Planting winter flowering bulbs is a great way to brighten up your garden during the winter months.
There are many different bulbs that bloom in late winter and in this article I’ve listed my top ten bulbs for winter flowers.
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10 WINTER FLOWERING BULBS
1. Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis)
Snowdrops
are beautiful winter flowering bulbs with small white blooms that emerge in late winter or early spring.
The flowers grow 3 to 6 inches (7 to 15 cm) tall and they’ll bloom even when there is snow on the ground.
Snowdrop bulbs should be planted in early fall but it may take two or more years for the plants to start blooming.
2. Hyacinths (Hyacinthus)
Hyacinth bulbs
should be planted in fall and they begin blooming towards the end of winter or early spring.
The flowers come in a variety of beautiful colors including white, blue, purple, pink and cream.
Hyacinths have sturdy foliage, which means they’re perfect for exposed, windy gardens.
Hyacinth bulbs contain oxalic acid which can irritate the skin, so it’s a good idea to wear gloves when you’re working with Hyacinth bulbs.
3. Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis)
Aconites
are winter hardy flowers that can survive cold temperatures and frosts.
Technically, Winter Aconites are tubers, not bulbs.
The tubers store nutrients to sustain the plants during winter in the same way that bulbs do.
Their beautiful yellow flowers spread out to create a carpet of yellow in the garden.
RELATED: How To Grow Winter Aconite Flowers
4. Crocus (Crocus sativus)
Crocuses
are popular bulbs with flowers in a variety of colors including purple, pink, yellow, red, orange and blue.
They grow from corms which can be planted in fall and they will bloom in late winter and early spring.
Crocuses are frost resistant and grow well in full sun or partial shade.
5. Daffodils (Narcissus spp.)
Daffodils
are beautiful, brightly colored bulbs that pop up towards the end of winter.
The flowers come in a range of colors including yellow, white, orange and cream.
Plant clusters of daffodil bulbs in fall for pops of late winter color.
6. Anemone
Anemones
are beautiful, brightly colored flowers that are ideal for brightening up the winter months.
They produce a succession of flowers from late winter into spring.
Each plant can produce up to 20 flowers so you’ll have lots of flowers to enjoy during the blooming season.
7. Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum)
Cyclamen
is another beautiful winter flower that grows from a bulb or tuber.
It has circular shaped leaves and the flowers can be pink, white or purple.
Cyclamens can tolerate cold winter temperatures and they bloom during the cooler months.
Cyclamen plants are susceptible to rot, so it’s best to water the base of the plant to keep the leaves dry.
8. Jonquils (Narcissus spp.)
Jonquils are beautifully scented flowers that are related to daffodils.
They begin to flower in mid-winter and the blooms will last into spring.
Jonquils look great planted in clumps at the base of deciduous trees and they’ll also grow well in full sun.
9. Paperwhites (Narcissus papyraceus)
Paperwhites
are part of the same family as daffodils and jonquils and they can be grown indoors or outdoors.
The flowers are pure white, beautifully scented and easy to grow.
Plant paperwhite bulbs in fall for late winter flowers.
10. Grape Hyacinths (Muscari)
Grape hyacinths
are cute flowers that look like mini versions of regular hyacinths.
They come in a range of colors including purple, blue, white and pink.
Grape hyacinths grow in full sun or partial shade and spread out very easily so you can expect lots of new plants popping up in your garden. [1]
Caring for winter flowering bulbs
After the plants are finished flowering in late spring, you can cut off the flower stalks but leave the foliage to die off naturally.
Leaving the foliage in place until it dies down allows the bulbs to store nutrients for the next flowering season.
You can read more about caring for bulbs when they’ve finished flowering in this article:
How To Care For Bulbs After Flowering
So there are 10 bulbs for beautiful winter flowers.
Planting a few of these winter flowering bulbs is a great way to bring color to your garden beds, containers or pots during the winter months.
RELATED ARTICLES
- 10 Best Flower Bulbs For Containers
- 5 Winter Flowering Annuals
- 10 Easy To Grow Perennial Flowers
- Fertilizing Plants In Winter
- How To Care For Bulbs After Flowering
Which of these winter blooming bulbs do you like best? Let me know in the comments below.
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