Pictures of Spring Bulb Flowers To Brighten Your Day

Spring bulb flowers are some of the most anticipated sights in the garden after a long winter. Their cheerful colors and sweet scents are a welcome reminder that warmer weather is on the way. With hundreds of spring blooming bulbs to choose from, you’re sure to find some favorites to grow in your own garden. In this article, we’ll explore 20 of the best spring flowering bulbs and how to grow them successfully.

A Rainbow of Spring Bulb Flowers

Spring bulbs come in almost every color except true blue, giving you lots of options to brighten up flower beds, borders, and containers. Here are some of the most popular spring bulb flowers and key tips for growing them:

Daffodils

Daffodils are classic spring flowers with trumpet-shaped blooms in shades of yellow white, peach, orange, pink, and bicolors. Give them full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Plant the bulbs in fall 6 inches deep and 5 inches apart. Types range from small miniatures to tall varieties over 2 feet.

Tulips

It’s hard to beat bright tulips in spring. The cup-shaped flowers come in almost every color and grow to anywhere from 4 inches to 2 feet tall depending on type. Plant bulbs in fall 4-8 inches deep and 4-6 inches apart in full sun. Add well-drained soil enriched with compost.

Hyacinths

Hyacinths are prized for their extremely fragrant, dense flower clusters in colors like purple, pink, white, yellow, orange, red, and coral. Plant bulbs in fall 6 inches deep and 6 inches apart in sun or part shade. Protect bulbs from rodents.

Crocuses

Charming crocuses are some of the earliest flowers to bloom in spring often peeking through the snow. The bell-shaped cups come in purple, white yellow, orange, striped, or bicolored. Plant corms 2-3 inches deep and 2-4 inches apart in fall.

Grape Hyacinths

Grape hyacinth gets its name from the clusters of tiny bell-shaped blooms resembling grapes. Colors are primarily purple, blue, white or pink. Plant bulbs in fall 2-3 inches deep and 3 inches apart in sun or part shade. They spread nicely.

Snowdrops

Delicate snowdrops flower in late winter, earning them the common name. Nodding white flowers sometimes have green dots on the inner petals. Plant bulbs in fall 2-3 inches deep and 3 inches apart in groups in sun or shade.

Alliums

Unique ornamental alliums produce rounded clusters of tiny florets in shades of purple, white, pink, yellow, and blue on stems 1-4 feet tall. Plant bulbs in fall at a depth 3 times their diameter, 4-6 inches apart in full sun.

Anemones

Poppy anemones produce cutesy poppy-like flowers in spring in colors like red, blue, purple, and white. Plant tubers in fall 1-2 inches deep and 6 inches apart in sun or part shade. Greek anemones are spring bloomers with daisy-like flowers.

Iris

Iris come in bearded, crested, and bulbous types with flowers in nearly every color. Plant rhizomes in summer or fall just below the soil surface. Bearded iris grow 1-3 feet tall. Bulb iris are more petite at 3-18 inches tall.

Fritillaria

The checkered, nodding blooms of fritillaria offer unique flair. Flower colors range from purple and chocolate to greenish-yellow and orange. Plant bulbs in fall at 3 times their depth, 4-6 inches apart. Nice in borders or containers.

When and How to Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs

Most spring bulbs perform best when planted in the fall, which gives them time to establish roots before winter dormancy. Follow these tips for success:

• Choose a planting site with the right sun exposure, soil drainage, and space for each variety. Most require full sun to bloom well.

• Prepare the soil by loosening it and mixing in compost or other organic material. Good drainage is key to prevent bulb rot.

• Plant bulbs at the proper depth – usually 2-3 times as deep as the bulb is tall. Point the tips up. Space bulbs according to package directions.

• Apply bulb fertilizer at planting time to stimulate root growth. Scratch it lightly into the soil surface.

• Water thoroughly after planting and again before the ground freezes. Continue regular watering when growth emerges in spring.

• Allow foliage to die back naturally after blooming instead of cutting it off so bulbs can store energy. Cut it off once it browns.

• Lift and divide bulbs every few years to control crowding as needed. Replant them promptly at their proper depth and spacing.

Combining Spring Flowering Bulbs for Gorgeous Displays

One of the best ways to maximize the impact of spring bulbs is by combining varieties together. Here are some foolproof combinations for your garden:

• Bright red or orange tulips surrounded by purple, white, or blue muscari (grape hyacinths)

• Mixed daffodils and hyacinths for a showy display with contrasting flower shapes

• Crocuses planted in drifts underneath shrubs and trees, mixed with snowdrops

• Yellow daffodils paired with deep blue Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica)

• Alliums and iris blooming together in late spring in both tall and dwarf varieties

• Species tulips and forget-me-nots for a cute cottage garden look

Caring for Spring Bulbs After Blooming

It’s important to let the foliage of spring bulbs die back naturally after the blooms are finished. The leaves produce food that gets stored in the underground bulb, corm, or rhizome to fuel next year’s flowers. Follow these tips for best results:

• Allow leaves to yellow and brown before removing them. This can take 4-6 weeks.

• Plant bulbs among perennials like daylilies or grasses that can hide dying foliage.

• Braid or fold foliage that becomes unsightly but don’t cut it off.

• When foliage is fully dead, cut it off at the base to maintain a neat appearance.

• Consider planting successive waves of early, mid, and late spring bulbs for non-stop color.

• Fertilize bulbs as foliage starts to emerge in spring and again after blooming. Use an all-purpose fertilizer following package directions.

Stunning Pictures of Spring Flowering Bulbs

Looking for some inspiration for spring bulbs to grow in your own garden? Check out these beautiful pictures of spring flowering bulbs in all their glory:

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This collage of photos covers favorites like hyacinths, tulips, daffodils, crocus, grape hyacinth, snowdrops, and more. You’ll see examples of bulbs planted in flower beds, containers, and naturalized settings.

Use these gorgeous shots to spark your creativity for designing stunning spring displays. With so many bulb varieties and colors to work with, the possibilities are endless! Just pick a color theme and combine early, mid and late season bloomers for non-stop color from late winter through spring.

Brighten Your Garden With Spring Bulb Flowers

Few sights can lift your winter-weary spirit better than the vibrant colors of spring bulb flowers. Whether you opt for classic tulips and daffodils or explore unique varieties like alliums and fritillaria, you’re sure to find bulbs that flourish in your growing conditions. Plan your displays to include successive waves of bloomers and artful combinations for maximum impact. With the right care and planning, your spring garden will dazzle with color and fragrance.