Add drama to flower beds and patio containers with colorful summer flowering bulbs.
Depending on your planting zone, some summer flowering bulbs may require a little more work than normal spring bulbs because they are tender perennials that won’t survive freezing temperatures. If you want them to bloom again next summer, you’ll need to dig them up in the fall and store them over the winter until spring, when to plant summer bulbs.
Summer-blooming bulbs, including corms, rhizomes and tubers, are worth the trouble. They are fast growers that provide color, fragrance or texture to the midsummer/early autumn garden when other flowers are in bloom or a bit dry.
1. Gladiola (GladiolusJeez
Khushi, aka sword lily, is great for adding height to gardens and flower arrangements. The 3-inch (minis) to 5-inch (giants) blooms grow in columns on upright plants that reach 2 to 5 feet tall. Tall varieties benefit from stacking. Plant corms in sunny locations in well-drained soil in spring after danger of frost has passed. Flowers are hardy in zones 8 and higher. In the northern zone, you should dig them up in the fall after the first frost. During the summer, they will produce flowers in colors ranging from white, pink, red, yellow, lavender to deep purple, burgundy and some multi-colored varieties.
20 Rainbow Mix gladioli bulbs at Eden Bros. Get it for 19.99.
2. Dahlia For centuries.DelhiJeez
There are many sizes and colors, from tiny 2-inch “lollipop” pompoms to giant 15-inch “dinner plate” blooms. The shapes mimic flower relatives: daisies, chrysanthemums and zinnias. Blooms begin to appear in midsummer and last until frost. Many varieties are 4 to 5 feet tall. Hardy in zones 8 and above, dahlia stems should be planted when the soil is warm in northern springs. They like full sun, well-drained soil, and protection from wind. Dahlias make excellent cut flowers.
Get 5 clips of Garden Mystery Dahlias from K Van Burgundian for K. 26.50.
3. Freesia For centuries.FreesiaJeez
A favorite for their intense, sweet fragrance, freesias grow 12 to 24 inches tall, producing arching stems with sprays of trumpet-shaped flowers that face upward. They benefit from stacking due to their tendency to “flop”. Sequence flowering ensures flowers for 6 weeks or more. White freesia is common, as are jewel tones of yellow, orange, scarlet, pink, royal blue, and lavender. You will find single and double petaled freesia. All should be planted in full sun and well-drained soil when danger of frost has passed. They are hardy in zones 9 and 10.
Get 15 double white freesia bulbs from Easy Grow for iad 11.99.
4. Lily (liliumJeez
Lily bulbs are hardy to zone 4. There are several types of lilies: ascetic, oriental, border, oranpet, double, and longflorum (Easter lily), some of which are fragrant. Large, showy flowers bloom on upright stems with upright leaves. Lilies like to keep their “head in the sun, their feet in the shade.” Plant their roots in cool, well-drained soil. Asiatic lilies come in a variety of vivid colors and bloom in early summer. Oriental lilies bloom later, but are fragrant. Lilies are poisonous to cats.
Get 3 ‘Silk Road’ lily bulbs from White Flower Farm for $25.
5. Banana For centuries.CanaJeez
Also known as banana lilies, these vigorous, tropical-looking plants can easily grow 8 feet or more, creating a screen for your yard or garden. Pollinators love their lily-shaped flowers in red, orange or yellow. Canna plants are usually green, but can be maroon, bronze or variegated. Plant these rhizomes in full sun. Although they prefer well-draining soil, they also work well as bog plants in water gardens. They thrive in the heat of summer and will continue to bloom until a hard frost. Plant them in the spring when the soil is warm.
Get 3 President Banana Bulbs at Burpee for 9.95.
6. Elephant ears (Colocasia, Alocasia, XanthosomaJeez
If you want to make a big statement in your garden, plant elephant ear, so named for its massive plant size. With leaves up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide, elephant ear commands attention, whether used as a backdrop to other plantings or as a specimen plant. These garden giants, which come as bulbs, corms or stems, depending on the species, prefer partial shade but can tolerate full sun. Plant large tubers in rich, moist soil or a bog garden after danger of frost, and overwinter in zones colder than zone 8. They are poisonous to animals and humans.
on Etsy. Get 1 Colocasia Dev Dev Thai Elephant Ear Bulbs from The Gringles on Etsy for 17.50.
7. Begonia (BegoniaJeez
Brighten up a shady area of your garden with cheerful begonias. Given that there are over 2,000 species, there is a begonia for everyone. Suitable for containers or beds that are protected from strong afternoon sun, dry plants in well-drained soil. Waterlogged soil can kill them. Available in bright red, pink, coral, yellow and orange, they usually have large flowers on green or bronze foliage. Some are cascading, and some are straight. Most remain compact, making them an excellent choice for beds, borders, and containers. These vigorous bloomers will last until frost.
3 Begonia Cascade Mix Bulbs for 31.96 Grow Easy
8. Caladium (Caladium bichlorJeez
Who needs flowers to add color to a shady or semi-shady garden? Caladiums grow 18 to 24 inches tall and display a striking combination of green, white, pink and red on their large heart- or lance-shaped leaves. Hardy in zones 9 to 11, these tubers should be planted in spring in northern climates, and dug up after the first frost in fall. They are poisonous if eaten.
Get 5 No. 1 Cherry Blossom Caladium bulbs for $10.50 from Amaryllis and Caladium Bulb Company.
9. Crocosmia For centuries.CrocosmiaJeez
Crocosmia, also known as montbretia or coppertape, has spikes of small trumpet-shaped flowers in fiery red, red, orange and yellow. Beginning in mid- to late summer, it blooms on thin, strap-like leaves for 5 to 8 weeks. For best blooms, plant corms in full sun unless you live in a warm climate, where they benefit from partial shade. One of the favorite pollinators, Crocosmia is deer resistant.
At 3 to 4 feet tall, with a spread of 12 to 18 inches, crocosmias are especially striking when planted en masse, or scattered around the garden for a whimsical look. They are hardy in zones 5 to 9, but will need to be dug up in the fall in cooler zones. Corms will need to be divided every few years.
Get 20 Crocosmia Mix bulbs for 20 29.49 from Eden Brothers.
10. Naked Lady (Amaryllis belladonnaJeez
The naked lady, aka wonder lily, resurrection lily, magic lily, or jersey lily, is a fun addition to the garden because the sudden appearance of the flower stems, in mid-August, wakes up the plants. After their spring foliage dies back, the stems reach 2 to 3 feet in height, producing pale pink lily-shaped flowers that are fragrant. Hardy in zones 7 through 10 (though commonly grown as a perennial as far north as zone 4), bare ladies do best in full sun with well-draining soil. Deer resistant and drought tolerant, they are non-toxic to animals and humans. Still, they add a delightful summer surprise to the garden, and also make good cut flowers.
A bare lady lily bulb from a high country garden. Get it for 16.99.
11. Black Lily (Xantidecia aethiopicaJeez
The beautiful calla lily in classic, creamy white is a favorite for bridal bouquets, but you can also grow yellow, orange, pink, rose, lavender and deep maroon calla in your garden. In contrast to the simple lines of its flowers, Kala’s sword-shaped foliage includes white spots, making it a plant of interest in the garden. The rhizome should be planted in well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Hardy in zones 8 to 10, it grows 1 to 2 feet tall and blooms for about 3 to 8 weeks from midsummer through fall. Calla lilies grow well in containers and as a specimen plant.
Get 5 white calla lily bulbs for $28.30 at Home Depot.
12. Latrice (Lettres spicataJeez
From the small corms grow long stalks of lavender-headed latris, also known as Blazing Star or Gayfeather. Hardy in zones 3 through 9, letris blooms from summer to early fall, creating a whimsical backdrop for smaller plants. Reaching heights of 2 to 4 feet tall, it has bottlebrush-shaped flower heads that produce small star-like flowers. The grass-like leaves stay close to the ground, giving the spiers light. This versatile beauty is a great addition to both cottage and rock gardens, and should be planted in well-draining soil, in full sun.
Get 24 Lettres Specta ‘Blazing Star’ covers from Longfield Gardens for $14.
All you need to do is take care of your lawn and garden
