15 of the Best Late Summer Flowering Bulbs

The end of summer is a combination of muggy weather, too many mosquitoes, and not enough time off from work to go swimming.

Fortunately for all, this is also a season for enjoying some of the nicest flowers you’re going to see all year, especially when you invest in late summer flowering bulbs.

Many late season bloomers are available to bring a little extra color to the party later in the year, when other garden favorites are lagging.

Vertical closeup image of maroon, orange, and yellow calla lilies with green tubular leaves with white speckles, printed with green and white text at the midpoint and the bottom of the frame.

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We’ve put together a roundup of our favorite 15 varieties for your perusal and approval. Here’s what’s in store:

Let’s get to it!

The Best 15 Late Summer Flowering Bulbs

Some of the bulbs (and corms, rhizomes, and tubers) recommended here will bloom in the springtime and then put on an encore show in the late summer and into the fall. Others open in the summertime and continue blooming throughout the season until the first frost.

That means you get lasting interest from these flowers, instead of the ephemeral beauty of springtime bulbs that can come and go faster than you might notice.

Regardless of the bloom time of these varieties, almost all of them will need to be planted in the early spring to enjoy their late summer and early fall color.

Some bulbs are not cold hardy. This means they won’t survive the winter if they are growing in the ground outdoors in northern climates. We’ve mentioned which late summer flowering bulbs meet this condition below.

1. Agapanthus

Ranging in color from white to blue to violet, Agapanthus, aka African lily or lily of the Nile, is a showy bloomer that thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 6-11, depending on the cultivar.

Purple agapanthus flower clusters on long, green stalks, with green leaves.

Flowers top long stems that typically reach 3-4 feet in length, with a spread of 2-3 feet. This perennial thrives in many types of well-draining soil with a pH that ranges from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, with moderate water needs.

This deer-resistant option is wonderful for attracting hummingbirds and may be propagated by division. It grows from rhizomes that can be dug up for the winter, or mulch can be applied to protect varieties that can withstand light frost.

‘Galaxy Blue’ Agapanthus is a hardy type that can tolerate cold temperatures down to Zone 6, providing repeat blooms throughout the season. Rhizomes and plants in gallon-sized containers are available from Burpee, as well as other varieties.

Closeup image of a white and pale blue flower cluster and buds of the 'Twiter' variety of bicolor agapanthus, on a green stem, with green foliage in dappled sunlight in soft focus in the background.
‘Twister’ Agapanthus

Or, you might like to check out the blue and white ‘Twister’ Agapanthus plants that are available from Nature Hills Nursery. This is a new variety that’s of particular interest as the first bicolor African lily.

Learn more about growing agapanthus here.

2. Acidanthera

A member of the gladiolus family, Acidanthera has upright green foliage that comes to a sharp point. Clusters of white flowers with deep maroon centers make pretty additions to bouquets, with a pleasing fragrance.

Closeup of a white Abyssinian gladiolus flower with green stem and foliage, with a blue sky with white fluffy clouds and trees in the background.

Acidanthera goes by many names, including Gladiolus murielae, G. callianthus, Abyssinian gladiolus, and peacock orchid. It grows best in slightly acidic soils – easy to remember based on the name, right?

The corms grow slowly. Plant them in well-draining soil in full sun in Zones 7-11. Plants grown in cooler regions can be dug up for the winter.

This deer-resistant plant is ideal for attracting hummingbirds.

Bulbs are available in bags of 25, 50, or 100 from Eden Brothers Nursery.

3. Begonia

An old-timey classic, the begonia deserves a spot in your late summer garden. But a variety of species in the Begoniaceae family are available online and at garden centers, so you need to know what you are looking for.

Horizontal image of pink, rose, yellow, and orange tuberous begonia flowers, with light greenish-yellow leaves and a tree trunk in the background.
Tuberous Begonia Hybrid

Tuberous begonias are hardy in Zones 9-11. They thrive in the shade in well-draining, slightly acidic soil, providing a welcome splash of color to darker areas of the garden. Like most of the plants on this list, they must be dug up and brought indoors to be planted again the next year in other growing zones, or grown as annuals.

These sport large 2- to 8-inch-wide white, pink, purple, red, orange, yellow, or bicolor flowers that bloom on plants with dark green leaves. They may reach heights of 12-18 inches, with a spread of 1-2 feet.

Single or double blossoms may be smooth, ruffled, or toothed. And some varieties are suited for planting in hanging baskets, while others grow upright. There’s so much to choose from with this flower!

They are not drought tolerant, so you will need to remember to water them well through the summer months. Dividing the tubers can be difficult, since they are prone to rotting. The general consensus is that it’s easier to propagate these plants from cuttings.

Look for Begonia x tuberhybrida varieties to be sure that you are getting a tuberous type. But keep in mind that other Begonia species are tuberous as well.

For example, hardy begonias (B. grandis) are also tuberous. These have small pink or white flowers with yellow centers that grow on pink stems, and colorful foliage.

Light pink hardy begonia flowers, with darker pink stems and green leaves in soft focus in the background.
Hardy Begonia

Hardy begonias also love shade, and they will self-propagate from bulblets that form above ground in the fall. This type is smaller overall, with a height and spread of 1-2 feet. Hardy in Zones 6-9, be sure to provide these with rich, moist, slightly acidic soil.

Both of these are not to be confused with other types of begonias, which often have small flowers and make an excellent ground cover. The wax leaf type (B. semperflorens), so-called for its waxy foliage, has fibrous roots. You may also find rhizomatous begonias, which are known for their distinctive foliage and are often grown in greenhouses.

Several different types of begonia plants and bare tubers are available from Burpee.

4. Calla Lily

Calla lily, Zantedeschia aethiopica, will grow well in a variety of sun conditions and it favors slightly acidic soil. Cold hardy to Zone 8, plants reach a height of 2-3 feet with a spread of 18-30 inches, depending on the variety.

Maroon, yellow, pink, and orange calla lilies, with large green leaves with white speckles.

White is the classic hue for these showy flowers, but a wide range of colors are available today, including red, pink, orange, yellow, deep purple, black, and multicolored.

Though drought tolerant, this plant also doesn’t mind wet soils and boggy locations. Deer and rabbit resistant, calla lily can also tolerate poor soils. Digging up the rhizomes at the end of the season is recommended, for overwintering indoors.

Bulbs are available from Eden Brothers. Try the ‘Hot Mix’ for a colorful burst of red, orange, and yellow flowers.

Read more about growing calla lilies here.

5. Canna Lily

Not to be confused with the previous entry on our list, canna lilies have large leaves that may be green, purplish, bronze, and striped or variegated, and flowers that emerge on tall stalks in a variety of colors.

Many maroon, red, yellow, orange, and white canna lily flowers with green leaves.

Red, orange, cream, pink, yellow, or bicolor blooms make this tropical rhizome a standout in gardens in Zones 7-10. And the foliage continues to provide colorful interest in the garden even when flowers are spent. They prefer full sun, and should be grown in moist, rich, well-draining soil that is slightly acidic.

This one’s a giant – depending on the variety. Shorter cultivars will max out at around 18 inches, while others will reach for the sky, towering over garden visitors from up to 8 feet in the air! Plan on a large footprint for these plants as well, ranging from 18 inches to a whopping 6 feet of spread.

Mulching should be sufficient to protect them in areas with mild winters where temperatures rarely dip below freezing. Otherwise, plan to dig up the rhizomes and bring them inside!

A variety of cultivars are available from Eden Brothers.

6. Colchicum

Colchicum produces what are sometimes referred to as “naked” flowers – similar to crocuses in appearance, without any foliage to get in the way. Leaves will eventually appear, with the arrival of spring.

Pale lavender and white colchicum flowers on white stems with no foliage, growing in brown soil.

Also known as autumn crocus, meadow saffron, or naked lady (ooh la la!), Colchicum species are actually members of the lily family, whereas crocuses are members of the iris family. This flower is not actually a crocus at all, but it does closely resemble one.

Lavender, pink, or purple blooms grow from corms, and they are deer and rabbit resistant. Best suited for Zones 4-8, plants average 6-12 inches in height with a similar spread.

They’re winter hardy and can be planted in a variety of soil types and pH levels, though they’re a bit more partial to slightly acidic soils. Plant in full to part sun, with plenty of moisture provided, in a well-draining location.

The ‘Pink Goblet’ cultivar is a favorite, awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit in 2018. This variety reaches about 6 inches in height with flowers almost 3 inches across, and a sweet scent.

7. Crinum

Wonderful for attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, Crinum will grow in a variety of sun conditions in Zones 8-10. Plants grown elsewhere should be cultivated indoors in containers, or brought inside for the winter.

Closeup of a flowering Crinum spider lily with pale pink blooms on maroon stems, with long strap-like green leaves.

A member of the amaryllis family sometimes referred to as crinum lily, established bulbs can grow to be huge – weights of up to 40 pounds have been recorded!

These plants will reach a height of 2-4 feet, with a spread of 1-3 feet, or sometimes more. You can take your pick from varieties with white, purple, pink, red, or bicolor flowers. The lily-like fragrant blossoms have a star-shaped appearance, with narrow petals.

Crinum grows well in organically rich, moist, well-draining soil, but it can tolerate a variety of soil types and pH levels. These do particularly well around pond or water garden borders.

C. asiaticum is one of the most prevalent species, but you may find others online and at local garden centers as well, such as C. augustum. Both of these are referred to as spider lilies.

Purple and pale pink 'Queen Emma' crinum flowers, with long green leaves.
‘Queen Emma’ Crinum

‘Queen Emma’ spider lily plants in 4-inch pots are available on Amazon. This giant cultivar has large white and pinkish-purple flowers with red stems, and broad leaves that are green with hints of maroon.

8. Crocus

You might have some difficulty differentiating fall-blooming Crocus from Colchicum if you plant both in your garden, but keep in mind that true crocuses will have green foliage while they’re flowering.

Vertical overhead image of three pale purple saffron crocus blossoms, with orange saffron threads visible at the centers of each, growing in brown soil.
Saffron Crocus

Here’s another trick to tell them apart:

Colchicum flowers have 6 stamens and 3 styles. No, in this case this does not refer to flower shape or fashion sense – “styles” are the long, tubelike parts of the flower pistils. Crocus blooms, on the other hand, have just 1 style and 3 stamens.

You’ll also notice that Colchicum corms have an irregular shape, whereas Crocus corms resemble flattened spheres.

Hardy in Zones 6-9, crocuses do best in full sun locations with well-draining, organically rich soil with a neutral pH, but they can tolerate partial shade. Purple or lavender flowers are generally short in stature, maxing out at around 4 inches in height.

Several species of Crocus will bloom in the late summer through fall, including C. sativus, or the saffron crocus. As an added bonus, you might even try harvesting your own saffron. Corms are available from Eden Brothers.

Overhead closeup image of a pale lavender Crocus pulchellus flower, with darker purple veins and a yellow center, growing in soil covered with brown and a few green leaves.
Crocus Pulchellus

C. pulchellus, or the hairy crocus, is another lovely option – despite its unfortunate name. It has pale lilac blooms with yellow centers, and deep purple veins that provide some added visual interest with a stripy appearance.

Corms are available via Amazon.

Learn more about growing crocuses here.

9. Dahlia

A colorful favorite for the late summer garden, butterflies love them – and you will, too. Dahlias are available in a huge range of colors, shapes, and bloom styles, from the ivory and lilac ‘Eveline’ to the deep burgundy and exquisitely striking ‘Karma Choc.’

Closely cropped extreme closeup of the white, pale yellow, and lavender petals of an 'Eveline' dahlia flower, with a black background.

Dahilias are deer resistant, and they grow best in full sun in Zones 7-10. Depending on the variety, they can reach heights of 1-6 feet with a spread of 1-3 feet.

Prepare to get out your camera, because you are going to want to be taking snaps of these stunning blooms all season long. Share them on Instagram, join the dahlia party on Twitter (#dahlialove), or have a bound book printed up so you can savor the memory of your gorgeous garden for years to come. They make a fantastic addition to cut arrangements as well.

Red, pink, yellow, orange, lavender, purple, white, and more – basically every bloom color is available to you, except blue. And the fun doesn’t stop there, with a variety of single- and double-flowering shapes and petal configurations on the market today including anemone, orchid, collarette, waterlily, decorative, formal, ball, pompon, cactus, and semi-cactus.

Dahlias should be planted in organically rich, well-draining soil, preferably with a slightly acidic pH level, and medium moisture. Keep in mind that taller varieties should be planted deeper than those with a shorter stature at maturity.

Vertical image of two red dahlia flowers with several buds about to bloom and green leaves.

Most gardeners like to dig up their precious tubers and store them for the winter, but you may be able to get away with skipping this in warmer growing zones.

Dahlia tubers are available from Burpee and Eden Brothers.

Learn more about growing dahlias here.

10. Eucomis

Eucomis, or pineapple lily, thrives in full sun to partial shade in Zones 7-10. With a height and spread of 18-24 inches, greenish-white or pinkish-purple flower clusters with little green tufts to top them off resemble the fruit that they’re named after. These grow atop long stalks, and the plants sport strap-shaped leaves. Purplish seeds provide continued ornamental interest later in the year.

A cluster of about 15 pineapple lily flower spikes, with green tops and yellow flowers.
‘Alba’ Pineapple Lily

Flies love to pollinate these. I know, I know – you’re probably not a fan. But along with other types of beneficial insects, many types of flies provide a vital service in the garden as pollinators! Butterflies like them, too.

Eucomis needs moderate moisture and grows best in mildly acidic to neutral soil comprised of chalk, loam, or sand. Dig up the bulbs and store them indoors through the winter in cooler regions, for replanting in the spring.

‘Safari Adventure’ pineapple lily bulbs are available from Burpee. This is a striking cultivar with green and burgundy leaves, and ivory, rose, and purple flower spikes.

11. Gladiolus

Another towering tropical, these showy funnel-shaped flowers develop spikes of multiple blooms on narrow stems, and they love full sun exposure.

White gladiolus flowers with pale yellow centers, with pink, orange, yellow, and red flowers in soft focus in the background, growing in a field.

Grown from corms, Gladiolus may reach heights of 1.5-6 feet with a spread of 1-2 feet, and they are hardy in Zones 7-10. Blooms are available to satisfy all tastes in terms of color palette, including white, cream, yellow, orange, red, pink, green, lavender, and purple.

Plant in slightly acidic to neutral, humus-rich, well-draining soil with medium moisture. This fragrant flower attracts a variety of pollinators, including bees, moths, wasps, and flies. Dig them up for winter storage, or plan to start fresh next year in colder growing zones.

12. Hyacinth

Hyacinths are typically regarded as a spring-blooming plant, but when grown in containers indoors, they can be forced to flower in the late summer, fall, or winter. This is an excellent option for apartment-dwellers looking for a bit of lively color to brighten things up.

Bluish purple hyacinth flowers with green leaves, growing in a pot.

Sweet-smelling and available in a variety of pastel hues, dense flower clusters on tall stems may occasionally require staking. They’re compact, reaching heights of 6 inches to 1 foot, with a spread of 3-6 inches.

Plant hyacinths in well-draining soil and keep the containers in a cool, dark place until they sprout. Your average potting soil should do the trick, as they prefer light, loamy soil with a neutral pH.

Bulbs to grow flowers in all of your favorite shades are available from Eden Brothers.

Learn more about growing hyacinths here.

13. Iris

With so many different iris varieties to choose from, it’s going to be hard to pick just one. But why would you do that? If you have a moist but well-draining, acidic to neutral location with loamy or sandy soil, pick a few and get ready for the show of blooms to come!

Pale yellow and purple irises with green leaves.

Late-blooming bearded irises are a gorgeous option for this time of year, and some cultivars will rebloom as well, increasing their appeal in the garden as repeat performers with flowers that are beautiful to look at. Check plant tags and product listings carefully to determine which varieties will bloom at this time of year.

Vertical image of pale yellow and speckled maroon with white 'Blatant' irises, on long green stems with green straplike sturdy leaves that comes to a point at the tip.
‘Blatant’ Iris

Matinata’ is a reblooming variety with velvety, dark purple-blue blossoms that will make you stop in your tracks. And ‘Blatant’ is another much-loved cultivar that’s hard to ignore, with its bicolored canary yellow standards (the petals at the top) and magenta falls (the ones at the bottom that appear as if they have succumbed to gravity in a delicate swoon).

Check out more iris varieties, available from Burpee.

Read more about growing irises here.

14. Nerine

Nerine, aka spider lily, likes full sun in Zones 8-11. Again, this is a plant that shares a common name and some visual similarities with another one of our top picks, but they are in fact different plants! Not true lilies, these are more closely related to Amaryllis.

Closeup of pink starburst-shaped Nerine Bowdenii flowers, with green foliage and an aqua plant support in soft focus in the background.
Nerine Bowdenii

Springtime leaves die down in the summer, with waxy pink or rose flowers to follow. Six narrow petals curve at the ends in a starburst umbel formation, with prominent stamens. The bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds won’t be able to stay away.

Plants will reach an average height of 18-24 inches with a spread of about 3-8 inches, and flowers that are about 6-8 inches wide. Nerine can grow in a variety of soil types from sandy or rocky to loamy with good tolerance for chalky soil, in a range of pH levels from slightly acidic to alkaline, provided that the location drains well and adequate moisture is provided.

Nerine can tolerate some shade, but this is not recommended if you want to encourage flowering. Be sure to give these plants a sheltered location with plenty of room, since they don’t like competition with other plants. Or, pop these in containers to avoid any infighting.

Seeds are known for germinating readily, so deadhead after blooming if that’s something that you’d rather avoid. Large bulbs can be chipped or cut up to create new plants instead.

Pink nerine flowers at the top of long stalks with bright green foliage, growing against a rock wall next to a path.

Your best option for the garden beds is the Bowden lily (N. bowdenii) since it’s hardy enough for growing outside, while the Guernsey lily (N. sarniensis) and its hybrids are more suited to greenhouse cultivation. You can go ahead and dig up the bulbs for the winter, if that’s something you’re inclined to do, with replanting the next season in mind.

Bulbs are available on Amazon.

15. Ranunculus

Finally, for something a little different, try ranunculus. Currently experiencing a bit of a renaissance in the cut flower and wedding arrangement world, these colorful flowers are available in shades of red, pink, purple, yellow, and white.

Red, yellow, pink, and magenta ranunculus flowers with green leaves.
Ranunculus Asiaticus

R. asiaticus or Persian buttercup, is the type that you’re most likely to find, and this is the species that we recommend for late summer blooms. The blossoms somewhat resemble poppies or roses, and they grow on tall stems. Some hybrids have double or bicolored flowers for added interest and a bit of whimsy.

With a height and spread of 1-2 feet, R. asiaticus likes full sun, and has moderate water requirements. Plant it in light, well-draining soil that is slightly acidic, and avoid planting in clay.

Ranunculus is well-suited for growing in Zones 3-11, but unless you’re gardening in a place with warm winters in Zone 8 or above, plan to dig up your corms at the end of the season for replanting in the spring.

A variety of late summer-blooming ranunculus corms are available from Eden Brothers.

Make Your Garden Sing, Straight Through the Lazy Days of Summer

Late summer is often thought of as a time when our gardens are looking less than their best, with trailing vines in the veggie patch, spent blooms, and wilted foliage. But this doesn’t have to be the case, with a few carefully selected bulbs!

Many blooming dark pink dahlia flowers on long stems, with green foliage.

Whether you choose to plant them in containers to bring indoors for the winter, dig them up for cold storage after the first frost for replanting in the spring, or grow them as annuals for a single season of ornamental interest (or perennials in warmer climates), there’s a colorful option that’s perfect for your growing conditions, and your gardening style.

What are your top picks? We want to know, and we can’t wait to hear from you in the comments below!

And since we already know color’s your thing, check out these articles next:

© Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details.  Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. Significantly revised and expanded from a version originally written by Matt Suwak.

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Allison M. Sidhu grew up with her hands in the dirt in southeastern Pennsylvania, and she has returned to Philadelphia after a seven-year sojourn to sunny LA. She holds a BA in English literature from Swarthmore College and an MA in gastronomy from Boston University. When she’s not in the kitchen making pies and pickles or whipping up something tasty for dinner, Allison enjoys perusing the latest seed catalogs, tending her garden and houseplants, identifying wild flora and specimens at the local arboretums, and reading up on the latest in food and agriculture policy.

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shane
shane (@guest_6905)
3 years ago

Ixia are my favourite bulbs! Beautiful, tall, available in so many colours! They have naturalized in a small patch in my garden and I look forward to them every year. They are excellent plants for planting in between smaller perennials or amongst other plants because they take up surprisingly little space with their slender stems and produce plenty of additional colour. Thank you for the great article!