Bulbs produce some of the first spring blooms to emerge after winter. Flower bulbs accent the garden and home landscape with their bright colors and unusual shapes. While many bulbs bloom in spring, others emerge in summer to keep the hot, summer garden abloom.
Trumpet daffodil (Narcissus 'Brer Fox') is a spring-blooming flower bulb that emerges in April to last through the season. They grow up to 1 ½ feet tall and have a maximum spread of 1 foot. The overlapping, yellow petals surround the deep orange, trumpet-shaped corona. The green, narrow, strap-shaped leaves of trumpet daffodil grow in clumps and are ideal in borders, beds or planted in masses within a wild garden. They also do well when mixed with other spring-flowering bulbs. Trumpet daffodils grow best in full sun to part shade and well-drained, nutrient-rich soil. After trumpet flowers have bloomed, deadhead the spent flower. Trumpet daffodils grow best in USDA zones 3 to 8.
Ornamental onion (Allium 'Globemaster') is a late spring to early summer blooming bulb that has a clumping growth habit and vigorous growth rate. It grows 3 to 6 feet tall and has a spread 6 to 12 inches wide, creating an ideal bulb to grow along a front flowerbed border. The large, deep purple, star-shaped blossoms on ornamental onions grow up to 8 inches wide and attract butterflies to the garden. The 12- to 16-inch-long, strap-shaped blue to green basal leaves grow at the base of each plant and begin to wither as the ornamental onion flowers. Ornamental onions are often compared to exploding fireworks. They grow best in full sun and well-drained soils that are dry to average. Plant the ornamental onion in USDA zones 4 to 9.
Summer hyacinth (Galtonia candicans), also called spire lily, are a late summer-blooming bulb that has a moderate growth rate. They grow 3 to 6 feet tall and make an ideal fresh cut flower. The fragrant, bell-shaped, white and green flowers grow on tall, upright spikes that look attractive when planted next to darker flowers. The strap-like foliage on summer hyacinth is dark green and grows 2 to 3 inches long. Summer hyacinth grow best in full sun and well-drained, nutrient-laden soil that is moist. They are suitable to grow in USDA zones 7 to 10.