Five Summer Bulbs You Should Definitely Consider Planting This Year

Summer might feel far off, but planting summer bulbs now is how you get that WOW factor in July and August. These are the kinds of plants that stop people in their tracks — whether they’re in borders, pots, or plonked in a corner of your garden you don’t quite know what to do with.

Here are five of my absolute favourites to try this year:

 

🌼 1. Dahlia
A total show-off, and for good reason. Dahlias come in every colour imaginable — from subtle pastels to full-on neon. They’re brilliant for borders, and if you keep deadheading, they’ll just keep blooming right through until the first frost. I like starting mine in pots under cover to get a head start. Just remember: slugs love them, so keep an eye out!

 

🌺 2. Gladiolus
Glads are making a comeback and I’m here for it. These tall, spiky blooms add drama and height to any garden, and they’re brilliant for cutting too. You can stagger plantings every couple of weeks to get a longer display. They like a sunny spot and well-drained soil — very low maintenance for such a statement plant.

 

🌸 3. Lily
Lilies are pure elegance. Whether you go for oriental types (strong scent!) or Asiatic varieties (more colours, less perfume), they’re all fantastic in pots or borders. Just make sure to plant them deep and use lily beetle patrol as part of your daily garden wander.

 

💛 4. Crocosmia
These come up year after year with zero effort once established. ‘Lucifer’ is the bright red classic, but there are orange and yellow varieties too. Crocosmia adds movement and colour to beds, plus pollinators love them. They’ll gradually spread, so they’re a good option if you’re building a low-effort garden that still looks lush.

 

🧡 5. Eucomis (Pineapple Lily)
A bit of a wild card! Eucomis is the quirky cousin in the bulb world. It looks tropical but grows happily in UK gardens — just give it a warm, sunny spot and decent drainage. The flowers are tall, spiky, and topped with a little crown that looks just like a pineapple. Great in pots if you want something different to talk about when people visit!

 

Final Tip:
All of these bulbs can be planted now (mid to late spring) for a brilliant summer display. If your soil’s still cold or soggy, pop them into pots first and move them out later — they’ll be none the wiser.

Got a favourite summer bulb I haven’t mentioned? Pop me a message or tag me in your planting pics — I always love seeing what you’re growing!