Summer is in full swing, but it's actually not too early to start planning your fall bulb orders. Some bulbs need cool soil to sprout and root, so they should be planted during the fall so they'll be strong and ready to bloom in the spring.
But flipping through a bulb catalog can often be overwhelming, trying to choose between 24 varieties of daffodils and tons of tulips. So we asked four gardening experts to share their picks for the best bulbs to plant this fall. Here are their picks.
Plant the bulbs in the ground before the first frost, so they have a chance to take root and grow before the ground freezes.
Tulip “Oliulus”
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“This is the prettiest pink tulip I've ever grown,” says tulip expert Polly Nicholson, author of the recently published “The Tulip Garden.” Nicholson notes that it grows up to 28 inches tall, making it perfect for pots or cut gardens. She also points out that, like other Darwin hybrids, this tulip “produces large flowers with a slightly tapered, classic tulip shape.”
Tulip “Peppermint Stick”
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Nicholson also loves the Cruciana hybrid tulip, 'Peppermint Stick,' also known as the Lady or Persian tulip. “It has narrow, candy-striped, goblet-shaped flowers and has been cultivated for the cut-flower trade for its striking appearance and early-flowering characteristics,” she says, adding, “I've naturalized it along my flower borders, and it will flower every year,” which gardeners know isn't true of most tulips.
Narcissus “Polar Hunter”
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“I'm obsessed with narcissus (also known as daffodils) at the moment,” says British garden writer Sarah Raven, author of A Year Full of Pots. “Narcissus is a perennial plant that, thanks to modern breeding, has long-lasting flowers and a wonderful fragrance.”
Her top picks for potted plants are 'Starlight Sensation' and 'Polar Hunter,' both of which will continue to bloom for over a month. Polar Hunter's pale green hue and many flowers per stem give it a unique look. “Grow it in a pot and then plant the bulbs in your garden once they flower,” Raven suggests.
Double Late Tulip
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Both Nicholson and Raven are fans of these long-blooming flowers: “Late-flowering double tulips, also known as peony flowers, do best when planted closely together,” says Nicholson.
Peony-flowered tulips are also great for potted plants, according to Raven, and are “showy and pretty spectacular.” The varieties Raven chose include “Black Hero,” “Royal Acres,” “Orange Princess” and “La Belle Epoque.”
Nicholson loves 'Wyndham' tulips for its “antique feel and two-toned petals that evoke faded burgundy silk with cream trim.” She says pairing 'Wyndham' with 'La Belle Epoque' and 'Black Hero' makes a “beautiful, atmospheric mix.”
Hyacinth “Dark Distinction”
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Don't overlook hyacinths, which are making a comeback, and Raven recommends two varieties with unique hues. “I planted a gorgeous pot of Muscari latifolium this spring and a deep indigo blue hyacinth, 'Dark Distinction,' which I'll be planting this fall,” says Raven. “The scent is amazing, and the two bloomed for over six weeks between blooms.”
Tulip “Queen of the Night”
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Garden designer Christina Koether, founder of Nomadica in Weston, Connecticut, loves 'Queen of the Night,' a single-petaled, deep purple (almost black) flower that offers a nice contrast. She often pairs it with pale lavender tulips, such as Tulipa 'Jacuzzi' or Tulipa 'Silver Cloud.'
Pearsol also used “Queen of the Night” in its display at the 2024 Philadelphia Flower Show.
Narcissus 'Thalia'
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Seth Piersol, vice president and creative director of the Philadelphia Flower Show, has included an eye-catching selection of bulbs in the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's 2024 exhibit.
One daffodil he particularly focuses on is Narcissus “Thalia,” a pure white flower that has been popular since it was first introduced in 1916.
Allium “Millennium”
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Koser calls Allium 'Millennium' “highly deer resistant.” This allium is a unique compact, clump-growing plant. Tiny, purple, globe-shaped flowers bloom in late summer when the garden starts to look tired. Koser notes that this bulb likes full sun.
Lily Flower Tulip
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Pearsol planted several tulips in the show garden, including Ballerina, an orange-flowered tulip with pink and magenta highlights, Elegant Lady, a cream-colored tulip with soft burgundy edges that become pinkish as it matures, and Purple Heart, a tulip with purplish-maroon flowers that, as its name suggests, are lily-colored.
