The 21 Best Flower Bulbs To Plant In Autumn
As the days shorten and low temperatures appear, autumn is the perfect time to plant autumn bulbs in the UK. This allows you to enjoy a spring garden full of colour. Are you looking for autumn planting bulbs? We have selected 21 from our autumn planting collection.
Good to know: Are you looking for spring bulbs? We’ve also a summer blooming collection.
What Are The Best (Hardy) Spring Flowering Bulbs To Plant In Autumn?
1. Tulips
With more than 3,000 registered varieties, tulips are one of the most popular autumn bulbs. They come in pink, red, yellow, purple, and even multicoloured. Give the flowers full sun, a wind-free spot, well-drained soil and not-too-moist soil.
2. Daffodils (Narcissus)
Daffodils (narcissus) are the perfect spring flowers for any flower garden. Daffodils come in many colours, such as white and peach, and are available in many shapes and sizes. Paperwhites are a beautiful white variety of daffodil bulbs.
3. Alliums
Allium, also known as the ornamental onion, gives a garden a spectacular spring look. Their elegant, slender stems and large, spherical flowers work well with lower-flowered varieties. Choose alliums in blue and purple, or go for red and yellow.
4. Crocuses
If you are looking for early-flowering, low-growing flowers to plant in autumn, crocuses are a good choice. The sweet-scented crocus flowers come in colours such as purple, blue, orange, and white. Also, have a look at the beautiful saffron crocus.
5. Ranunculus
If you have a cottage garden, ranunculus is a must-have. These beautiful flowers will make your garden shine, whether deep red or subtle pastel pink. Ranunculus corms/bulbs are suitable for beds, borders, and pots.
6. Amaryllis
Native to South Africa, the amaryllis is known for its beautiful trumpet-shaped petals. Although red and white are the most popular colours, the flower is also available in pink and orange.
7. Hyacinths
Hyacinth bulbs have been a favourite of gardeners since the 17th century. In addition to their beautiful spring colour, the flowers have a wonderful fragrance. Hyacinths are available in blue, purple, and yellow and are suitable for beds, borders, and indoors.
8. Iris
Iris, the flower named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow, is a hit among autumn bulbs. Choose from cheerful colours like blue and violet. Or go for more unusual colours like bronze and brown.
9. Fritillaria
Fritillaria is an exotic flower that has been loved since the time of Elizabeth. The plant likes a full sunny spot or partial shade, and needs humus-rich soil. Fritillaria comes in bright colours such as yellow, orange, and red.
10. Anemones
Are you looking for a vibrant spring flower? Try the anemone (windflower). Available in colours such as blue, purple and bright pink, these windflowers have many beautiful petals.
11. Muscari (Grape Hyacinths)
If you are looking for early flowering plants, the muscari (grape hyacinth) is a good choice. The flowers have a musky fragrance and are ideal for borders, rock gardens, or under trees.
12. Galanthus (Snowdrops)
The galanthus (snowdrop) is the flower that announces the arrival of spring. The elegant white flowers will give your garden a stunning spring look. Also, look at the leucojum (giant snowflake), another plant similar to the galanthus.
13. Chionodoxa (Glory Of The Snow)
Chionodoxa (glory of the snow) is a beautiful spring flower with star-shaped petals. You can choose from white, blue, or purple or go for a mix with all three colours in it.
14. Scilla (Squill)
A hardy, low-growing spring flower is the scilla (Siberian squill). The autumn bulbs produce 4 bell-shaped flowers per stem, giving you a full bouquet. The scilla is easy to grow and is suitable for pots and borders.
15. Puschkinia (Striped Squill)
Puschkinia (striped squill) is a flowering plant related to scilla and chionodoxa. It is suitable for growing under trees, bushes, and in rock gardens, pots, or landscapes. The puschkinia is white with blue stripes.
16. Eranthis (Winter Aconite)
For a spring show in your own garden, eranthis (winter aconite) is the flower you need. It is an early spring bloomer and can be planted in a border, container, or group plant.
17. Ixias
The ixias is a flower native to South Africa and related to the iris. It has beautiful, narrow, sword-shaped leaves and up to 20 star-shaped flowers per stem.
18. Hyacinthoides (Spanish Bluebells)
Do you want to attract butterflies and bees to your garden? Try hyacinthoides (Spanish bluebells). The plants have 15 to 20 bell-shaped flowers per stem and come in colours including blue, pink, and white.
20. Camassia (Camas Lily)
Camassia is a fascinating flower species with violet spikes. The plant has various names, including “camas”, “camas lily” and “camash”. One of the best things about camassia autumn bulbs is that they are easy to naturalise.
21. Ornithogalum (Starflower)
The name ornithogalum comes from the Greek words “ornithos” (bird) and “gala” (milk). That's why this spring flowering plant was also called “bird's milk”, referring to its white, star-shaped petals. It is a beautiful flowering plant for your garden.
22. Dichelostemma (Firecracker Flower)
Finally, we recommend the dichelostemma (firecracker flower) as autumn bulb. This flowering plant is characterised by its dense petals and three stamens. Add them to your border, bed, or pot and enjoy the beautiful colours.
