Spring Bulbs Guide: Types, Seasons and Hardiness by State

Daffodils nodding along a fence in spring, or tulips that put on one show and never return: both are decided by what goes into the ground the autumn before. Spring bulbs are planted in fall, wait out the winter and flower as the soil warms, but how well they do changes a great deal between Alaska and Florida.

The Spring Bulb Year by Season

A spring bulb spends most of its year out of sight, and each season asks one thing of you.

• In early fall, garden centers stock bulbs at their fullest selection, so buy then. A bulb still in the bag does better planted late than stored over the winter.
• Once the soil has cooled below about 60°F, plant. Roots have time to form before the ground freezes, and the bulbs stay too cool to sprout before winter.
• Through winter, the bulb rests underground and settles its roots. Most spring-flowering bulbs need about 12 to 16 weeks of cold to flower, so the cold is what sets the bloom.
• In early spring, shoots rise as the soil warms and the flowers open, running on the energy stored in the bulb.
• After the bloom, remove only the faded flowers and leave the leaves in place until they turn brown, because they are feeding the bulb for next year.
• In summer, the foliage is gone and the bulb sleeps again below ground, so mark the spot to keep a spade away from it.

The state selector right under this section takes you to the page for your own state.

Types of Spring Bulbs and How to Tell Them Apart

Tulips come in several families. Darwin hybrids and Emperor tulips are bred to return for several years, while the botanical (species) tulips are less showy than the big hybrids but very hardy and good for naturalizing.

Narcissus, the daffodils, have trumpet-shaped flowers in yellow or white, and they are the more reliable perennial bulb. Hybrid tulips are often short-lived.

Crocus, grape hyacinths, Siberian squill (scilla) and bluebells are small bulbs that suit the dappled ground under trees and shrubs, as in Illinois yards. Hyacinths, like tulips, are chilled in the refrigerator before planting where winters are too mild. Squirrels and voles go after crocus, which is worth knowing before you plant a lawn full of them.

Best Spring Bulbs by Region and Hardiness Zone

Winter cold, soil type and hungry wildlife shape what lasts from one region to the next.

• Upper Midwest and northern plains: In Wisconsin, daffodils tend to outlive tulips in the wet, heavy clay, and hybrid tulips may return only a few years. Minnesota and the Dakotas share the cold, and in South Dakota alliums can go in a few weeks before a hard frost.
• New England and New York: In New Hampshire, most species and hybrids are hardy to zone 3. Daffodils planted among tastier plants can train deer to stay away from them.
• Mid-Atlantic, Kentucky and Tennessee: In Maryland, daffodils, hyacinth, allium, fritillaria and scilla are the ones deer and squirrels pass over. Daffodils naturalize and never need digging.
• Deep South: In South Carolina, tulips are treated as annuals and discarded after bloom, while jonquil, tazetta and poeticus daffodils grow reliably. In Georgia, tulips usually decline after the first year.
• Texas: Mild winters mean tulips, crocus, some narcissus and Dutch hyacinth need six to 10 weeks of chilling before planting.
• Rocky Mountain states: In Wyoming, species tulips, snow iris and crocus cope with the dry conditions. Daffodils are a good pick because deer leave them alone.
• Pacific Northwest: In Washington, Darwin hybrids and Emperor tulips return for several years, but deer will eat tulips and avoid daffodils.
• Florida: Winters are too warm to give tulips the resting period they need, so they are not worth the effort there.

Alaska, the Desert Southwest and the Great Lakes follow the same logic, and your state page narrows it further.

Common Spring Bulb Problems and What Causes Them

Leaves but No Flowers

A bulb that was planted too late, or never got enough cold, comes up green and skips the bloom. In Texas, bulbs planted in January or February do not have time to grow a strong root system before spring. Plant in fall, and where winters are mild, chill tulips and hyacinths first.

Tulips That Do Not Return

Most hybrid tulips fade after the first year, especially where winters are mild. According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, the cause is too few chilling hours, more so the further south you go. Wet clay and water-hungry annuals planted right on top shorten the bulbs’ life. Replant fresh bulbs each fall, or choose daffodils.

Missing or Chewed Bulbs

Empty holes where bulbs went in, or flowers nipped off at the stem, point to voles, squirrels, rabbits or deer. Tulips and crocus are their favorites. Daffodils get left alone, and their sap contains needle-sharp crystals that burn the mouth.

Rotting Bulbs

Shoots that wilt soon after they emerge, in a spot where water stands in spring, suggest root rot. The advice is to pull such plants up and throw them away. Replant in full sun on ground that drains.

Spring Bulb Guides by State

Two pages cover the timing that depends on where you live, and the state selector under the first section leads to both.

• When to Plant Tulips and Daffodils in your state, for the planting window to aim for in fall.
• When Do Tulips and Daffodils Bloom in your state, for the months the flowers open, so you can plan the spring show.

Common Questions

Can You Plant Spring Bulbs Late?

Yes. A bulb still in the bag is better planted late than stored, and it can go in as long as the ground can be dug. In Tennessee, planting runs into early winter, and the bulbs still collect the chilling they need for bloom.

Which Bulbs Grow Under Trees?

In Illinois, grape hyacinths, crocus, winter aconites, snowdrops, Siberian squill, leucojums, bluebells and early maturing daffodils perform well under trees and shrubs. They flower before the canopy fills in and shades them.

Do Bulbs for Pots Need Chilling Too?

Hardy bulbs need a chilling spell to behave as if they went through a winter, and this goes for forcing them indoors. Tender bulbs skip that step and can be started at any time.