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Most of the time, winter means dormancy. As cooler temperatures start to roll in, many gardeners are focusing on protecting outdoor plants from frost, bringing potted plants that can’t handle freezes indoors to overwinter, and learning the best time to shovel snow for easier removal. That’s not all you can do, however. When it comes to bulbs, the peak time for planting in most climates is in the fall. If you’re running a bit late, though, it’s possible to plant spring bulbs in winter if you live somewhere where the ground isn’t completely frozen solid.
Even if it’s chilly out, it takes several days of sub-freezing temperatures in a row to render soil unworkable. In many areas, it’s likely that the weather won’t consistently be that cold until January or February. In others, like USDA Hardiness Zones 8 and up, you won’t have to worry about the ground freezing to the point you can’t sow bulbs at all.
Whether or not you can plant bulbs directly in the soil in winter will depend heavily on your climate. Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are great candidates for this treatment, but many other spring-blooming bulbs will also thrive if the ground is warm enough.
Tulip
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Tulips (Tulipa spp.) are an iconic symbol of spring, and their vibrant blooms are instantly recognizable in any landscape. They thrive in zones 3 through 8, and if you live somewhere on the warmer end of this spectrum, it’s still possible to plant them in winter and enjoy spring blooms. If you choose this option, place the bulbs on top of your soil rather than digging deep into the ground, then add a 2 to 4-inch layer of mulch or compost over top to provide some protection. Once the weather warms up, they should bloom like normal.
Daffodil
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Daffodils (Narcissus spp.) are another iconic spring-blooming bulb that can be planted in winter. As with most other bulbs on this list, fall planting is ideal, but these flowers still have a chance to bloom in spring if you plant them while the soil is still warm enough to be workable. They’ll do well in zones 4 through 8 — those living in the warmer areas included in this range might not have to worry much about timing at all — and they need soil with plenty of drainage and a solid amount of sun exposure to thrive.
Amaryllis
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Amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.) are tropical flowers, native to Central and South America. It follows, then, that they thrive in warmer climates. If you live in zones 7 through 10, these gorgeous flowers can be grown outdoors, but in most other locations, it’s best to cultivate them as a houseplant during the chillier months of the year. In Florida, for example, amaryllis bulbs can be planted any time between September and January — just make sure they’re in a location in your garden with partial sun and well-draining soil. If grown indoors, you’ll typically enjoy flowers from November to April.
Muscari
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Grape hyacinths (Muscari spp.) have a fitting name — while they’re members of the asparagus family and not closely related to any fruit, their rounded flower buds create a shape that looks strikingly similar to a bunch of grapes. If you want to enjoy these unique-looking flowers in your garden come spring, planting in fall is ideal, but you can sow these bulbs in the garden all the way up until the soil freezes and becomes unworkable. Grape hyacinths do well in zones 4 through 8, need full sun to partial shade, and require well-drained, moist soil in spring.
Ornamental onion
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Ornamental onion (Allium spp.) might sound like a slightly more dressed-up version of something you’d find in the pantry, but these flowering plants can make a major impact in your garden. Hardy in zones 4 through 9, these bulbs sprout up into cartoonishly round arrangements of colorful petals come spring, and if you’re in a warmer area, it’s not too late to plant them in winter. Choose somewhere with plenty of sun — the brighter the spot, the larger the blooms. You can even use this aromatic bulb to deter chipmunks from your garden!
Ranunculus
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Ranunculus (Ranunculus asiaticus) is an absolute showstopper that’s the perfect addition to a cut flower garden. With lush, multi-layered blooms that come in a massive variety of colors, these flowers don’t disappoint. In zones 8 through 10, they can be grown as perennials, but they can also be planted as annuals elsewhere. In warmer areas, plant ranunculus bulbs in autumn or early winter. In colder locations, plant them in late winter or early spring, after hard frosts have passed. Depending on when you plant, you’ll get to enjoy layered blooms in early or late spring.
Snowdrops
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Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalus) have earned their name both because of their pretty flowers and the fact that they’re one of the first bulbs to emerge from the snow. Hardy from zones 3 to 9, these flowers are no strangers to chilly temperatures, even requiring a period of cold to bloom. Like many bulbs, snowdrops are best planted in October, but if you’re willing to wait, you can also plant them “in the green,” pre-sprouted, in late winter. Either way, they’re likely to bring a bit of interest to your garden much earlier than other bulbs.
Crocus
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Another early bloomer, crocuses (Crocus spp.) are ideally planted in fall, but can be sown as long as the soil is still workable in your area. They do well in zones 3 through 8, though they do require a period of extended cold to bloom and produce their colorful, cup-shaped blooms. Plant them in full sun to partial shade, in gritty, well-draining soils, and en masse to make more of a visual statement. They only grow to be a maximum of 6 inches tall, so they can easily look tiny or awkward next to other, larger flowers.
Siberian squill
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Siberian squill (Scilla siberica) is a spring-blooming bulb that’s not very picky about its growing conditions — so much so that it’s actually considered invasive in Virginia and New Jersey. With that said, however, its aggressive growth habit is actually a pro for those in other areas looking to quickly fill out their gardens. Squill is hardy in zones 2 through 8 and is ideally planted in the fall in many locations, but in warmer areas, like the southernmost U.S. states and California, it can be planted in December for blooms in early spring.
Hyacinth
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If you haven’t smelled the lovely floral fragrance that hyacinths (Hyacinth orientalis) produce, you’re truly missing out. These scent bombs are, unsurprisingly, a favorite of bees, making them one of the best plants for your pollinator garden, but they also carry the benefit of being resistant to deer, rabbits, and drought. Fall planting is ideal, but if you live in the warmer part of hyacinth’s hardiness range (zones 4 through 8), you can enjoy fragrant spring blooms as long as you get these bulbs in the ground before it freezes.
Glory-of-the-Snow
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Glory-of-the-snow’s (Chionodoxa forbesii) name acts as a hint as to when it blooms. Like snowdrops and crocuses, glory-of-the-snows are one of the first flowers to emerge in spring, often popping up so early that there’s still a layer of snow on the ground. They’re hardy in zones 3 through 8, and like many spring bloomers, planting in fall is your best bet, but as long as you act before the ground is no longer workable, you should be good to go. Plant them in an area with good drainage and full to partial sun for the best blooms.
Iris
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There are many kinds of irises (Iris spp.), but in general, most are hardy from zones 3 to 9. These gorgeous flowers are the subject of many a painting and make a great addition to cut flower bouquets, but they’re just as enjoyable as a border in a garden. They’ll produce the biggest blooms when planted in full sun, and they need well-draining soil to thrive. It’s best to plant their “bulbs” (technically rhizomes) once nighttime weather is between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit, often well into the winter in warmer locations.
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