Wondering which bulbs to plant this autumn? Let the GW Magazine team help you decide – here are our top choices to fill your garden with colour right through into summer
Galanthus nivalis
Snowdrops are the one and only flower that will encourage me to venture into the garden in the depths of winter.
Height x spread 10cm x 10cm Flowers Jan-Mar
Hyacinthus orientalis
‘Woodstock’
I can’t resist this hyacinth’s rich, sultry colour – it oozes opulence, and you only need a few bulbs in a pot to pack a big punch.
H x S 30cm x 8cm F Apr
Tulipa ‘Prinses Irene’
The unexpectedly pleasing combo of orange and cerise make this tulip a winner for me, even though the spelling always catches me out!
H x S 30cm x 10cm F Apr
Allium sphaerocephalon
This allium is unusually and pleasingly late – the drumstick blooms always take me by surprise when they pop up in my borders in summer.
H x S 90cm x 8cm F Jul-Aug
Narcissus ‘Ice Follies’
This daffodil’s pale and slightly frilly flowers brighten up early spring days. It has multiplied well in my garden over the past few years.
H x S 40cm x 10cm F Feb-Mar
Allium hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’
It’s ubiquitous, but for good reason. I think this is the best allium, with rich purple flowers. It self-seeds slowly.
H x S 1m x 1m F Jun
Narcissus ‘February Gold’
Although this often doesn’t bloom until March in my garden, it’s still a welcome burst of early colour when I want it most.
H x S 25cm x 10cm F Feb-Mar
Tulipa ‘Apricot Beauty’
The colour of satin ballet shoes, it couldn’t be prettier and the flowers are a good size and last for ages.
H x S 45cm x 10cm F Apr-May
Tulipa ‘Dreamland’
Big and bright! Unusually, they start off pale pink and gradually intensify to vibrant fuchsia. Too tall for pots, but these bulbs have flowered every spring in my garden for years.
H x S 60cm x 10cm F May
Anemone blanda
These delicate little beauties are lovely in drifts at the front of borders or around the edge of pots. The flowers are also a magnet for bees.
H x S 15cm x 15cm F Mar-Apr
Tulipa ‘Très Chic’
Although tulips generally prefer a sunny spot, I’d heard that white ones perform better than more colourful varieties in a bit of shade. So I popped these in my north-facing front garden and was very happy with how abundantly they bloomed.
H x S 40cm x 10cm F May
Narcissus cantabricus
Also called white hoop petticoat daffodils – and it’s easy to see why! I grow these dainty daffs as a table centrepiece for my patio.
H x S 20cm x 10cm F Mar-Apr
Tulipa ‘Mango Charm’
I’m a huge fan of tulips and have been experimenting with loads of varieties in my new garden. These look like a mou
