Bulbs for borders

Bulbs that work in a planted border, with mature size, aspect and bloom time for each.

Bulbs are the cheapest way to extend a border's season, flowering when little else is awake and then retreating underground. Plant most at roughly two to three times their own depth, pointed end up, in groups rather than rows; informal clusters of ten or more look natural where soldierly lines do not. Sharp drainage matters most, so add grit on heavy ground or they sit wet and rot. Resist tidying the foliage until it has yellowed, as the leaves are feeding next year's flower. Interplant with later perennials that will hide the dying leaves. These bulbs span spring, summer and autumn flowering, so you can layer them for succession.

Border Builder is a garden border planner for iPhone and iPad. Pick from the 102 plants below and it works them into a full plan: how many of each, where they go, and how the bed reads through the seasons.

102 plants for this

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Perennials for borders Shrubs for borders Ornamental grasses for borders Annuals for borders Climbers for borders