Top 10 Bulbs to Brighten Your Garden Year-Round
Best-sellers and Customer Favourites from PlantArk Gardening lovers in Australia have the great chance to enjoy blossoms throughout the entire year due to the climate of country. Your garden has the potential to be a beautiful display of color throughout the year if you choose flower bulbs with careful planning. Through PlantArk, Australia's most reliable online plant nursery, enthusiasts of plants have the opportunity to purchase and sell plants, including flowering bulbs, from local producers and enthusiastic gardeners located all across the country. It doesn't matter if you're just starting in the world of gardening or if you've been with it for years: bulbs are an excellent method to bring dependable and beautiful flowers into your outdoor or indoor areas. Are you interested in buying flower bulbs online in Australia? Here is a list of the top 10 flower bulbs that have been the most popular and best-selling on PlantArk, along with information on when they bloom and how to cultivate them.
1. Tulips (Tulipa spp.) Bloom Time: Mid to late spring Best for: Formal gardens, containers, borders Tulips are an iconic spring bulb that deliver striking displays in a wide range of colours—from classic reds and pinks to purples, yellows, and even bi-coloured varieties. In Australia's cooler regions, they thrive best when pre-chilled before planting in late autumn. Customer Tip: Mix early and late-flowering tulip varieties for a longer blooming period.
2. Daffodils (Narcissus spp.)
Bloom Time: Late winter to early spring Best for: Mass plantings, naturalising in lawns, cottage gardens Beloved for their cheerful yellow or white blooms, daffodils are low-maintenance and reliable. They return year after year and are typically resistant to pests and diseases. They're ideal for layering with other spring bulbs. Popular Varieties: 'King Alfred', 'Tête-à-Tête', and 'Ice Follies'.
3. Freesias (Freesia spp.) Bloom Time: Mid to late spring Best for: Fragrant borders, cut flowers, pots Freesias are a favourite among PlantArk customers thanks to their incredible fragrance and elegant form. Available in a spectrum of vibrant colours, they do well in sunny, well-drained positions. Growing Tip: Soak bulbs overnight before planting to encourage faster growth.
4. Hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis) Bloom Time: Early to mid-spring Best for: Indoor forcing, small beds, containers If you love fragrance, hyacinths are unbeatable. Their compact spikes come in blues, purples, pinks, whites, and yellows. They're a staple in cool-climate gardens and are perfect for growing in pots or forcing indoors. Customer Tip: Plant them close to living spaces so you can enjoy their scent up close.
5. Ranunculus (Ranunculus asiaticus) Bloom Time: Mid to late spring Best for: Cut flower gardens, containers, floral displays Ranunculus bulbs produce lush, rose-like blooms with layers of paper-thin petals. These spring showstoppers are ideal for cut flower arrangements and add elegance to garden beds and pots. Growing Tip: Soak corms for 4–6 hours before planting with the claws facing downward.
6. Anemones (Anemone coronaria) Bloom Time: Late winter to early spring Best for: Naturalised plantings, borders, pots
Anemones are popular for their bold colours and ability to create vibrant carpets in the garden. They're also excellent companion plants and look spectacular when mixed with other bulbs. Popular Varieties: 'De Caen Mix' and 'St. Brigid'.
7. Alliums (Allium spp.) Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer Best for: Architectural gardens, bee-friendly borders, dry zones Known for their stunning globe-like flowers, Alliums are a customer favourite for modern garden designs. They're drought-tolerant, attract pollinators, and add height and drama to any space. Growing Tip: Plant in sunny, well-drained spots and leave them undisturbed to naturalise.
8. Dutch Iris (Iris x hollandica) Bloom Time: Mid to late spring Best for: Formal beds, floral arrangements, low-maintenance plantings Dutch Iris bulbs offer elegant, orchid-like flowers in rich blues, purples, yellows, and whites. They’re easy to grow and look fantastic in mixed spring displays. Customer Tip: Use them in succession planting alongside early daffodils and late tulips.
9. Watsonia (Watsonia spp.) Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer Best for: Coastal gardens, drought-tolerant beds, native plantings Native to southern Africa but well-adapted to Australian conditions, Watsonias produce tall spikes of funnel-shaped flowers and thrive in dry, sunny environments. Their grassy foliage and vertical form make them great structural plants. Popular Uses: Great in wildflower gardens or as windbreaks in exposed areas.
10. Belladonna Lily (Amaryllis belladonna) Bloom Time: Late summer to early autumn Best for: Dry zones, rockeries, heritage gardens Known as the “naked lady” due to its leafless bloom stalks, Belladonna Lilies are heat-tolerant and flourish in tough conditions. They provide a stunning burst of colour when many other plants are dormant.
Growing Tip: Best planted in clumps and left undisturbed for years of flowering.
Creating a Year-Round Bulb Calendar One of the biggest benefits of incorporating a mix of bulbs into your garden is their ability to bloom across all four seasons. With smart planning, you can enjoy a garden that offers interest and colour every month of the year. Here’s a simplified seasonal guide for your garden:
Late Winter to Early Spring ● Daffodils ● Anemones ● Hyacinths
Mid to Late Spring ● Tulips ● Freesias ● Dutch Iris ● Ranunculus
Early to Mid-Summer ● Alliums ● Watsonia
Late Summer to Autumn ● Belladonna Lily
Why Choose Bulbs from PlantArk?
At PlantArk, we’re more than just an online nursery—we’re a thriving community of growers, sellers, and plant lovers across Australia. Whether you’re a home gardener or a small-scale nursery, you can use PlantArk to buy or sell flower bulbs and plants with ease. We understand the need for trusted, quality sources, especially for those looking to buy flower bulbs online in Australia. That’s why we connect you with passionate growers and reliable sellers who care about their plants as much as you do. Whether you're after vibrant spring blooms or resilient summer standouts, our marketplace is full of unique offerings—each one with a story to tell.
Tips for Growing Bulbs Successfully 1. Plant at the Right Time: Most bulbs are planted in autumn for spring blooms. Some summer and autumn bloomers go in during winter. 2. Use Well-Draining Soil: Bulbs can rot in soggy conditions. Consider raised beds or mixing sand into your soil. 3. Feed and Mulch: Apply a slow-release fertiliser when shoots appear, and mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds. 4. Allow Foliage to Die Back Naturally: Post-bloom foliage is crucial for storing energy for the next year. Don’t cut it too early! 5. Layer for Impact: Try the “lasagna method” by layering early-, mid-, and late-season bulbs in one pot or bed.
Join the PlantArk Community Are you ready to take your garden to the next level with Australia's most popular bulbs? Discover exciting new types, make connections with vendors, and even give away some of your plants to other people. We at PlantArk make it simple to buy flower bulbs online in Australia, and we also make it possible for you to begin selling the garden-grown beauty you have produced to a national audience. Allow your landscape to flourish dazzlingly throughout the entire year. Visit PlantArk
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