11 Longest Flowering Bulb Varieties to Plant in Fall

Fall is the perfect season to get those lovely spring and summer flowering bulbs in the ground. Put in a little effort now, and we’ll enjoy some lovely floral surprises as winter comes to an end.

Give your future self a treat by picking out long-blooming plants to welcome the warm season. You won’t have to wait too long; a lot of them start showing up before winter wraps up.

There are plenty of choices out there, whether you’re looking for plants that bloom all season long or ones that come back year after year. You can find options that flower together beautifully or ones that make a strong statement on their own.

Here are our picks of the 11 longest flowering bulb varieties we recommend planting in fall:

1. Daffodil

Daffodils pop up in late winter and early spring, showcasing their bright trumpet blooms that welcome the new season. Their cups of yellow, white, apricot, and pink petals really stand out as classic favorites for the cool season.

Plant daffodil bulbs in the fall and pick varieties that bloom at different times as in early, mid, and late seasons to enjoy weeks of vibrant color.

‘Tete-a-tete’ is a charming early-season daffodil. This RHS Award of Garden Merit winner is a tough little plant that blooms beautifully featuring lovely buttery yellow cups and several blooms on each stem. It’s among the first to bloom, showcasing a bunch of buds.

2. Foxtail Lily

The foxtail lily is a bulbous perennial that showcases impressive bloom spikes in late spring. The strappy blue-green leaves create a lovely rosette at the base, holding up those tall, sturdy stems. The little flowers form bushy foxtail racemes and bloom from the bottom up to the top.

The Shelford hybrids are great-performing varieties available in pink, orange, white, and yellow. You can find a great mix of hybrids that create a delicious blend of colors. ‘Shelford Pink’ glows in a soft blush, exuding a touch of elegance.

3. Lily

Lilies really shine in the summer with their beautiful trumpet-shaped blooms and delightful, sweet scent. The floral perfume really shines on summer mornings and evenings, attracting all the pollinators around!

Lilium martagon ‘Peppard Gold’ is a lovely species lily featuring pink buds that bloom into vibrant yellow-orange petals, beautifully accented with pink and red freckles. The petals curve back evenly. Every stem can yield as many as 30 lovely, fragrant blossoms. The lively growers settle in for years of vibrant color.

Lilies start to sprout in the spring, thriving and blooming all summer long before they begin to yellow and fade away in the fall. Split the bulbs as they grow to get more beautiful lilies!

4. Amaryllis

Amaryllis has a fantastic bloom time that can last anywhere from six to ten weeks, and even up to three months! Featuring large, vibrant blooms in a range of colors, it’s a stunning choice for your garden or as a houseplant.

Fall is a great time for warm-climate gardeners to plant amaryllis in the garden bed. The bulbs require vernalization, which means they need to be exposed to temperatures between 50-55°F for at least eight to ten weeks. The flowers bring back vibrant colors year after year.

Amaryllis ‘Red Lion’ features large, vibrant crimson blooms. It offers months of vibrant color with several blooms on each stem. Larger bulbs usually mean longer flowering times.

5. Crocus

Crocus are those lovely little clusters of delicate blades and charming blooms that spring up like delightful surprises in patches, along pathways, and in grassy spots. These flowers start to bloom in early spring and stick around for about three weeks. They open up during the day and close up at night.

‘Flower Record’ features big, stunning royal purple blooms with a vibrant orange, ruffled center that really stands out. It settles in nicely, gradually spreading to create a cluster that might appreciate a little division after a few years.

6. Anemone

Known as windflowers, anemones produce a lovely carpet of lilac-blue blooms. This clump-forming perennial spreads by seeds and rhizomes, creating a lovely ground cover with deep, fern-like leaves.

‘Blue Shades’ really shines with its vibrant blue, daisy-like blooms. Yellow eye centers create a nice contrast. Go ahead and plant those bulbs (tubers) this season, spacing them about 2-3 inches apart. You’ll be rewarded with a lovely drift of blooms come April!

7. Allium

‘Globemaster’ is a standout among large ornamental alliums with stunning spheres of purple florets that reach 10 inches in diameter. Strong stems keep the impressive globes standing tall for their May display.

The deep lavender florets are packed closely together and have a lovely silvery sheen. As one floret fades away, another pops up to keep the bloom going for a longer time. Once the flowers bloom, the petals dry up and take on a lovely tawny hue, adding some charm that lasts through the summer.

‘Globemaster’ is a sterile variety, so you don’t have to worry about reseeding. Plus, this amazing performer has also received the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Along with planting new bulbs, fall is also the perfect time to dig up, divide, and transplant your existing ornamental allium bulbs.

8. Hyacinth

Hyacinth brings in the warmer weather with its vibrant blooms and delightful fragrance. Flowers bloom on a single stem in shades of white, pink, lavender, gold, or blue, filling the air with a wonderfully sweet fragrance.

‘Carnegie’ features big clusters of fluffy white florets that are packed together nicely. They create beautiful woodland plantings that blend seamlessly under tree canopies. It’s super simple to split bulbs to help with crowding and grow your colony!

9. Hellebore

Hellebores, also known as lenten roses, showcase beautiful, drooping flowers that sit gracefully above their attractive, palm-shaped leaves. Lenten roses start to bloom in late winter and early spring, displaying beautiful single or double blooms that can stick around for two to three months.

The variety ‘Mother of the Bride’ features lovely three-inch flowers in a soft apricot hue, accented with delicate pink edges. The frilly hellebore belongs to the Wedding Party series, featuring lovely double-flowering options.

Lenten roses look stunning when grouped together. They gradually spread out to create a colony, thriving in consistently moist, average soil and enjoying some dappled light.

10. Peony

Peonies are beautifully full-flowered, usually semi-double or double, featuring large, ruffled petals. They bloom once a season, from late spring to early summer, and picking a few with varying bloom times can really extend the beautiful display throughout the season.

‘Coral Sunset’ shines in a lovely warm apricot-orange on sturdy stems that stand tall without needing any support. Plus, it’s a Gold Medal Selection by the American Peony Society. The semi-double flower showcases lovely rose overtones, highlighted by yellow stamens right in the center.

11. Fritillaria

Fritillaria is a beautiful and often overlooked flowering perennial bulb. Graceful stems lead to drooping bell-shaped flowers that come in solid, checkered, or spotted patterns.

The Crown imperial cultivars in yellow, orange, and red are definitely a favorite in the genus. The drooping blooms stand tall on strong stems, topped with a shiny green crown of leaves.

‘Lutea Maxima’ features bright yellow flowers and enjoys an extended blooming period. It was given the Award of Garden Merit because of how well it performed and how exotic it looked.

Additional Guides from Planet Natural:

15 Fall Flowers for a Strikingly Colorful Garden

The First Flower You Must Plant After Autumnal Equinox