The autumn and winter months in the UK can still give you lots of options as a lover of plants and flowers. There are many autumn flowering bulbs you can plant that will give your garden plenty of colour, keeping it just as vibrant as it is during spring and summer. Many of these flowers can be naturalised, so they will return year after year and bring colour to your garden once more.

When should you plant autumn flowering bulbs? 

You should usually plant autumn flowering bulbs in the late summer, though it will differ for each type of bulb. See the instructions on the bulb you are going to grow before you buy it and plant it. You need to pick the correct time of year so that the soil is the right temperature and you avoid issues such as frost.

A guide to some popular autumn flowering bulbs 

These are some of the autumn bulbs you might like to plant in your garden:

Colchicum 

You might also know the colchicum as a ‘naked lady’, because it flowers in the autumn, by which point it has lost all its leaves. You should plant these bulbs around 3 inches deep in the soil, and make sure they are 6 inches apart to give them room. The soil should, if possible, be moist and able to keep hold of the moisture. You should plant them in July or August.

Crocus 

The crocus will flower best when left undisturbed, and will produce small, delicate flowers. These flowers are very much associated with autumn and are very popular to grow. You should plant crocuses in the late summer, before the weather starts to get colder. They will grow well without too much fuss and are one of the easiest flowers to grow.

Hardy cyclamen 

You can plant these bulbs in late summer or early autumn, ready for them to flower in the autumn. They won’t require much more than some good, loose soil, though you might want to dig some mulch into it before planting. They will rot if the soil is too damp, so be careful not to over-water them. Once they begin to grow successfully, you can leave them be, as they will generally do very well on their own and grow very big.

Nerine 

The nerine will brighten up your garden in autumn with its beautiful flowers. Also known as a Guernsey lily, the nerine will need to be planted somewhere dry and sunny. They won’t deal well with being moved once they have been planted, so try to leave them be during the spring and summer. If you look after them well, they can continue to flower into the winter and grow much bigger over time.

These are just some of the most popular bulbs you can buy – there are plenty more autumn flowering bulbs you can choose. Pick something that will work in your garden and create a variety of shapes and colours, to keep your garden interesting all year round.