Most fall-planted bulbs bloom in late winter or spring. Correct? Actually No. Some bulb species bloom in Fall. These seven (7) fall-blooming bulbs are planted and will flower weeks later. Most Important – bulbs should be planted in the early days of September. To assure blooming occurs in the current year, purchase bulbs and plant immediately when package arrives. All should be long colorful additions to your landscape.

Autumn Colchicum (Colchicum spp.), wrongly called “autumn crocus”) is not true crocus. In fact, it is not in the same botanical family. Colchicum belongs to the Colchicaceae family (formerly part of the lily family, Liliaceae), while Crocus is in the iris family (Iridaceae). Approximately 65 species of colchicums are found worldwide. Colchicums bloom in late August through October. They wait to produce their foliage in following spring. Each bulb (corm) have 3-8 leaves on shoots 8-14 inches tall. As the weather begins to warm in late spring and early summer, leaves and stems die back. Fall blooming last about 2 weeks and are usually light pink; some cultivars are white. Colchicums grow best in well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. (Zones 5-9).

Autumn crocus (Crocus speciosus) is a small corm that grow 6 inches tall. The 6-7 inches tall goblet-shaped crocus flowers are violet blue to mauve colored. The late-blooming crocuses multiply (perennialize) readily. Autumn crocus also produces its foliage in early spring, then die back as seasonal temps warm. (Zones 5-9).

Saffron crocus (Crocus sativus) is probably the most known fall-blooming crocus. This is the plant that the spice saffron comes from. Plants grow 4-6-inches tall and have lilac-purple flowers that open a few weeks after autumn crocus. Each flower produces three reddish-orange stigmas that are harvested and dried to create saffron. Grow crocus in a sunny, well-drained soil in your garden. (Zones 6-9).

Ivy-leaf Cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium) grows 4-6-inches tall. Tubers produce pink to white flowers that are 1-2-inches long with swept-back petals from September into October. While the flowers are the main attraction, the mottled foliage is highly ornate. The ivy-like heart-shaped leaves have dark green centers bordered with lighter green and silver patterns. Plants produce leaves after it flowers. The foliage stays around through winter before going dormant in spring. Grow best in moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil and in partial to full shade that are high in organic matter. Be patient as young plants generate only a few flowers in the first 1-2 years, but well-established clumps produce lots more. (Zones 5-9).

Winter daffodil (Sternbergia lutea), also called “autumn daffodil”, are lovely crocus look-alikes that have bright yellow crocus-like flowers produced in September to October. Flowers are 1.5 inches wide, and flower stalks are typically around 6-inches tall. Its narrow, lance-shaped foliage may reach 12-inches in length and persist through the winter, especially in warmer climes; otherwise, dying back in fall. Sternbergias are essentially pest- and disease-free.  (Zones 6-9).

Guernsey lily (Nerine spp) is spring-planted bulbs. It produces a stunning display of pink, red, or white lily-like flowers in September and October, a time when most other plants are finishing up.  A cluster of strappy, glossy green leaves emerges in summer followed by 18-24-inch-tall bloom stalks which burst open with colorful wavy-edged flowers. Its exquisite six petalled blooms stand atop slender, sturdy stems. Native to Southern Africa, they thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Nerines are excellent for cutting, singly or in groups, and grown in containers. Three species are N. bowdeni, N. sarniensis, and N. undulata. (Zones 8-10).