When it comes to adding a big burst of early spring color, it’s hard to beat the ease and beauty of planting fall bulbs.
With just a little work now in the crisp, cool autumn air, you can have sensational spring blooms that come to life to help signal the end of winter’s barren landscape.
Whether it’s the simple elegance of a tulip, or the dainty bright petals of a daffodil bloom, spring flowering bulbs are a sight to behold. Especially when you select and plant some of the incredibly unique and interesting varieties that are now available.
In today’s article, we take a look at 5 incredible and unique varieties of fall bulbs that are simply stunning when in bloom. And they are certainly sure to be the talk of your neighborhood! But first, here is a quick overview of when and how to plant your fall bulbs for that big spring color.
When & How To Plant Fall Bulbs
Fall bulbs need to be planted a few weeks before the ground freezes over. In cooler northern climates, this is usually anywhere from late September to mid-October.
For the warmer climates of the south and west, they can usually be planted into mid-November and even December. For us here in eastern Ohio, we like to put our bulbs in the ground right around the 15th of October.
Bulbs can be planted singularly, in small groups, or in big patches for an explosion of color. They can even be grown in pots as well. When planting fall bulbs, simply dig down a few inches, add a bit of compost to the soil, then water and cover up.
For most fall varieties, you need to plant at a depth of 2 to 3 times the width of the bulb. Once planted, cover with a light 1 to 2 inch covering of mulch to help protect from harsh winter temperatures.
Over the course of the last 10 years, we planted hundreds of different bulbs at our old farm. And each spring, it was always a treat to see which ones would grow to become our new favorites.
As we now enter our first fall season at the new farm, we are so excited to now plant our best of the best from years past. And here is a look at our top five varieties we simply can’t get enough of!
5 Unique Flowering Bulbs To Plant This Fall
1) Enchanted Evening Tulips – 5 Unique Fall Bulbs To Plant
Probably the most well-known of sprig flowering bulbs, tulips can be found in a huge array of colors and sizes. From purple, red, yellow, white, blue and more, they are an easy way to add big color.
And when it comes to our absolute favorite, the Enchanted Evening variety is hard to beat! The collection of bulbs features some incredible shades of violet, deep purple, blue and white.
With a flowering height of just under 2′ they look great in mass plantings, or even as a flowerbed border. I still remember the first time they unfolded their incredibly unique colors, and we were hooked!
Remember that tulips perform best when planted in a sunny and drier location. They have a tendency to rot when planted in too wet of an area, and need the sun to bloom to full size and color.
2) Beau Regard Allium – 5 Unique Fall Bulbs To Plant
Allium isn’t quite as well known or popular as other spring flowering bulbs, but it should be! A member of the onion family, allium blooms can make a big impact in early season flowerbeds.
They can be found in a wide variety of blooming colors and sizes. But with that said, our go-to favorite is and will always be Beau Regard. It is simply a showstopping stunner when it blooms!
Beau Regard allium can grow to nearly 4 feet in height. But it is the bloom of this bulb that creates all the buzz. Beau Regard’s flowers can be the size of a large grapefruit. And without a doubt, these massive blooms become the star of the spring landscape in short order.
All varieties of allium tend to be extremely winter hardy. They can be left in the ground to grow year after year without trouble. For more on this incredible bulb – check out our How To Plant & Grow Allium article on our This Is My Garden sister site.
3) Rip Van Winkle Daffodils – 5 Unique Fall Bulbs To Plant
Nothing quite signals the start of spring like daffodils, Their bright blooms are a signal that warmer temperatures are just around the corner. Adding to their allure, daffodils are extremely deer, rodent and pest resistant too.
Daffodils are extremely hardy and require little maintenance once planted. And they are perfect to place in existing flowerbeds in small groups. Daffodils also perform well in pots and containers for great patio and porch color. Product Link : Rip Van Winkle Daffodil Bulbs
4) Woodstock Hyacinth – 5 Unique Fall Bulbs To Plant
Hyacinth bulbs are one of the more interesting of all when it comes to spring-flowering bulbs. Especially when it comes to the unique beauty of the Woodstock variety.
With it’s high clusters of deep maroon flowers, it stands out in the stark bareness of early spring flowerbeds. Hyacinth bulbs are incredibly fragrant. Their long, showy stems add a unique look to any landscape. In addition, they are also perfect for cutting and bringing indoors.
Hyacinth perform best when planted in full to mostly sunny locations. Their bulbs tend to be fairly large and should go in the ground to at least 6 to 8 inches deep.
They are extremely low maintenance and require little attention after planting. They are an excellent choice to provide years and years of beautiful spring color and fragrance -all with little work!
5) Giant Dutch Picwic Crocus – 5 Unique Fall Bulbs To Plant
Crocus are always among the first to poke their bright greenery through the ground in the spring. In fact, many times, they can be in full bloom when a late snow still falls.
They are perfect for all types of settings, looking great along paths and sidewalks, or in mass plantings in flowerbeds. And if you are looking for a unique and stunning variety of crocus to grow, look no further than Giant Dutch Picwic!
This stunning crocus variety has big blooms of violet and white stripes in an interesting and beautiful pattern. This variety grows to around 4 to 6 inches in both height and spread. It is certainly quite the conversation piece when in full bloom.
Crocus bulbs are another perennial that come back year after year in the soil without much work. For best results and early blooms, plant in a location that receives all day or nearly all day sun. Product Link ; Picwic Crocus Bulbs
Here is to planting bulbs this fall to bring early color to your landscape next year! Happy Gardening – Jim and Mary.
Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening, DIY and recipe articles and books for over 15 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm. The two are frequent speakers on all things gardening and love to travel in their spare time.
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