Every Gardener Deserves these Luxurious Summer Blooms

When you think of planting ‘bulbs,’ your mind probably jumps right to tulips and daffodils. Plant them in fall & winter to enjoy spring blossoms. Frequently, though, we include other plants in the bulb category, even if they’re technically tubers, corms, or crowns. Right now at NHG we have a beautiful selection of these ready to go right into your garden today–and they’ll shower you with blooms each summer for years to come.

Here are some highlights:

Perhaps the most popular addition to our selection this year are crowns of perennial standing Phlox, or Phlox paniculata. This sought-after perennial makes a tidy patch of tall, leafy stems adorned with ‘panicles’ of nectar-rich blooms that bees and butterflies swoon over. They’re richly-colored and once established, fairly heat and drought tolerant. Plant them where they’ll get at least 6 hours of full sun daily in amended garden soil that has plenty of organic matter.

Plus, with their gracefully tall stems, they make excellent backdrop perennials for layering in your perennial borders.

Lilies of all types provide true garden luxury. Whether Asiatic varieties (Lilium), Crinums, rain lilies (Zephyranthes), toad lilies (Tricyrtis) or another kind, there are lilies to suit any spot in the garden, sunny or shady. A favorite every year is Tiger lilies, which are truly easy to grow:

Grown from true bulbs, these lilies have very few demands other than at least 4-6 hours of sun daily. They’re even tolerant of wet soil, which is one reason they’re sometimes called ‘Ditch Lilies.’

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the classic favorite Gladiolus, grown from corms, (which resemble slightly flattened bulbs). These perennial favorites dazzle in summer with tall bayonets of foliage sporting dramatic spikes of ruffled blossoms. Available in a wide array of colors, Gladiolas prefer plenty of sun and amended garden soil with plenty of organic matter.

For those gardening in shadier locations, consider a few of these more diminutive, but just as beautiful alternatives. Tricyrtis, or ‘Toad Lily’ as it’s commonly called, is a unique, rambling perennial for woodland, dappled-shade locations. The small, speckled flowers may not have the showy drama of the sun-lovers listed above, but it’s still a lily to remember:

Find these and many other gorgeous summer bloomers right now at NHG. Both in bulk and in packages, you’ll find them easy and rewarding to grow–and the perfect way to add luxurious blooms to your garden this year and for years to come.

See more gorgeous photos of summer bloomers here, here and here!

See our Pinterest board on flowering bulbs.