Spring bulbs planted in autumn produce the earliest and most reliable garden colour of the year — Tulips (Tulipa), Daffodils (Narcissus), Allium, Hyacinth (Hyacinthus), and Muscari (Grape Hyacinth) all deliver spectacular results from October planting with minimal effort. Browse our spring bulb collection with delivery across Europe.

When to Plant Spring Bulbs

Plant spring-flowering bulbs between September and November — after the first frosts but before the ground freezes hard. Tulips do best planted as late as possible (November) to reduce the risk of tulip fire disease. Daffodils and Allium can be planted from September. All spring bulbs require a cold period (vernalisation) of at least 8–12 weeks at below 10°C to initiate flowering — this is provided naturally by European winters, but bulbs stored in warm conditions will not flower reliably.

Planting Depth Guide

• Tulips — plant at 15–20cm depth (3× bulb diameter); 10–15cm apart; in groups of 5–10 for impact
• Daffodils (Narcissus) — plant at 10–15cm depth; naturalise in grass for informal drifts; perennialise reliably for years
• Allium — plant at 15cm depth; striking spherical heads June–July; leave seedheads for structural winter interest
• Muscari (Grape Hyacinth) — plant at 5–8cm; naturalise freely; excellent under deciduous shrubs where they receive winter sun
• Hyacinth — plant at 10cm; intense fragrance; excellent in containers; force indoors in hyacinth vases for winter flowering

Bulbs in Containers

Spring bulbs perform extremely well in containers using the 'lasagne' method: layer large bulbs (Tulips, Daffodils) at the bottom, medium bulbs (Hyacinth, Allium) in the middle, and small bulbs (Crocus, Muscari) at the top. Each layer flowers in sequence, extending the container display from late February through to May from a single autumn planting.

Explore related: Outdoor Plants · Pollinator Plants · Cottage Garden Plants