When temperatures begin to rise, it is time to plant the bulbs that bloom in summer, a wide range of beautiful flowers that will give life and color to our gardens, terraces, and homes.
If you want to learn how to plant summer bulbs, join us in this article, in which we will see 11 summer bulbs, their names, characteristics, and photos.
Amaryllis
Native to South and Central America, Hippeastrum x ackermannii is one of the most graceful bulbous plants. Up to two flower stalks emerge from its bulb, appearing even before the leaves. Only the lower half of the bulb is buried, leaving the rest on the surface of the soil or substrate. You don’t need a lot of light, and in a cool corner, your flowers will last longer.
Lily
The Lilium candidum also called a lily, is actually a whole genus with more than a hundred species under its belt. They are found both in America and in Europe and Asia and are characteristic for their fragrant trumpet-shaped flowers, which smell especially intense and pleasant at night, although not all their varieties share this aroma. They bloom between late spring and early summer.
Tuberous begonia
The summer flower bulbs also include the tuberous begonia, although its beautiful, warm-colored flowers can actually appear during any time when the climate is warm enough or close to tropical. It is a plant that prefers shade or semi-shade and is planted in early spring.
Creek
The so-called water lily is another of the most appreciated summer bulb plants. It has its origin in South Africa and stands out for its funnel-shaped and usually white flowers, a highly valued perfume. The leaves of the calla lilies are green, large and fleshy, arrow-shaped, and prefer shade or semi-shade.
Dahlia
With more than 30 recognized species, this genus of plants native to Mexico is quite a spectacle for their striking flowers, with very bright colors and varied shapes. Already in ancient times, the Aztecs used them to decorate their events and festivities. Dahlias are bulbous summer plants that multiply very easily by dividing tubers and need plenty of light.
Dondiego at night
The Mirabilis jalapa, Dondiego at night, or pedritos is a plant whose flowering lasts from June until well into October. Its flowers are trumpets of warm or white colors, with very intense tones, although they are not its only attraction: its leaves, also very striking green, give shape to a bush of great contrasts and aesthetic value.
Gladiolus
Gladioli are a whole genus with around 250 species, typical of Asia, tropical Africa, South Africa, and the Mediterranean area. They stand out for their floral spikes, traditionally used in the decoration of gardens and in the making of bouquets and arrangements, since they can be of a great variety of colors. Some species and varieties reach and even exceed heights of one and a half meters.
Gloxinia
The Sinningia speciosa, gloxinia or siningia, is actually a tuberous plant although it is vulgarly called gloxinia, a genus of plants that are rhizomatous. It is a plant less than half a meter tall, with fleshy, flowered leaves that form a rosette around the flower stalk. The very pretty and decorative flowers appear in summer and fall and are bell-shaped. It needs a lot of light, but not direct.
Montbretia
Also called crocosmia, it is a genus with 6 species of bulbs actually, all from South Africa. They reach heights of up to 80 cm, with pretty orange flowers and ribbon-shaped leaves. They bloom between late spring and early summer, and it is very common to see them planted to form borders.
Nard
The scientific name of tuberose is Agave Amica, although it is also known as the lily, amole, or San José rod. This bulbous grows up to 1 meter in height, with elongated ribbon-like leaves, and has a pretty spike-shaped inflorescence with 8 to 12 white flowers of great aroma.
Sparaxis
Also known as harlequin, this is actually a genus with 12 species of bulbous originating from South Africa. They are small plants with very showy flowers with a yellow center and a white, orange, or red exterior, with 6 petals. They need sun or semi-shade, with very well-drained soil.
Summer bulb plant care
To plant the summer bulbs, you must first check what species you have and make sure that you are going to plant them at the right time since although most are planted in spring, it is not like that for everyone.
Plant the bulb with the pointy side up, which is where it will grow. Depending on the size of the bulb, it will need a depth of between 5 and 20 cm. It is important to have loosened the soil before, which must offer good drainage and be rich in nutrients. We recommend using a mixture of equal parts peat, worm castings, and coconut fiber, with the addition of vermiculite and perlite. The bulbs to be planted must be hard and dry to the touch: the opposite usually implies that they are rotten.
Choose a location according to the light needs of the plant and water by spraying after planting, adding moisture to the soil but always without flooding. Most summer bulbs are especially sensitive to excess moisture, which makes them sick and kills.
