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7 Best Bulbs to Plant NOW to Keep Your Garden Colourful Through Autumn

With summer just around the corner, it might seem strange to be thinking about autumn already - but now's actually the best time to start putting in the groundwork for your autumn garden!
The period between late spring and mid-summer is prime time for planting autumn flowering bulbs. Some careful forward planning is the perfect way to keep your flowerbeds full of colourful blooms, even after the summer sun has faded.
At The Real Green Gardener, we specialise in providing gardening services that create the perfect outside space, including planned planting schemes. Keep reading to find out exactly what we recommend planting to achieve a gorgeous garden this autumn.
7 Best Bulbs to Plant for Autumn Flowers
1. Autumn Crocus
Autumn crocuses have a similar appearance to spring crocuses, although (strangely) they're not actually related. They will produce beautiful flowers in autumn.
The flowers are reasonably short and look great when positioned at the edge of flowerbeds or in groups around the garden or lawn.
Most varieties of autumn crocus will thrive in areas of direct sunlight with well-draining soil. You should avoid planting them in shady, damp areas.
2. Autumn Daffodil
Also referred to by its Latin name, Sternbergia, autumn daffodils tend to flower in September, brightening up flowerbeds with sunny yellow flowers.
These bulbs don't do well in damp conditions, preferring a reasonably dry, well-draining site. However, it's careful to make sure they don't get too hot during the summer months.
3. Autumn Snowflake
With a similar appearance to snowdrops, the autumn snowflake (or Acis autumnalis) brings a touch of delicate beauty to autumnal gardens. Although white in colour, the blooms still bring a sense of floral vibrancy.
They flower across August and September and enjoy being planted in sunny spots with gritty, well-draining soil.
4. Hesperantha
Native to South Africa, the Hesperantha plant has flowers that are small and bright, bringing a beautiful crimson colour to autumnal gardens.
Hesperantha flowers through autumn and has even been known to hold flowers until Christmas time in the south of the UK.
Like the majority of autumn-flowering bulbs, Hesperantha favours well-drained soil, but it can be planted in either dappled shade or full sun.
5. Cyclamen hederifolium
One of the hardiest autumn-flowering plants, Cyclamen hederifolium does particularly well in shady conditions. If you have a flowerbed shaded by a tree, this is the perfect plant to liven up what could otherwise be a rather dark and gloomy part of the garden come autumn.
They grow from corms instead of bulbs, and can be left to self-seed. They are likely to spread and form a beautiful blanket of autumn flowers in the garden.
6. Alstroemerias
Perfect for autumn gardens, the majority of Alstroemerias will flower until the first frost comes - this tends to happen between late October and early November.
These flowers are excellent for bringing a real pop of colour to the garden in autumn, available in a range of fiery hues.
They're not very hardy, so you'll need to protect them over winter. You can do this with a thick layer of mulch or by planting them in pots and bringing them inside.
7. White Rain Lily
Sharing a close relation to the Amaryllis, the white rain lily (or Zephyranthes candida) features large white blooms that are sometimes tinged with a touch of pink.
They flower between August and September and can bring a rejuvenating sense of spring to an autumnal garden.
These plants do well in sunny locations and prefer soil that is moist but well-draining.
Get the Perfect Autumn Garden
Now that's you've read our list of autumn-blooming flowers, we hope that you're feeling more confident in how to keep your garden blooming into autumn.
Of course, each plant will still require its own specialist care - from planting conditions to overwintering - to ensure a truly spectacular autumn garden.
The Real Green Gardener is an award-winning garden design company. We focus on creating the perfect gardens for our clients, offering everything from landscaping to planting packages and maintenance. If you want your garden to stay vibrant after summer ends, get in touch with our friendly, professional team and find out how we can help.
Call us on 01202 722943 or send us a message via our contact form. We look forward to hearing from you!