Bulbs that burst with summer color - Special Issue: Spring-Summer 1994 Garden Guide

Sunset, Spring-Summer, 1994 by Lauren Bonar Swezey

Some of the showiest and most colorful summer flowers arise from bulbs, corms, and tubers planted in early spring. Begonias and dahlias are well known for their brilliant hues. Callas, gladiolus, lilies, and tiger flowers produce a showy display in pots or garden beds. Asiatic lilies, acidanthera, and tuberose add intense fragrance to the garden. Crocosmia, an old-fashioned favorite, spreads freely. Liatris's flower plumes can add an unusual accent to a border or a bouquet.

The 10 plants listed here come in a range of colors and sizes. Climate zones listed are from the Sunset Western Garden Book. Unless otherwise noted, plants grow in all zones.

In the West's mild-winter climates, you can plant these bulbs from February through March. In cold or wet climates, wait another month or two before planting bulbs outdoors. See the drawing for planting depths of several popular kinds.

Lift, dry, and store calla, dahlia, gladiolus, tigridia, tuberose, and tuberous begonia before winter.

Acidanthera (Gladiolus callianthus). Fragrant white flowers marked with brown or maroon appear in spring or summer on 2- to 3-foot-tall stems. Full sun; moist soil.

Calla (Zantedeschia). Dwarf pinks, yellows, and oranges grow to 1 1/2 feet tall; common white calla grows to 3 feet. Blooms spring or summer. Full sun (partial shade inland). Moist soil; common calla grows in many soils. Zones 5, 6, 8, 9, 14-24.

Crocosmia (montbretia). Small orange, red, or yellow flowers on 2 1/2- to 4-foot branched stems. Blooms summer. Full sun (partial shade inland). Best in zones 5-24 (in colder zones, plant in a sheltered area and mulch).

Dahlia. Dozens of colors and forms. Plants range from 15 inches to more than 6 feet tall, with flowers up to a foot wide. Blooms summer to fall. Full sun (light shade inland); moist soil.

Gladiolus. Garden glads send up flower stalks 4 to 6 feet tall, miniature glads to 3 feet, baby glads to 1 1/2 feet. All have flaring flowers in many colors and bloom spring or summer. Full sun; moist soil. Plant year-round in frost-free Southern California.

Liatris. Plumes of purple or white flowers, 2 to 3 feet tall or more, top tufts of narrow, grassy leaves. Blooms summer. Full sun; any soil.

Lily (Lilium). Many shapes and colors. Heights range from 1 to 6 feet or more. Asiatic lilies are some of the most popular, with flowers to 7 inches wide. Blooms mainly in summer. Full or filtered sun; moist soil.

Tiger flower (Tigridia). Vividly colored triangular flowers, 3 to 6 inches wide on 1 1/2- to 2 1/2-foot stalks. Blooms in July and August. Provide full sun (afternoon shade inland) and moist soil.

Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa). Fragrant, white flared flowers on 3-foot stems; grassy foliage. Blooms summer to fall. Needs heat to bloom. Sun or part shade; moist soil. Zone 24; elsewhere dig in winter or plant in containers and protect. Tuberous begonia. Upright plants 1 to 1 1/2 feet tall have flowers up to 5 inches wide; hanging plants have 3-inch flowers. Both come in dozens of colors and bloom summer to fall. Filtered shade; moist soil.