11 Bulbs to plant in autumn
Bulbs to plant in autumn. How often do we see flowers in spring and summer and wished that we had planted some? I have an annual cycle of seeing a wonderful flower and making a mental note to plant some of the bulbs in autumn and invariably, I forget. Now is an ideal time to plant bulbs for flowers next year and as I write, I am making a shopping list.
If you are unsure how deep to plant bulbs, a good guide is to measure the height of the bulb (I use my trowel for this) and plant so that there is double the depth of soil above the top of the bulb. It doesn’t need to be precise, however planting too shallow can result in some plants coming up ‘blind’. In other words, the leaves grow, but do not produce a flower stem, and it would be a shame to go to all the effort of planting the bulbs and then not getting the display you’d hoped for!
Camassia Leichtlinii Alba
Camassias are easy to grow and naturalise quickly. I grow two varieties, one purple and one white, and prefer the white as the creamy-white flowers stand out so well in the spring sunlight. Grow on any soil, except clay, in full sun or partial shade. They are hardy throughout most of UK and Ireland. Can grow to 120cm height, although I’ve never seen them that all because in my garden, it rarely exceeds 90cms.
These bulbs to plant in autumn will naturalise readily. If you want to increase your plant numbers, be careful not to remove seed heads too quickly and beware when weeding as the young plants can easily be mistaken for grass.
Allium siculum
Here’s an unusual allium that flowers at the end of spring and into early summer. Not only does it give an interesting flower display, the seed pods in late summer are also decorative. Grow in any soil that is moist, but well-drained or well-drained, it is drought resistant. It is hardy across most of UK and Ireland, even during a severe winter. Height 120cm. You may also find this for sale as Allium nectaracsardium or Nectaroscordum siculum. As its common name suggests, Sicilian honey garlic has edible leaves and flowers, but be wary, not all alliums are edible, so make sure you know what you are eating!
Narcissus ‘Bridal Crown’
If you have space to position a pot of bulbs near to your door, this variety is well worth considering. The flower stem grows to 50cm height, so if you live on a very windy site, it is best in a slightly sheltered position to prevent the wind knocking them over. The flowers are fully double, with creamy, almost white petal-like segments, while the central part is yellow and cream. ‘Bridal Crown’ flowers in mid-spring. Grow in any soil type and position, in full sun or partial shade. Hardy across UK and northern Europe.
Tulip ‘Angelique’
This is a late flowering, fully double tulip that resembles a peony flower. The soft pink flowers appear during late spring. Delay planting until late November or December. Grow in moist, but well-drained soil in full sun. Height 45cm. They are fully hardy across UK and Ireland. If squirrels are regular visitors to your garden, they can be a nuisance when it comes to tulip and crocus bulbs. The bulbs provide a tasty meal for them and squirrels may dig up your potential flower display to eat the bulbs. You can protect the bulbs by completely encasing them in 13mm chicken wire or hardware cloth (which is made from a grid of wires). The leaves and flower stems will grow through the holes in the wire casing.
Hyacinth
As a small child at school, we placed hyacinth bulbs into specially designed containers to grow. The pots allowed us to watch the roots grow in water, while the leaves and flower stem followed shortly afterwards. I was delighted to find that similar growing kits can still be found. They use ‘prepared’ bulbs that have been treated to encourage flowering around mid-winter. While it might be a little late for Christmas flowering, if you plant them now, you could have these sweet-smelling blooms flowering inside your home early in the next year. Depending on variety, they will need 8 – 12 weeks of cool dark conditions, followed by 2-3 weeks of warm and light. Alternatively, buy bulbs that have not been prepared for indoor growth and enjoy them in your garden.
Fritillaria meleagris
They may only grow to 30cm in height, but these little plants certainly make a statement in the garden in spring. The fragile-looking flowers nod on top of slender stems, swaying in the wind. Each tepal has a striking checkerboard pattern. Squares or rectangles are not very often seen in nature’s patterns and designs, so these markings look particularly special.
Both the purple and white varieties have the markings, although it is less easily seen on the white flowers. Fritillaria meleagris ‘Alba’ would be a great addition to a white garden. These bulbs to plant in autumn are unfussy about soil type or location and will thrive in full sun and partial shade. Fritillaria meleagris is hardy across the UK and Ireland, even during a severe winter.
Lilium regale (IXb/a)
For height and impact, try this towering lily. You will need neutral or acid soil for it to thrive, in a sheltered spot, and in full sun. Growing to around 200cm, with flowers up to 14cm long, it will certainly make a statement in your garden. Hardy across UK and northern Europe. It has received the RHS Award of Garden Merit. They can be susceptible to red lily beetle, which you can remove by hand if you see them, or encourage natural predators, including parasitic wasps, by growing a diverse range of plants in your garden.
Fritillaria persica
Here’s an interesting flower for well-drained soils in full sun. Persian lily will not thrive on clay soils and needs a south- or east-facing spot. If you can provide the right conditions, it will reward you with upright stems with brown to deep purple flowers, in spring. Height 60cm – 90cm depending on variety. It is hardy throughout most of UK, but may not survive a harsh winter.
Muscari botryoides ‘Album’
The small delicate flowers of grape hyacinth are most often seen in shades of mauve and blue, but there are also pink and white varieties. For scented flowers to edge a south-facing pathway or front of border, they are ideal. They are clump forming bulbs that grow to 20cm height. They are unfussy about soil type, and prefer full sun. The leaves die back for summer and reappear in autumn. I find the leaves of Muscari rather scruffy after they have flowered, perhaps I am too impatient while they absorb sufficient energy from the sun to flower again next year. When we first moved to our home, I grew them in pots and planted out when they were in flower, so I could decide exactly where I wanted them.
Lilium martagon (IXc/d)
This lily forms a clump of erect stems and produces flowers that hang downwards with petals that curl back, so you can see the delightful markings on the inside of the petals. Grow in full sun or partial shade, they are unfussy about soil, but won’t like being in dry or waterlogged ground. Position in a sheltered spot, to protect from wind. Hardy across UK and northern Europe. Height varies with variety and ranges from 90cm to 150cm, while the white variety can reach 200cm, and 30cm spread.
Leucojum aestivum ‘Gravetye Giant’
Commonly known as the summer snowflake, in mid to late spring they produce slightly fragrant flowers to 90cm in height. Unfussy about soil type or aspect, they thrive in full sun in moist soil, although not in a constantly waterlogged place. Their delicate appearance is deceptive as they are fully hardy across UK and the rest of northern Europe.
If you have the space, plant in a drift, and allow the leaves to die back naturally to ensure the bulbs receive sufficient energy to produce flowers again the next year. I associate this flower form with tiny snowdrops and snowflakes and seeing them as taller plants challenged my preconceptions. It just goes to show that in the garden, you really can learn something new every day!
More information
The article, Bulbs to plant in autumn, was written originally for Amateur Gardening magazine in 2025. I may have updated some of the specific varieties and images or added further plants to the list, and I’ve included links to help you find the suggested plants.
- 11 Bulbs to plant in autumn - January 16, 2026
- Daisy flowers for autumn - January 2, 2026
- Flowers at Christmas and mid winter - December 31, 2025