It may seem like a strange time to chat about spring flowers…
… when we have pumpkins and Halloween decorations appearing in stores.
But if you’re interested in growing spring flowers…
Autumn is the ideal time to plant spring bulbs in most parts of the West.
For example:
- In most elevations of Colorado, the ideal times to plant spring bulbs are typically late September and October.
- In northern Utah, the ideal times are usually October and early November.
Yep, you plant these flowers in the fall — not the spring!
Weird, right?
Okay, technically, you plant their bulbs.
Think of a bulb like a battery for the plant.
It stores energy (food and water) for the flower.
It may seem counter-intuitive that you plant spring bulbs in the fall, but:
- Bulbs need to go through a cold period, so they can come up and give you big, showy color in the spring.
- They also need a little time to establish their roots before the ground freezes.
Here are 3 popular spring flowers for western gardens.
These spring flowers offer beautiful pops of color, and they’re relatively low maintenance. (Cheers to that!)
Once planted, these flowers can return for several years with minimal effort.
Tulips
(officially, Tulipa)
This is what tulips look like. They come in a WIDE range of colors.
Tulips bloom in the spring, but not all at one time.
There are early, middle and late spring tulips.
This means that some start blooming earlier than others.
The package of bulbs you buy or the signage at the garden center should tell you when the tulips will bloom (early, middle or late spring).
That way, you can pick bulbs with the bloom at different times, so you can get longer-lasting color.
Tulips like sunny conditions and soil that drains well.
If you have a damp spot where water sits in the ground or if your soil is dense clay, it’s probably not the best place for tulips.
What’s dense clay like, you ask?
Imagine sticking your shovel in the ground, and the soil sticks to your shovel like bubble gum to a shoe.
When clay soil is damp, it’s sticky, heavy and dense. It’s tough for water to drain.
Tulips don’t mind if the ground is on the dryer side during the summer, which is good for our semi-arid summers in the West.
In my opinion, the biggest downside to tulips is…
… that animals LOVE them.
Deer, rabbits, squirrels, voles. Take a number!
In my back garden, squirrels decapitate my tulips every spring, just as the petals are opening.
I’ve tried a variety of suggested remedies, from animal-repellent sprays to cayenne pepper. (Seriously.)
The only thing I’ve found that works is to fence the tulips off.
Not the prettiest look, ahem.
So, if you have critters, you may want to check out the other spring flowers below.
Daffodils
(officially, Narcissus)
These are daffodils. They come in colors like yellow, white, orange, peach or pink.
Typically, daffodils prefer sunny conditions and soil that drains well.
You may be able to get away with a partially sunny spot, but your daffodils may not bloom as well.
In the semi-arid west, you may want to plant your daffodils near a downspout or a low spot in your garden.
Why?
Daffodils tend to be happiest with moist (but not wet) soil.
If the ground is too wet, daffodil bulbs will rot.
Daffodils are not only beautiful, they’re also resistant to many animals.
YESSS!!
Normally, deer, rabbits and other rodents avoid daffodils. That’s a plus if you live in an area with your fair share of critters.
(Daffodils can be toxic to dogs, so keep that in mind if you have fur babies.)
Allium
(commonly known as Ornamental Onion)
Allium flowers add a hint of whimsy to your garden. They look like giant lollipops!
They’re one of my favorite spring flowers.
You can find allium flowers in purple, white and even blue.
Yes, BLUE!
Similar to tulips and daffodils, allium will give you the best show when you plant them in places in your garden that get a lot of sun.
And like the other spring flowers we’ve discussed, allium flowers bloom at staggered times.
Allium are related to onions.
In fact, they’re commonly referred to as “ornamental onions.”
Deer are not big fans of these plants.
Rabbits tend to avoid most allium as well.
When allium flowers are done blooming, you may see gardeners spray-paint the finished blooms.
Check out the photo below for an example.
I think this is a fun trick to highlight the colorful, round shapes after the flower petals fall off.
You also can just snip off the dead blooms.
That way, the plant can focus its energy on recharging its bulb for next season.
If you live in Idaho, Oregon or Washington: Your states have special restrictions on buying allium bulbs. The University of Idaho Extension has a helpful publication explaining the rules for Idaho.
Do you live someplace with really cold winter temperatures?
Some types of tulips, daffodils and allium do better than others in frigid temperatures.
If you have a mountain garden or you live someplace with really cold winters, make sure the bulbs you’re buying grow well in your “plant hardiness zone.”
Not sure what a plant hardiness zone is? Get the scoop here.
Related tips that may interest you:
- 5 drought-tolerant spring flowers for sunny, dry gardens (that you plant in the fall)
- Proven design ideas to make your spring flowers look prettier
- 5 helpful tips for buying spring flowering blooms in the fall
