Tulips pushing up through cool, damp ground and daffodils nodding along a fence are as much a Washington spring as the rain. Planting them is a fall job, and the bulbs that last in a Washington yard come down to a short list of reliable types.
Best Spring Bulbs to Grow in Washington
Daffodils, tulips with a hardy streak, and crocus all tolerate Washington soil and winters. The USDA hardiness zone range here runs from 4a to 9a, so the milder western side and the colder interior ask for slightly different choices, but these three groups cover both.
Daffodils
Daffodils are the more reliable perennial bulb, and they last longer in the garden than tulips. Deer and voles leave them alone because the sap holds needle-sharp crystals of calcium oxalate. Choose early and late bloomers to stretch color toward early summer.
Darwin Hybrid Tulips
Tulips are often short-lived, but Darwin hybrids are bred to return for several years. They bloom in spring and suit beds where you want big, classic color. Fence them or plant them near daffodils if deer visit your yard.
Emperor Tulips
Emperor tulips share that same trait: they are bred to return for several years. They give you tulip color without replanting every fall. Leave the leaves in place after bloom until they turn brown, since the foliage feeds the bulb for next year.
Species Tulips
Species tulips are less showy than the big hybrids but very hardy, and they are great for naturalizing. Smaller and more likely to return each year, they settle into lawn edges and borders and keep coming back with little fuss.
Crocus
Crocuses are deer-resistant, although not slug-resistant, so watch the damp beds where slugs gather. They make a good first start to the bulb season. Voles, squirrels and rabbits do eat them, so plant them where those animals are less of a problem.
Hyacinths and Alliums
Hyacinths are planted in fall like the others and need winter cold to flower. According to Iowa State University Extension, alliums need the cold of winter to bloom, and they are a good way to finish the season with ornamental onions.
Washington — the year and the numbers
- State
- Washington
- USDA zones
- 4a-9a
- Last spring frost
- February 27 to March 18
- First fall frost
- November 13 to November 30
- Annual rain
- 39 in
- Lawn zone
- transition-season
- Source
- NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 Climate Normals, 32F freeze probabilities · Seattle
How to Choose Spring Bulbs for Your Washington Garden
Start with what your yard throws at a bulb: animals, cold, and how much time you want to spend. Most spring bulbs need about 12 to 16 weeks of cold to flower, which Washington winters usually supply.
Match the bulb to the situation, then plant in the fall window and leave the foliage alone after bloom.
| Your situation | What suits it in Washington | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Very cold winter | Species tulips, daffodils | Species tulips are very hardy, and daffodils last longer than tulips |
| Deer or voles visit | Daffodils | Daffodil sap holds calcium oxalate crystals, so animals leave them alone |
| Little time to garden | Darwin hybrid or Emperor tulips | Bred to return for several years |
| Small space or a lawn edge | Species tulips, crocus | Smaller, and species tulips naturalize and return each year |
| Not sure the winter is cold enough | Chill tulips and hyacinths first | Most bulbs need about 12 to 16 weeks of cold, and refrigerating gives it where winters are too mild |
Hybrid tulips come in early, mid and late spring bloomers, so you can have tulips opening from late March to early May. Planting a mix extends the show across March, April and May.
Which Spring Bulbs Suit Different Parts of Washington
Washington splits at the Cascades, and planting time and bulb choice shift with it.
- Skagit Valley: Late October is a good time to plant here. Roots form a good system before the ground freezes, and the bulbs do not try to bloom before winter sets in.
- Puget Sound and the Seattle area: Western Washington is mild and maritime, with a last spring frost between February 27 and March 18. Bulbs go in during October and November, and a mild frost date does not mean early planting, since cold wet soil holds spring growth back.
- Eastern Washington: Beyond the Cascades the land is high desert with a far shorter season. In the colder interior, plant by late September to October, so tougher bulbs like daffodils and species tulips suit it.
If the bulbs are still in the bag when the ground is workable in December, plant them anyway.
Spring Bulb Buying Mistakes to Avoid in Washington
Buying Tulips for Deer Country
Deer enjoy a tulip snack, and voles, squirrels and rabbits eat tulips and crocus too. The cost is a bed of bare stems by spring. Switch to daffodils, which these animals leave alone, or protect the tulips.
Planting Too Early or Too Late
Planting before the soil has cooled below about 60°F invites sprouting in the fall. Planting too late leaves no time for roots. Aim for October and November, with late September in the colder interior and into December while the soil can be dug.
Cutting the Leaves Too Soon
Tidying green foliage after bloom starves the bulb, and a tulip that is already short-lived will fade faster. Remove only the faded flowers and let the leaves turn brown before you clear them away.
Where to Get Spring Bulb Advice in Washington
Washington State University Extension publishes planting guidance for the state, and your county office can speak to local soil and weather.
- Check the extension guides on tulips, daffodils and crocus before ordering.
- Call your county office with questions about slugs, voles or deer in your own beds.
- Bring a photo of any bulb that fails to bloom, then plant what is left in the bag while the ground can be dug.
Common Questions
Can You Plant Tulips in Washington in December?
Yes, as long as the soil is workable. Bulbs can go in into mid-December, and a bulb still in the bag is better planted late than stored over the winter.
Do Daffodils Need to Be Dug Up Each Year?
No. Daffodils last longer than tulips and return reliably when you leave the leaves until they turn brown.
Do Alliums Need Winter Chilling?
Yes. Alliums need the cold of winter to bloom.