Autumn Crocus & Fast Flowering Bulbs

Autumn Crocus & Fast Flowering Bulbs

Fast flowering bulbs can be planted now and will rapidly create an exotic display.

  • Colchiums and Autumn Crocus flower within days or at most weeks, producing flowers before the leaves. They can even be planted when in flower or left on a sauce to flower before planting out.
  • Cyclamen also flower from the corm before the low growing leaves push through to the surface.
  • Nerine will benefit from having a longer growing period  but, like their cousin the Amaryllis,  they flower quickly.
Type of Bulb When to Plant Flowers
Colchiums Aug/Sept Sept/Oct
Nerine Aug/Sept Sept/Oct
Autumn Crocus September October
Cyclamen September October
Amaryllis September January
Aconites September January
Dwarf Iris September March
Anemone Blanda September March
Muscari September April
Daffodils September March
Narcissi September May
Camissia September June

Other September Planted Favourites that will flower in Spring.

  • Iris reticulate are easy to plant and grow. They look excellent when grouped together in a pot or border.
  • It is too soon to plant Tulips but Daffodills and Narcissi like there time in the soil before flowering between March and May.
  • Anemone blanda and the blue Muscari are small plants that produce a good show and then leave the area clear for some annuals.

Bulbs for Later Planting.

  • As mentioned the Tulips do not need to develop strong roots in autumn and to avoid rotting I plant them in October or November.
  • Plant forced Hyacinths as soon as they are available in the shops for indoor displays or containers under shelter.
  • For more exotic flowers, plant Lilies and Fritilliaries in October to over winter and flower in early summer.
  • For indoors you will find Gloxinia are quick to grow and flower

Read Growing Habranthus

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