. They also provide an important source of nectar for bees and butterflies late in the growing season.
These hardy perennials grow well in USDA hardiness zones 3-9. They perform best in full sun but also tolerate some afternoon shade and grow well in many different soil types.
Nerine
Nerine is a South African bulb prized for its clusters of delicate, funnel-shaped flowers in shades of pink, red, and white that appear during late summer and early fall.
It grows best in full sun or light shade with well-drained soil. The blooms also last well indoors, making them an excellent choice for fresh-cut flower arrangements after many other garden plants have finished flowering.
