10 Summer Bulbs for Garden and Balcony

Planting the right bulbs, corms and tubers now will reward you with a summer burst of colour that can make balconies and flower beds look completely renewed. Choosing suitable long-lasting varieties, together with a few straightforward steps for planting and overwintering, is what matters. Once established in the right spot, many of these beauties will return for several years.

Why summer bulbs are the best garden investment right now

Perennial bulb flowers act like compact energy stores. Their bulbs or tubers contain everything needed to produce leaves, stems and flowers. Plant them in spring and they quickly get going in summer, with no lengthy wait.

“Anyone who plants between February and the end of May can look forward to abundant flowers in the very same year – whether in a border or a balcony planter.”

Unlike traditional spring favourites such as tulips and daffodils, many summer bulbs do not need a prolonged winter period in the ground. They have already received the necessary cold treatment at the nursery or in storage. They can be planted outside as soon as frost is no longer expected.

Their main advantages are:

• They flower in mid-summer, when many perennials are already beginning to fade.
• Many varieties bloom for weeks, sometimes well into autumn.
• Once bought, their bulbs and tubers can often be used for several years.
• They perform equally well in garden borders and large containers.

How to plant bulb flowers properly

The method is much the same for nearly every type, whether you are planting a bulb, tuber, rhizome or corm:

• Choose a position: full sun to partial shade, ideally without waterlogging.
• Prepare the soil: loosen it and remove stones and thick roots.
• Planting depth: as a broad rule, plant at roughly twice the height of the tuber.
• Positioning: place the pointed end upwards and the flatter side downwards.
• Firm the soil and water thoroughly so that no air pockets remain.

In pots, always put a drainage layer of expanded clay or gravel at the bottom so excess water can escape. Bulb plants tolerate a great deal, but they rarely cope well with wet feet.

The 10 most exciting summer bulbs for gardens and balconies

Amaryllis for a dramatic display

Large-flowered amaryllis (Hippeastrum) is best known as a winter houseplant. In a summer border, however, it impresses with exotic trumpet-shaped blooms in red, pink, white or striped forms. It prefers warmth, sunshine and loose soil. Large pots on the patio are ideal, with half of the bulb left above the compost.

Anemones for a delicate carpet of flowers

Anemones create dense swathes of dainty flowers. They work well in borders, along the front of beds or beneath open shrubs. Soaking the often bone-dry tubers in lukewarm water for a few hours before planting gives them a better start.

Begonias: colour for shady spaces

Tuberous begonias bring colour to north-facing balconies and shaded corners where roses and lavender give up. Their double or single flowers last for months. The tubers must not be exposed to frost and should rest dry but frost-free in autumn, for example in a box lined with newspaper.

Caladiums – foliage appeal rather than floral splendour

Caladiums rely on striking foliage in white, pink, red and green. They are excellent for partially shaded positions, where their leaf patterns can really stand out. Their tubers need warmth and will only sprout reliably once temperatures remain consistently above 20 degrees.

Cannas: instant tropical atmosphere

Cannas resemble miniature banana plants with vividly coloured flower spikes. They thrive in full sun and rich, moist soil. Whether grown in patio containers or used as a focal point in a perennial border, they bring a holiday feel to everyday life. In mild areas, they can remain in the ground beneath a thick mulch layer; elsewhere, lift the rhizomes in autumn.

Crocosmias bring fiery colours to the border

Crocosmias produce glowing orange and red shades on elegant arching stems. They combine particularly well with grasses and airy perennials. Where winters are not too harsh, they can get through the cold season with a protective layer of leaves or bark mulch.

Dahlia tubers – late-summer stars

Dahlias are among the most popular summer-flowering plants. Whether pompon, cactus or giant-flowered types, they really come into their own in late summer. Planting them in stages provides continuous flowers until the first frost, including plenty for vases. Store the tubers somewhere frost-free but cool, such as a garage or cellar at 1 to 7 degrees.

Gladioli for dramatic cut flowers

Gladioli produce long, upright flower spikes that dominate any bouquet. In borders, they add structure when planted in groups of five to ten corms. Planting a new batch every two weeks extends the flowering season gradually into late summer.

Summer lilies as fragrant classics

Lily bulbs rank among the most enduring of summer-flowering plants. They will often remain in the same place for many years and can become even more attractive over time. Many varieties are strongly scented, making them ideal near seating areas. One important point: the soil must not become waterlogged in winter, or the bulbs may rot.

Strongly scented tubers for an evening patio

Tubers with an especially powerful fragrance are perfect for containers positioned beside chairs or loungers. Their sweet scent is most noticeable during the evening, when the air becomes slightly more humid. If lifted after flowering and stored frost-free, they can be used again the following year.

Which position suits each bulb plant?

Selecting the right position determines whether the summer display is merely pleasant or truly impressive.

Plant	Position	Special feature
Cannas	full sun, nutrient-rich soil	tropical effect, large leaves
Dahlias	sun to partial shade	huge variety of types, ideal for cutting
Begonias	shade to partial shade	long flowering period, perfect for balcony boxes
Caladiums	bright, but without midday sun	decorative foliage, mainly for containers
Lilies	sunny, free-draining soil	often fragrant, very long-lived

In hot, fully sunny beds, cannas, dahlias, crocosmias, gladioli and lilies show off their strengths. They are highly attractive to bees and butterflies and add height to borders. For shaded corners by the house, begonias, caladiums and anemones provide colour without struggling.

How to overwinter tubers without frost damage

Many of the plants listed can only survive winter outdoors to a limited extent. If you live in a colder area, it is safer to take the following approach:

• Cut back the foliage after the first light frost.
• Carefully lift the tubers and shake off most of the soil.
• Leave them to dry for a few days in an airy place.
• Store them in boxes with paper, straw or slightly moist growing medium.
• Keep them frost-free, dark and as cool as possible.

It is worth checking them once a year: lightly moisten shrivelled tubers with a little water, while rotten ones should be removed so they do not affect the rest.

Practical tips for lazy but clever gardeners

A few simple techniques will help you get more from summer bulbs without creating extra work:

• Use large pots: they dry out more slowly and need watering less often.
• Plant bulbs in groups rather than scattering them individually, as this makes beds appear fuller.
• Combine them with grasses or evergreen perennials so the area still looks good outside the flowering period.
• Remove faded stems regularly to prolong the display.

If you enjoy improvising, you can also fill gaps in borders at the beginning of summer with pots that have not yet flowered. Gladioli, cannas and begonias can be slipped between perennials in their containers without any problem, then removed just as quickly in autumn.

What beginners should also know

Two terms often arise when discussing bulb plants: “hardy” and “perennial”. Hardy means that a plant can withstand frost while growing in the ground. Perennial simply means that it is capable of living for several years – though it may only do so if overwintered frost-free.

Some combinations look especially harmonious: dahlias with ornamental grasses, cannas with white anemones, or begonias beneath hydrangeas. Following pairings like these creates not only individual attractive plants, but coherent displays across the whole garden or balcony.