Masses of flowers
Summer bulbs are bulbs that cannot withstand freezing temperatures. That is why they are planted in the garden in the spring, as soon as the risk of frost has disappeared. The sun’s light and heat encourage them to grow and blossom. When the first flowers are visible, there is no stopping them, and they bring masses of flowers. It’s lovely to have all that colour in the garden all summer long.
The top 5
Five summer bulbs are champions at producing many coloured flowers and blooming right through to autumn.
1. Dahlia
There are tens of thousands of dahlia varieties – plenty of choice. They come in all kinds of colours and in extraordinary colour combinations. The flower size varies from the diameter of a ping pong ball to that of a soccer ball. They bloom from August until the first night frost.
2. Canna Lily (Canna)
In nature, Canna lilies grow in Central and South America. The flowers are large or small and slender and available in the colours yellow, pink, orange and red, or variations thereof. The leaves of Canna lilies offer additional ornamental value with their colours. They come with green, red or variegated leaves.
3. Calla
Calla literally means ‘beautiful’ in Greek. And with good reason! The flowers are funnel-shaped calyxes and come in a variety of colours such as yellow, white, red, purple, pink, orange, black and bicoloured. Calla leaves are a speckled or uniform green and are shaped like a spear.
4. Begonia
This colourful and long-flowering beauty has a wonderful meaning: balance. These flowers come in a variety of shapes, colours and sizes. The begonia family consists of upright and trailing varieties. And did you know they are hay fever proof? The pollen grains are too heavy to float.
5. Crocosmia
From orange-yellow to fiery red; Crocosmia guarantees a warm late summer. Dry soil, little water and lots of blazing sun? No problem! The first flowers start to emerge in June and after flowering, berries grow where the flowers were before. Double the fun!
Tips
Plant summer bulbs in groups, to really make them stand out. Summer bulbs also attract butterflies in large numbers. Dahlias with open hearts are particularly good for this. If you have a terrace or balcony, you can enjoy these summer bloomers by planting them in pots. Make sure to make holes at the bottom of the pot and use hydro grains or shards on the bottom to allow excess water to escape.