10 Summer bulbs for your garden or terrace

Pink dahlia

With the arrival of summer, there are many bulbous plants that embellish the garden or terrace with their flowers. For a few months, the place where they are located is filled with very bright colors, and very happy, as is undoubtedly the season. In this time when the days are longer than in the rest of the year, What better than to have flowers to accompany us throughout the season?

Here you have a selection of 10 summer bulbs that, sure, you will love them.

Summer bulbs

Agapanthus

Agapanthus

The African agapanthuswhich is how the agapanthus is called, although it is not a bulbous plant, we have included it because it behaves more or less in the same way as the bulbous ones. It is a genus of perennial tuberous plants, native to South Africa, measuring 1m in height, and having long, lanceolate, dark green leaves 30cm in length. Its flowers appear grouped in inflorescences, bluish-lilac or white.

It is very resistant, withstanding frosts of up to -8ºC.

Amaryllis

Amaryllis

The Amaryllis, which belongs to the botanical genus Hippeastrum, is native to South America. It is one of those with the largest bulb: up to 15cm in diameter. It grows to a height of around 60cm, with long, broad green leaves. Its flowers are large, 20cm in diameter, red, pink or white.

Tuberous begonia

Tuberous begonia

The tuberous Begonia is also not a bulbous plant, but a tuberous herbaceous. The scientific name is Begonia x tuber hybridaand reaches a height of 40cm. Its leaves are simple, with a very marked central vein, dark green in color. Its very pretty flowers, red, pink, yellow or whiteso you can buy several and plant them together to create a spectacular composition.

Of course, it is important that you know that can’t be in full sunas it would burn.

cane indicates

cane indicates

The Caña de Indias, also called Platanillo de Cuba, is a rhizomatous plant (not bulbous) that has large and decorative leaves, green or variegated in color, measuring 40-50cm in height. The flowers are grouped in inflorescences of red, pink, yellow or orangemaking the plant one of the most loved to plant in groups, either in gardens or in large pots.

Resists up to -3ºC.

Dahlias

Red dahlias

Dahlias are perennial herbaceous plants that have tuberous roots. They are native to Mexico, and can grow up to 1m in height, although in cultivation they do not usually exceed 40cm. The leaves are compound, with a serrated edge, dark green in color. During the summer its fantastic flowers sprout, which appear gathered in heads, of very varied colors and shapes: red, yellow, pink; single flower, double flower; in the shape of a pompom.

Gladiolus

Gladiolus

Gladioli are native to southern Europe and southern Africa. They reach a maximum height of 180cm, with long dark green leaves that “hug” at the base. The flower stalk can measure up to 2m, with flowers developing in spikes of very varied colors, such as red, pink, yellow, or bicolor.

Gloxinia

Gloxinia

Gloxinia, whose scientific name is Sinningia comelyis a lively tuberous plant native to Central and South America. It grows to a height of 30-35cm, making it perfect for potting. It has simple leaves, with a serrated edge and a very well defined midrib. The flowers can be single or double, lilac, white, red or pink.

It is important to place it in a well-lit area, but protected from direct sun so that it can grow well.

Liatris spicata

Liatris spicata

The Liatris, or Liátride, is a perennial herbaceous plant that sprouts from a corm (a subterranean organ very similar to the bulb). It is native to very striking North America, growing to a height of 50-60cm. Its leaves are thin and long, green in color. The flowers appear grouped on a stem forming a lilac spike.

white lilies

white lilies

The white liliesmuch better known by the names of Lirio de San Antonio or Azucena, is native to the Mediterranean region and Asia. It grows to a height of 1m, with lanceolate leaves of up to 20cm. The flowers appear grouped in inflorescences, and They are shaped like a white trumpet.

lax triteleia

triteleia

This extraordinary bulbous plant is native to California. It grows to a height of 30-35cm, with a flower stem of up to 50-60cm. The leaves are lanceolate and long, 40cm. Its flowers appear grouped in inflorescences, lilac-bluish color.

How to plant summer bulbs

Now that we know the summer bulbs, we have to choose the ones that we like the most and plant them in spring. But how do you do it? Namely, How are they planted? To get an interesting amount of flowers during this season, it is very important to start on the right foot, since otherwise you could have problems budding.

So, let’s see how they are planted in pots and in the garden:

Potted

If we want to have a spectacular terrace full of bulbous plants, we have to:

  • The first thing to do is fill a pot of 20cm in diameter (or more if the bulb or rhizome is larger) with substrate up to about half. As they are very resistant plants, we can use a universal growing substrate.
  • Next, the bulb is inserted with the narrowest part facing us.
  • Finally, it is covered with substrate, and watered.

In the garden

If we decide to plant bulbs in the garden, we have to:

  • Make trenches about 30cm deep where we want to have them.
  • Mix the soil with a universal growing medium.
  • Fill the trenches about half way with the mixture.
  • Place the bulbs leaving a distance of 15cm between them.
  • Cover them with the mixed soil.
  • Give them a generous watering.

Problems that bulbs can have

Cochineal

Bulbous plants can be affected by pests or fungi. Let’s see what they are and how to combat them:

Pests

The main pests they can have are:

  • Cottony mealybugsThese insects land on the underside of leaves, but can be easily removed with a cotton swab dipped in soap and water.
  • Aphids: they are very small insects (less than 0,5cm long) that settle on the leaves and stems. Eliminate them easily by leaving a bottle with water and tobacco butts for 12 hours, and filtering it the next day to fill a sprayer.
  • Sea Conches: they can cause serious damage to bulbous plants in humid environments, so it is advisable to place low containers with beer around them to control their population.

Diseases

If we talk about diseases, these are the most common:

  • BotrytisAlso known as gray mold, it kills leaves and flowers. It can be prevented by watering little. If you already have it, the affected parts have to be removed.
  • Rot: caused by the fungi Phytophthora or Fusarium. It is caused by overwatering or poor drainage. If the plant is affected, unfortunately the only solution is to throw away both the plant and the substrate, and thoroughly clean the pot before using it again.

Hippeastrum

And even our special on summer bulbs. By the way, which one did you like the most?

10 Summer bulbs for your garden or terrace

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