16 Best Flower Bulbs to Plant in the Fall
Now's the time to plant if you want your spring garden to flourish!
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Just as your vegetable garden is winding down and your perennials are fading, it’s time to think about next spring!
If you want early spring flowers in your garden, you need to plant bulbs in the fall. That’s because spring-flowering bulbs require a certain number of “chill hours,” or temperatures below freezing, in order to bloom well.
Bulbs are the ultimate in delayed gratification. But they appear when you most crave color, so they’re absolutely worth planting! Most bulbs also return for many years, making them a great long-term investment in your garden.
The best bulbs to plant in fall depend on where you live. The most important thing to remember is that you must buy those that will survive winters in your USDA Hardiness Zone. (Find your zone here.) Then you'll need to plant them before the ground freezes in your area.
When to Plant Bulbs in Fall
The best time to plant bulbs is in the late fall. It is best to shoot for six to eight weeks before the ground typically freezes. That can a tough date to estimate. If you're not sure, aim for mid- to late-October in the northern areas and into November and early December in the southern parts of the U.S.
But if you don't get to it even after winter has set in, try sticking ‘em in the ground anyhow! There’s a chance they’ll bloom. Bulbs do not store well for long periods of time, so there's not point in holding on to them.
Basically, it’s okay to plant bulbs as long as you still can dig into the dirt with your shovel.
Where to Buy Fall Bulbs
You’ll see bulbs sold everywhere in the fall at big box retailers, and that’s an option for inexpensive color and common bulbs. But for the best selection of varieties and the biggest, healthiest bulbs, buy directly from plant nurseries. You can pre-order bulbs for most of the year, and the nurseries will ship them in fall when it’s time to plant in your part of the country.
How to Plant Fall Bulbs
Most fall bulbs prefer full sun, so choose a spot that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. Dig a hole that's about 2 to 3 times as deep as the height of the bulb.
Place the bulb in the hole pointy-side up, then cover with soil and pat down. If you aren’t sure which end is up, just place them in the hole on their sides. Nature will know what to do!
For maximum aesthetic appeal, plant bulbs in groupings, rather sticking than one bulb here and there in your garden.
How Do You Protect Bulbs from Rodents?
As much as you enjoy spring flowers, digging rodents such as squirrels and chipmunks do, too! Many bulbs, such as tulips and crocuses, are especially tasty to hungry rodents.
Related: How to Get Rid of Chipmunks in Your Garden Without Harming Them
You can try to foil them by planting bulbs inside small cages, which you can form from chicken wire or purchase online.
Or you can try repellants, but these must be reapplied frequently and after every rain. They're also not entirely effective. Still, it’s worth a shot if you’re tired of losing your bulbs to your rodent neighbors.
One more trick is to try layering less appealing bulbs, such as daffodils, on top of the tastier ones.
How to Care for Bulbs After Blooms Have Faded
After the blooms fade, allow the foliage to yellow and die back naturally before removing. Don't tie it off or trim it to keep things neat. The plant needs the leaves to photosynthesize, or make food, so that the bulb can store energy to bloom again next spring.
If you remove the foliage too soon, the plant likely will not flower. If you don't like the messy look as the leaves die back, plant them with other perennials to hide the dying foliage.
Ahead, our top picks for bulbs to plant in the fall:
Tulip
Tulips bloom in early, mid or late season in a profusion of shapes and colors. Their striking flowers make them a must-have in the spring garden. Most types of tulips do not perennialize or bloom well in subsequent seasons, so treat them as annuals and plant new bulbs every fall. Tulips need full sun.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
Learn more: How to Grow Tulips
Daffodil
These cheery lemony yellow or white flowers are a sure sign that spring has arrived!
Depending on the variety, they bloom early, mid or late season from February to May. They come in sizes ranging from a few inches tall to a foot or more with many variations including scented types. Daffodils need full sun.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7
Leucojum
These plants, also called spring snowflake, bloom profusely, lending a wispy, baby's breath-type effect to other nearby plantings. They tend to naturalize well and are pest-resistant, tolerating a wide range of soil types and exposures. They like full sun to part shade.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
Hyacinth
Hyacinths have an incredible fragrance with blooms that last for weeks. Rodents and deer don't bother them.
They come in every shade of pink, purple, white, and yellow and are a must-have for their reliable performance year after year. Hyacinths need full sun.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Allium
These ornamental onions have beautiful rounded blooms that stand out on tall stems.
Some types bloom later in the summer, so read the plant tag or description to be sure about what you’re buying. Bunnies and deer usually ignore alliums, but pollinators love them. Alliums need full sun.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
Winter Aconite
These bright yellow low-growing flowers with frilly foliage are some of the very earliest to bloom in spring.
They often appear when snow still covers the ground. They’re beautiful when planted in masses and do well under deciduous trees. Early pollinators love them, while bunnies and deer leave them alone. Winter aconite needs full sun.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Glory of the Snow
These tiny pink, white, or blue flowers appear when snow still may be on the ground, which gives them their charming common name.
They’re deer resistant and need full sun.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Star Flower
The tiny star-shaped flowers of this plant are spicy-scented favorites of bees.
The foliage is grassy and somewhat garlicky when crushed, so deer and rodents tend to steer clear of it. Plant in masses, and give star flowers full sun.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Trout Lily
Also called dog’s tooth violet, these pretty flowers are native to the Pacific coast.
Plant immediately upon receiving because they don’t do well out of the soil. They need full shade.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
Anemone
Masses of star-like flowers, also called windflowers, appear in mid-spring in shades of blue, white or pink.
Anemones naturalize well under taller bulbs or in rock gardens. They’re deer and rodent resistant. They prefer full sun to part shade.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Fritillaria
These fun and funky spring bloomers are charming in any garden.
The unusual flowers in solid or checkered colors nod at the end of long stems. Deer and rodents tend to leave them alone.
Fritillaria take full sun to part shade.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Crocus
These are some of the first flowers to appear in spring, even when snow is still on the ground in northern climates. Unfortunately, chipmunks and other digging rodents enjoy these bulbs.
Look for Crocus tommasinianus, a crocus species that is less popular with squirrels. All types of crocuses look best when planted in masses. They need full sun.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Snowdrop
Snowdrops are sweet little European wildflowers that appear in late winter and early spring.
They’re deer and rodent-resistant. They look best planted in masses. Snowdrops need full sun.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Learn more: How to Plant and Care for Snowdrop Flowers
Bluebell
These beautiful bell-shaped flowers make an impact when planted in large swaths, especially in a semi-woodland setting such as under large deciduous trees.
They’re usually not munched on by deer or rabbits. They need part sun.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Grape Hyacinth
Tiny flowers appear in early to mid-spring in shades of purple, pink and white. They naturalize readily, so they’re a good choice for planting in a spot where you want them to spread. Deer and rabbits tend to ignore them. They need full sun but will tolerate part shade.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Dwarf Iris
There are many different types of irises, but these tiny gems appear in very early to mid-spring, along with their pretty, grassy foliage. Plant them in masses along borders. They need full sun.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Learn more: How to Care for Irises
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