Summer Bulbs – Best Bulbs to Plant for Summer

When temperatures start to rise it is time to plant the bulbs that bloom in summer, a wide range of beautiful flowers that will give life and color to our gardens, terraces, and homes. Learn all about summer bulbs in this article.

Amaryllis

Native to South and Central America, Hippeastrum x ackermannii is one of the most elegant bulbous plants. Up to two flower stalks emerge from its bulb, which appears even before the leaves. Only the lower half of the bulb is buried, leaving the rest on the surface of the soil or soil. It does not need much light, and in a cool corner, its flowers will last longer (Order it here).

Summer Bulbs – Lily

Lilium candidum, also called lily, is a whole genus with more than a hundred species to its credit. They are found in America, Europe, and Asia, and are characteristic for their fragrant trumpet-shaped flowers, which smell especially intense and pleasant at night, although not all varieties share this aroma. They bloom between late spring and early summer (Order it here).

Tuberous Begonia

Among the summer flowering bulbs is also grouped the tuberous begonia, although its beautiful, warm-colored flowers can appear at any time when the climate is warm enough or close to tropical. It is a plant that prefers shade or semi-shade and is planted in early spring (Order it here).

Summer Bulbs – Peace Lily

The Peace lily is another of the most appreciated summer bulb plants. It originates in South Africa and is noted for its funnel-shaped, usually white flowers, which have a highly valued perfume. The leaves of calla lilies are green, large and fleshy, arrow-shaped, and prefer shade or semi-shade.

Dahlia

With more than 30 recognized species, this genus of plants native to Mexico is a spectacle because of its showy flowers, with very vivid colors and varied shapes. Already in ancient times, the Aztecs used them to decorate their events and festivities. Dahlias are summer bulbous plants that multiply very easily by the division of tubers and need abundant light (Order it here).

Summer Bulbs – Mirabilis jalapa (Four o’clock flower)

The Mirabilis jalapa is a plant whose flowering lasts from June until October. Its flowers are trumpets of warm colors or white, of very intense tones, although they are not its only attraction: its leaves, of green also very showy, give form to a bush of great contrasts and aesthetic value (Order it here).

Gladiolus

Gladioli are a whole genus with about 250 species, native to Asia, tropical Africa, South Africa, and the Mediterranean area. They stand out for their flower spikes, traditionally used in the decoration of gardens and the making of bouquets and arrangements, since they can be of a great variety of colors. Some species and varieties reach and even exceed 5 ft (1.5 m) in height.

Learn more about How to Plant Gladiolus Bulbs. Get quality gladiolus bulbs (Order it here).

Summer Bulbs – Gloxinia

Sinningia speciosa, glixinia or siningia, is a tuberous plant despite being vulgarly called gloxinia, a genus of rhizomatous plants. It is a plant less than 20” (50 cm) high, with fleshy, frilly leaves that form a rosette around the flowering stem. The flowers, very beautiful and decorative, appear in summer and autumn and are bell-shaped. It needs a lot of light, but not direct (Order it here).

Montbretia

Also called crocosmia, this is a genus with 6 species of bulbs actually, all from South Africa. They reach heights of up to 32” (80 cm), with beautiful orange flowers and ribbon-like leaves. They bloom between late spring and early summer, and it is very common to see them planted to form borders.

Summer Bulbs – Sparaxis

Also known as harlequin flowers, this is a genus of 12 species of bulbous plants originating in South Africa. They are small plants with very showy flowers with a yellow center and white, orange, or red outside, with 6 petals. They need sun or semi-shade, with very well-drained soil (Order it here).

Caring for Summer Bulbs Plants

To plant summer bulbs, you must first consult which species you have and make sure you are going to plant them at the right time because although most are planted in spring, this is not true for all.

Plant the bulb with the pointed side up, which is where it will grow. Depending on the size of the bulb, it will need a depth of between 2” and 8” (5 and 20 cm). It is important to have loosened the soil beforehand, which should offer good drainage and be rich in nutrients. We recommend using a mixture of peat, worm humus, and coconut fiber in equal parts, with the addition of vermiculite and perlite. The bulbs to be planted should be hard and dry to the touch: the opposite usually implies that they are rotten.

Choose a location according to the light needs of the plant and water by spraying after planting, bringing moisture to the soil but always without puddling. Most summer bulbs are especially sensitive to excess moisture, which makes them sick and kills them.