Daffodils pushing through cold ground in March are one of the surest signs of spring in a Missouri yard. The bulbs behind that show go in during fall, and some types handle Missouri winters, deer and hot summers far better than others.
Best Spring Bulbs to Grow in Missouri
Daffodils are the bulb to count on in Missouri, with tulips as a showier but shorter-lived choice and alliums as an easy extra. Winters here (USDA zones 5b to 7b) give most spring bulbs the cold they need, and fall planting in September through October lets roots settle first.
Daffodils
Daffodils are more vigorous than tulips and most other spring-flowering bulbs, so they return year after year. Deer and rodents leave them alone, which matters in a yard with wildlife.
Daffodils are deer-resistant and reliable bloomers. Bulbs that bloomed indoors in pots can also go outdoors afterward and usually do well.
Tulips
Tulips give the boldest color, with Giant Darwin hybrids popular for strong stems and vivid blooms from April through May. They are often short-lived, though, so plan on fewer flowers as the years pass.
Some of the larger bulbs, such as tulips, may be treated as annuals and lifted in late spring to make room for other plants. Voles, squirrels, rabbits and deer will go after them.
Crocus
Crocus are small and charming, but rabbits, chipmunks, voles and mice find them appealing. Plant them where you can watch for damage, or tuck them close to the house where fewer animals wander.
Alliums
Alliums, the ornamental onions, close out the season with round purple heads. They do not need a chill period to bloom, which makes them forgiving in a Missouri bed.
Hyacinths
Most spring-flowering bulbs need about 12 to 16 weeks of cold to flower, and Missouri winters supply it. Hyacinths fit the same fall planting window as tulips, so they can share the bed.
Missouri — the year and the numbers
- State
- Missouri
- USDA zones
- 5b-7b
- Last spring frost
- April 6 to April 20
- First fall frost
- October 18 to October 29
- Annual rain
- 39 in
- Lawn zone
- transition-season
- Source
- NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 Climate Normals, 32F freeze probabilities · Kansas City
How to Choose Spring Bulbs for Your Missouri Garden
Your choice comes down to how much time you have, how much space you have, and what visits your yard at night. Start with daffodils if you want bulbs that come back with little fuss.
Match the bulb to your situation using the guide here.
| Your situation | What suits it in Missouri | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Deer, rabbits or voles visit | Daffodils | Animals leave them alone, while tulips and crocus get eaten |
| Little time for upkeep | Daffodils | More vigorous than tulips and more reliable year after year |
| Want big color for a season | Tulips, treated as annuals if needed | Often short-lived, and can be lifted in late spring to make room for other plants |
| Cold winter worries | Most spring bulbs | They need about 12 to 16 weeks of cold to flower, which Missouri winters supply |
| Small space or a new bed | Alliums | They need the cold of winter to bloom |
After bloom, leave the leaves on the plant until they turn brown and remove only the faded flowers. The leaves feed the bulb for next spring.
Which Spring Bulbs Suit Different Parts of Missouri
Missouri spans a wide range of winter cold, and that shifts which bulbs are the safest bet.
- Northern Missouri: Winters run colder here, so bulbs get their full chill with ease. Daffodils and tulips both have the cold they need.
- Kansas City: Planting in September through October works well, and rabbits and deer in suburban beds make daffodils a dependable pick.
- Southern Missouri and the Bootheel: Winters are milder, so the cold requirement is the thing to watch. Daffodils are the safer choice, and tulips may need more attention.
Wherever you garden, the fall planting window stays the same, and the local mix of wildlife can matter as much as the climate.
Spring Bulb Buying Mistakes to Avoid in Missouri
Planting Tulips Where Animals Roam
Tulips and crocus are the bulbs voles, squirrels, rabbits and deer go after. The cost is a bed of empty ground in spring.
Swap in daffodils where animals are a problem, since they are left alone.
Expecting Tulips to Last
Tulips are often short-lived in the garden, so a planting may thin out within a few seasons. Budget for replacing them, or treat them as annuals and lift them in late spring.
Daffodils last longer and are the more reliable perennial bulb.
Holding Bulbs Back in the Bag
A bulb left in its bag over winter is wasted. Plant as long as the ground can be dug, even if that means November or December.
Late planting beats not planting, though September through October is the better window because roots have time to form before the ground freezes.
Where to Get Spring Bulb Advice in Missouri
For local questions, University of Missouri Extension is the place to start, along with the extension office in your county.
- University of Missouri Extension offers guides on bulb choice and planting, useful before you shop in late summer.
- Your county extension office can answer questions about local soil and pests, and fall is a good time to call.
Before the first frost, check your bed and sort your bulbs, then plant them as soon as the soil has cooled.
Common Questions
Can You Plant Spring Bulbs in December in Missouri?
Yes, as long as the ground is still unfrozen and can be dug. Planting in September through October is better, but a late bulb in the ground beats one left in the bag.
Why Do Tulips Stop Blooming After a Few Years?
Tulips are often short-lived in the garden. Daffodils are the more reliable choice if you want blooms to return.
Do Alliums Need Cold to Bloom?
Yes. According to Iowa State University Extension, alliums need the cold of winter to bloom, like tulips and hyacinths.