Autumn Flowering Bulbs

When to plant autumn flowering bulbs?

Plant autumn bulbs in late summer to reap the rewards come September and October. Dahlia and Begonia lovers will be in their element this season, with a huge number of varieties favouring the autumn climate.

Popular autumn flowering bulbs

• Dahlia tubers - a firm favourite of landscapers for their tall stalks, large flowers and choice of colour. Moderately easy to grow, dahlias are well suited to a sunny position in fertile, well-drained soil.
• Begonia tubers - there are over 1,000 different varieties of begonia, including tuberous varieties! Begonias produce plush blooms in a range of shades from ice white to fiery orange. Try the wonderful trailing varieties, perfect for hanging baskets and tall containers.
• Colchicum - these cormous perennials are the definition of ‘short and sweet’. With pretty, pastel-coloured flowers and an ability to naturalise without too much effort, these are perfect autumn flowering bulbs for your post-summer garden.
• Cyclamen - you might have seen these beautiful little specimens on woodland walks, growing under trees or on banks in shaded areas. Grow these magical beauties in your own garden by planting bulbs in a fertile, well-drained spot in partial shade.

Top tip for growing autumn bulbs

For the best results when planting bulbs, be sure to add compost on top of your bulb before you add the soil on top, then water well.