Growing guide

How to grow bulbs

Some of our favourite garden plants are bulbs, including daffodils, snowdrops, lilies and gladioli. They are planted when dormant and usually take just a few months to come into bloom. There are bulbs for every season, and for most soil types and conditions, including containers.

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Quick facts

  • Many are easy to grow
  • Different types flower in every month of the year, but spring is notable
  • Plant in spring, summer or autumn, depending on the type
  • There are bulbs to suit all growing conditions
  • Many are hardy, although some are tender
  • Most are low maintenance
  • They can be propagated in various ways

All you need to know

Before you get started
Planting
Ongoing care
Pruning and training
Propagating
Problems
While we think all this information will be helpful to you, we always recommend to read the instruction labels on your plants.

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.