Plant Your Spring Garden Now

In the fall, seasoned gardeners really dig these early-spring-blooming bulbs.

September 19, 2023

Alejandro Saralegui,

It’s the time of year when spring bulb catalogs start arriving in the mail, and since gardening is all about patience and foresight, don’t let them pile up! Now’s the time to order a broad mix of bulbs, tubers, and crowns for a full season of color and surprise in 2024.

1/8

SNAKE’S HEAD FRITILLARY
(Fritillaria meleagris)
Zones: 3–8
Height: 8–12 inches; width: 6–8 inches
You can buy white or purple snakehead frits separately, but a mix of the two can be quite charming. Named for their distinctive shape, they’re also commonly called checkered lily or guinea hen flower for the petals’ marvelous checkerboard pattern, which resembles the feathers of guinea fowl.

SNAKE’S HEAD FRITILLARY
(Fritillaria meleagris)
Zones: 3–8
Height: 8–12 inches; width: 6–8 inches
You can buy white or purple snakehead frits separately, but a mix of the two can be quite charming. Named for their distinctive shape, they’re also commonly called checkered lily or guinea hen flower for the petals’ marvelous checkerboard pattern, which resembles the feathers of guinea fowl.

Show Caption Hide Caption
2/8

SUMMER SNOWFLAKE
(Leucojum aestivum ‘Gravetye Giant’)
Zones: 4–8
Height: 2 feet; width: 8–12 inches
These frilly delights are often confused with snowdrops, but they are typically taller and showier. Consider where you plant them, as the foliage needs to die down after flowering and can be unsightly.

SUMMER SNOWFLAKE
(Leucojum aestivum ‘Gravetye Giant’)
Zones: 4–8
Height: 2 feet; width: 8–12 inches
These frilly delights are often confused with snowdrops, but they are typically taller and showier. Consider where you plant them, as the foliage needs to die down after flowering and can be unsightly.

Show Caption Hide Caption
3/8

ORANGE MONARCH CROCUS
(Crocus ‘Orange Monarch’)
Zones: 4–9
Height: 4–6 inches; width: 3–6 inches
We all know purple crocuses, but this deep orange variety with dark outer markings is a standout. Crocuses provide early color in the garden and do well beneath deciduous trees and shrubs, before the latter have leafed out and shaded the ground. And a lawn speckled with crocuses is heaven at the beginning of spring.

ORANGE MONARCH CROCUS
(Crocus ‘Orange Monarch’)
Zones: 4–9
Height: 4–6 inches; width: 3–6 inches
We all know purple crocuses, but this deep orange variety with dark outer markings is a standout. Crocuses provide early color in the garden and do well beneath deciduous trees and shrubs, before the latter have leafed out and shaded the ground. And a lawn speckled with crocuses is heaven at the beginning of spring.

Show Caption Hide Caption
4/8

STAR OF PERSIA
(Allium christophii)
Zones: 4–8
Height: 1–2 feet; width: 6 inches–11⁄2 feet
More than 100 flowers make up a single flowerhead of this large allium. The leaves die back as the flower blooms, so snip them off if you find them unattractive.

STAR OF PERSIA
(Allium christophii)
Zones: 4–8
Height: 1–2 feet; width: 6 inches–11⁄2 feet
More than 100 flowers make up a single flowerhead of this large allium. The leaves die back as the flower blooms, so snip them off if you find them unattractive.

Show Caption Hide Caption
5/8

FOXTAIL LILY
(Eremurus isbellinus ‘Romance’)
Zones: 5–8
Height: 5–10 feet; width: 2–3 feet
These elegant flowers emerge from crowns that look like giant spiders (more than a foot wide!). Plant them shallowly in well-drained soil, and be sure to mark them so you don’t accidentally dig them up later.

FOXTAIL LILY
(Eremurus isbellinus ‘Romance’)
Zones: 5–8
Height: 5–10 feet; width: 2–3 feet
These elegant flowers emerge from crowns that look like giant spiders (more than a foot wide!). Plant them shallowly in well-drained soil, and be sure to mark them so you don’t accidentally dig them up later.

Show Caption Hide Caption
6/8

SNOWDROP
(Galanthus nivalis)
Zones: 3–7
Height: 6–8 inches; width: 3–6 inches
Galanthophiles can debate for hours about what is the best or the rarest snowdrop. No matter which type you fancy, be sure to include snowdrops in your garden or lawn. They spread easily and bloom in January—what’s not to love?

SNOWDROP
(Galanthus nivalis)
Zones: 3–7
Height: 6–8 inches; width: 3–6 inches
Galanthophiles can debate for hours about what is the best or the rarest snowdrop. No matter which type you fancy, be sure to include snowdrops in your garden or lawn. They spread easily and bloom in January—what’s not to love?

Show Caption Hide Caption
7/8

WILD HYACINTH
(Camassia quamash)
Zones: 4–8
Height: 1–3 feet; width: 1–2 feet
Once an important food source for indigenous American peoples, Camassias are now better known for their attractive blue, pink, or white flower spikes. This moisture-tolerant bulb is a good choice for naturalized meadows.

WILD HYACINTH
(Camassia quamash)
Zones: 4–8
Height: 1–3 feet; width: 1–2 feet
Once an important food source for indigenous American peoples, Camassias are now better known for their attractive blue, pink, or white flower spikes. This moisture-tolerant bulb is a good choice for naturalized meadows.

Show Caption Hide Caption
8/8

TURKESTAN TULIP
(Tulipa turkestanica)
Zones: 4–8
Height: 8 inches; width: 8 inches
As the name suggests, this species tulip hails from Turkey and central Asia. Each stem carries several white blossoms dusted with yellow bases on the inside and a splash of violet on the outside. Unlike common garden tulips, these and other species tulips are deer resistant.

TURKESTAN TULIP
(Tulipa turkestanica)
Zones: 4–8
Height: 8 inches; width: 8 inches
As the name suggests, this species tulip hails from Turkey and central Asia. Each stem carries several white blossoms dusted with yellow bases on the inside and a splash of violet on the outside. Unlike common garden tulips, these and other species tulips are deer resistant.

Show Caption Hide Caption

Tips

As a general rule, small bulbs should be planted shallower and big bulbs deeper.
Deer shy away from most bulbs, but they love tulips. Protect yours with deer repellent the moment the plants push through the ground.
Consider making your own tulip “lasagna” in a big pot. Choose complementary colors of early-, mid-, and late-spring-blooming tulips and plant the late ones deepest, with the early ones closest to the top and layers of soil in between.
If you have aboveground critters that like to munch on bulbs, sprinkle them with cayenne pepper or top them with rose canes secured to the soil with landscape staples. Bulb cages or chicken wire can deter voles and moles.
Wild hyacinths make good cut flowers. For best results, condition them overnight in cool water before putting them into an arrangement.

The print version of this article appeared with the headline: Plan Ahead.

This article appears in the September 2023 issue of HC&G (Hamptons Cottages & Gardens).