Summer Flowering Bulbs: Well Worth the Effort

You may think that fall is the time to plant bulbs, and that is true in many cases. But, there is an exciting group of bulbs and bulb-like plants that should be planted now and will bloom all the way into the waning days of summer. These are called appropriately enough, summer flowering bulbs, and they can add dash and dolor to your garden. They do require a little extra care since they cannot, for the most part, stand over wintering in Ohio, but the many beautiful varieties make them well worth the effort.

These varieties of summer flowering bulbs need to be dug up in the fall and stored properly to be safe. Having done so, they can be used next year to the same advantage.

There are several popular varieties of summer flowering bulbs. Gladiolas, for instance, will bloom six to eight weeks after planting on through September and early October. To stagger the bloom time, plant one-quarter to one-third of the bulbs immediately and the rest at one or two week intervals. Gladiolas come in warm shades of yellow, orange red, rust or white. Peacock orchids also bloom approximately eight weeks after planting and will yield early fall blooms that are white and attractive, but not showy. Both gladiolas and peacock orchids are between eighteen and thirty-two inches tall and are best used as a mid-background flower.

Cannas, with their yellow, orange and red blooms, sport green or reddish-toned or variegated leaves of large proportion. They range in height from two to six feet and are a major background plant. Dahlias come in many colors and can even be bi-colored. In addition, the shorter types are multi-flowered and work in the mid-garden area, while the dinner plate types have much larger flowers and can grow to six feet tall. These are best used in tall background areas.

Tuberous begonias and caladium are summer flowering bulbs that are shade-oriented. Begonias have interesting foliage, but are better known for their flowers. They come in upright varieties or hanging types and have blooms from the size of a quarter dollar up to five inches or more in diameter. The begonia ranges in color from white and yellow to peach or red. These are perfect for a northern exposure with high light intensity, but will be hurt by full sunlight burning the tissue of the plant and dissipating the color of the bloom. Caladium are noted mainly for their colorful leaf and not for the their flower which is very subtle. The caladium’s foliage can be all green or green with blends of red, pink or white. These plants grow from twelve to fourteen inches high and are about two-thirds as wide as they are tall. Again, the caladium must be planted in the shade. Also, both the begonia and the caladium need a highly organic, constantly moist, but never wet, soil.

Finally, garden lilies and calla lilies are excellent summer flowering bulbs. With garden lilies, it is important to know that most are hardy, but some are not and will need to be dug up in the fall. Ask your supplier if you’re unsure. The hardy varieties do not need to be dug as they can tolerate over wintering in Ohio, but they should be mulched thoroughly in the fall to be saved. These come in white, yellow and pink with green dappled leaves. In my opinion, the calla lily is a beautiful flower that is underused in our summer through fall gardens.

These then are just a few of the options if you are considering summer flowering bulbs. Check with your local nursery for more varieties, or if you have any questions.