Fall is an exceptionally busy time for us gardeners, as we work hard to tick off all our planting tasks before the coldest weather arrives. If you’ve found yourself pushed for time this season, consider a low-maintenance option that is guaranteed to give you flamboyant displays with minimal effort: the easiest spring bulbs to grow in pots.
If you’re keen to give your container garden a fresh look for spring but you don’t know where to start, then choosing some of the easiest bulbs is guaranteed to give you a bright and dazzling display. Of course, you have to be particular about which bulbs to grow in pots, as some are better suited to planting in the ground.
To help you make the right choices. I’ve asked a gardening expert for her top picks. Here, she shares the easiest spring bulbs to grow in pots that you can plant now and practically forget about until they start emerging in spring.
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5 easy spring bulbs to grow in pots
A spring garden isn’t complete without the brightest bulbs, but it isn’t just about infusing color in your borders. The easiest spring bulbs to grow in pots are a low-effort solution to creating impactful spring planters. Here, a gardening expert explains how to grow them successfully.
1. Tulips
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A classic spring flower for pots: tulips. Not only are they often a symbol of the season, but they’re actually very straightforward to grow in pots.
‘Tulips are my favorite spring bulb to plant in pots. They come in a variety of colors and shapes,’ says Lindsey Chastain, experienced homesteader and founder at The Waddle and Cluck.
These bulbs aren’t always reliable perennials, often bred to put on an amazing first-year spectacle. This is why planting tulip bulbs in pots works well, making it easy to remove them after flowering.
‘To get the most out of your pot of tulips for the season, succession plant in the early, mid, and late spring. That way you will have blooms all season,’ Lindsey advises. ‘The bulbs don’t need much space and can be planted very close together in the pot,’ she adds.
Make sure to plant your tulip bulbs at a depth of 6-8 inches in your pots, around 2-3 inches apart. You can use this bulb planter with a depth marker from Amazon to help.
Discover the range of tulip bulbs at Burpee.
Discover the range of tulip bulbs at Amazon.
Lindsey Chastain
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Gardening Expert
Lindsey Chastain, a dedicated homesteader and skilled writer, is the driving force behind The Waddle and Cluck, a platform that celebrates sustainable living, gardening, and responsible farming
2. Daffodils
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Planting daffodils in pots is another easy spring flower to grow. They’re early bloomers, too, so will provide a cheerful display as the winter months come to an end.
In pots, daffodils should be planted at a depth of 4-6 inches, with the pointed edge sticking upwards.
There are lots of types of daffodils to choose from, but the easiest to grow in pots are those with shorter stems. For example, ‘Tête-à-Tête’ (bulbs from Amazon) is a dwarf variety that is popular for pots. The shorter stems prevent the flowers flopping over in the often less-stable environment of a planter.
Discover the range of daffodil bulbs at Burpee.
Discover the range of daffodil bulbs at Amazon.
Shop beautiful planters for your spring blooms
Bring some color to your container garden with this blue glazed plant pot. It has a drainage hole to support plant growth and is handcrafted using quality ceramic material to withstand most weather conditions.
This timeless Hooks & Lattice planter nods to classic wicker baskets while offering a modern design. Reinforced with fiberglass, this planter has the look of concrete with a much lighter weight. It has drainage holes, ideal for the best container plants.
Ridged Terracotta Planter
This ridged terracotta planter is the perfect size and depth for a range of spring bulbs. It’s crafted from sturdy cement and ficonstone in a terracotta finish, offering long-lasting durability.
3. Snake’s head fritillary
(Image credit: Yuliya Evstratenko / Shutterstock)
Growing snake’s head fritillaries will reward you with striking purple and white blooms, reminiscent of tulip flowers that droop over. In pots, these bulbs can make an excellent focal point.
‘If you are going for an English or fairy garden, they are the perfect addition,’ says Lindsey. ‘They like partial shade so a pot on a patio is perfect for them ,or underneath taller flowers that will provide a bit of shade,’ she adds.
A bonus is snake’s head fritillaries are hardy perennial plants and will reliably return each year, without the extra effort of overwintering. However, if you live in a particularly frosty regions, consider wrapping pots with burlap (from Amazon) to provide some insulation over winter.
Avoid bulb planting mistakes by planting your snake’s head bulbs around four inches apart.
Find snake’s head fritillary bulbs on Amazon.
4. Hyacinths
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Hyacinths are some of the most impressive bulbs for pots. Coming in all colors from yellow, pink, blue, and white, hyacinth varieties produce densely-packed, bell-shaped blooms.
They’re a great addition to a fragrant garden, favored for their sweet smell. This also makes them popular as bulbs to force indoors for Christmas.
When growing hyacinth bulbs in containers, they are particularly impactful when packed closely together. You can plant the bulbs around 4-5 inches deep and should use a container with good drainage.
If you’re using a large pot, follow our guide to what to put in the bottom of a planter for drainage. These pebbles from Amazon are a good option, for example.
Discover the range of hyacinth bulbs at Burpee.
Discover the range of hyacinth bulbs on Amazon.
5. Alliums
(Image credit: Clive Nichols / Corbis Documentary / Getty Images)
For a thriller in your spring thriller, spiller, filler container, consider alliums. While there are some towering allium varieties, like ‘Purple Sensation,’ there are other smaller stem varieties more suited to pots.
‘They bloom a bit later in the season so if you are trying to attract pollinators, it can help extend your display a bit longer,’ says Lindsey.
Some of the easiest alliums for pots include ‘Schubertii’ (bulbs available at Amazon) and ‘Graceful Beauty’ (bulbs available at Amazon).
‘They like to be planted pretty deep in the soil (about 4-6 inches) and need really good drainage,’ Lindsey notes.
Discover the range of alliums at Burpee.
Discover the range of allium bulbs on Amazon.
FAQsCan I plant spring bulbs in spring?
It is very unlikely you will have an impressive spring display if you plant bulbs in the same season. Instead, you should plant spring bulbs in fall, giving them enough time to establish a strong root system for blooming in spring. Each type of bulb will be different, but you should generally aim to get all your spring bulbs planted by late fall, before the first frost.
If you’re working with limited space, consider opting for some of the best miniature bulbs. They’re ideal for planters, alongside low-maintenance plants for pots.
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