For a burst of colour in your garden this summer, these three bulbs can be planted now and will flourish from summer through to autumn in borders, pots and planters
Vita Molyneux Travel reporter
05:06, 14 Mar 2026
These flowers are perfect for summer(Image: Getty)
If you’re looking to prepare for summer gatherings and outdoor meals, then transforming your garden is an excellent starting point. For a burst of colour in your outdoor space, you can plant bulbs now and enjoy beautiful flowers from summer right through to autumn.
They look wonderful in borders, pots and planters. Emma Fell, head of horticulture at Hillier Garden Centres, has revealed her favourite bulbs that will thrive if planted now, reports the Express.
Emma explained: “Summer bulbs are a rewarding investment. With the right planting position and a little feeding through the season, you can enjoy months of vibrant colour and plenty of flowers for cutting too.”
Dahlia ‘Go-Go’
Dahlias are a summer staple and this particular variety offers impressive colour from a compact plant. Emma noted: “Growing to around 30-40cm tall, they’re perfectly suited to borders, smaller gardens and patio pots, yet still produce generous 13cm blooms that really stand out. They flower tirelessly from July through to October, giving you reliable colour right through the season.”
Available colours include yellow, white, orange or black. For maximum visual impact, Emma suggests speckled.
These flowers give your garden a boost(Image: Getty)
She added: “Go Go Speckled has pink petals with a distinctive flecked finish that adds charm and character – a real showstopper and a wonderful focal point in pots or borders.”
To maximise the colours, plant your dahlia tubers between January and May in a sunny, well-drained location. Water during dry periods and apply light feeding fortnightly once growth begins to promote abundant flowering from July through to October.
However, avoid excessive feeding, as this can result in soft growth vulnerable to issues such as powdery mildew.
Emma continued: “Because dahlias aren’t fully frost hardy, it’s a good idea to lift the tubers after the first frosts and store them somewhere cool and frost-free until the following spring. They’re also fantastic as cut flowers, so you can bring that colour indoors all summer long.”
Canna ‘Apricot Frost’
Striking, towering and dramatic, these blooms create genuine visual impact. They can reach heights of 100cm and provide excellent structural interest to borders.
They also thrive in large containers.
The stunning apricot-orange flowers emerge from early summer through until October, producing a magnificent display of colour.
Cannas are a great option(Image: Getty)
Emma explained: “Plant between January and May in a sunny, sheltered spot with fertile, well-hydrated soil. Cannas are hungry plants, so regular feeding will keep the foliage lush and the flowers strong. As they’re not frost hardy, it’s best to lift and store the rhizomes somewhere cool and dry over winter or protect them well if you plan to leave them in the ground.”
Zephyranthes Robusta (Brazilian Copper Lily/Pink Fairy Lily)
While not as flamboyant as dahlias and cannas, these exquisite flowers are a fantastic addition to rockeries, borders, and small pots. Despite their modest height of around 25cm, they yield stunning pink blossoms during the summer.
Emma advised: “These bulbs prefer a sunny, well-drained position and can be planted from January through to May. They’re compact and easy to grow, making them ideal for smaller spaces or for filling gaps between larger plants. Despite their dainty appearance, they’re surprisingly resilient and add a splash of colour just as the garden hits its summer stride.”
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