If you’re looking to bring bold color, texture, and a little drama into your garden, summer-blooming bulbs are a smart and simple choice.
These plants thrive in sunny spots, add striking height, and bloom with vibrant flowers that turn any space into a seasonal showpiece. Whether you’re planting in beds, borders, or containers, there’s something here for every kind of garden setup.
Some bulbs can stay in the ground year-round, while others might need to be lifted in cooler climates. But all of them reward your effort with beautiful blooms.
Picture it: bright petals swaying in the summer breeze, sweet scents in the air, and a cool drink in your hand. It’s one of those small joys that make gardening completely worth it.
#1 Hippeastrum
Hippeastrum is a true summer showstopper, bursting with bold trumpet-shaped blooms in rich shades of red, pink, or white. These striking flowers grow tall and proud, often reaching up to two feet in height.
Plant the bulbs in well-drained soil with full sun, and you’ll be rewarded with dramatic color through the warmer months. For best results, water when the top inch of soil feels dry and feed with a balanced fertilizer every few weeks.
They’re perfect for garden beds, borders, or large containers where you want a bright, tropical touch.
#2 Tiger Lily
Tiger Lily (Lilium lancifolium) blooms in mid to late summer and brings an exotic, wild beauty to garden borders and backdrops. The petals curve backward, giving it that signature look that makes it hard to miss.
Tiger lilies are easy to grow from bulbs and thrive in full sun or partial shade with well-draining soil. Plant the bulbs about 4–6 inches deep in spring, and they’ll reward you with tall, colorful stems that come back year after year.
They’re also deer-resistant and attract pollinators like butterflies, making them both beautiful and beneficial in your garden.
#3 Caladiums
Caladium is a summer favorite prized more for its colorful foliage than its flowers. The leaves come in eye-catching patterns of pink, red, green, and white, adding instant brightness to shady garden spots. While it does bloom, like in the photo, the flower is modest compared to the showy leaves.
Caladium grows from tubers and loves warm, humid conditions. Plant the tubers about 2 inches deep in well-drained soil once the ground has fully warmed up.
They thrive in partial to full shade and need regular watering to keep the soil moist. Perfect for containers, borders, or under trees, caladium brings tropical flair and elegant color all summer long.
#4 Oriental Lilies
Oriental Lilies are the most dramatic lilies and bear large, star-shaped flowers in the shades of yellow, crimson, white, and pink.
They thrive well in moist soil with good drainage and under full sunlight. Keep the soil moist but not soggy, and add mulch to protect the roots.
#5 Liatris
Liatris blooms gorgeous flower stalks that attract a lot of bees and butterflies. They are perennial plants and thrive well during the summer season. They need direct sunlight for at least 6 hours a day.
Its tall, feathery blooms open from top to bottom and add striking vertical interest to garden beds, meadows, or borders.
It pairs beautifully with ornamental grasses and other wildflowers and is a great choice for pollinator gardens or anyone wanting color that lasts through the hottest days of summer.
#6 Oxalis
Oxalis bears clover-shaped leaves, most of which have shades of purple, white, and delicate pink. They are easy to grow and do well in moist but well-drained soil and full sun or partial shade.
It pops up in late spring and continues blooming into summer, especially in containers, rock gardens, or shady borders.
Oxalis grows from small bulbs and prefers well-draining soil and partial shade to filtered sunlight. Plant the bulbs 1–2 inches deep in spring, and water regularly without over-soaking. The foliage adds charm even when not in bloom, and many varieties close their leaves at night, adding a fun twist to your garden. It’s compact, easy to grow, and perfect for small spaces or pots.
#7 Allium cernuum – Nodding onion
These delicate, nodding blooms belong to Allium cernuum, also known as Nodding Onion. It’s a summer-blooming bulb that brings soft movement and charm to any garden with its umbrella-shaped clusters of pink or lavender flowers.
Plant the bulbs in full sun or light shade and well-drained soil. They grow best in naturalized areas, rock gardens, or borders and are loved by pollinators like bees and butterflies.
To grow them, plant bulbs about 2–3 inches deep in spring or fall, water occasionally, and enjoy their graceful sway in the summer breeze. They’re tough, easy to care for, and deer-resistant, too.
#8 Colocasia
This bold tropical plant is Elephant Ear (Colocasia or Alocasia), known for its giant heart-shaped leaves and occasional pale yellow blooms that resemble calla lilies.
While the foliage is the main attraction, the flower adds a fun surprise in warm summer months. Elephant Ears grow from bulbs or tubers and thrive in moist, rich soil with full sun to part shade.
Plant them about 2–4 inches deep after the danger of frost has passed. These plants love humidity and need regular watering to stay lush.
Perfect for adding drama to garden beds or containers, they bring that big, bold look that instantly transforms any space.
#9 Asiatic Lilies
Asiatic lilies are easy to grow and do well in full sun with well-drained soil. Plant the bulbs 4–6 inches deep in spring, and keep them evenly watered during the growing season.
They bloom earlier than most other lilies and are perfect for borders, containers, or cutting gardens. With no fragrance but long-lasting blooms, they offer brilliant color with very little fuss.
#10 Calla Lilies
Calla Lilies (Zantedeschia) are known for their sleek trumpet-shaped flowers and long, upright stems. Their soft pink petals add a touch of elegance to summer gardens, containers, or floral arrangements.
Plant calla lily rhizomes in spring after frost, about 3–4 inches deep in rich, well-drained soil. They prefer full sun to partial shade and need consistent moisture during the growing season.
With just a little care, these flowers bloom beautifully through summer and work well both indoors and out. They’re a favorite for weddings and make any garden feel instantly more refined.
#11 Gloriosa Lily
Gloriosa Lily (Gloriosa superba) is also called the flame lily or fire lily. With its striking red petals edged in yellow and dramatic curled shape, it adds bold tropical flair to any summer garden.
Gloriosa lilies grow from tubers and climb using tendrils, making them ideal for trellises, fences, or obelisks. Plant the tubers horizontally about 2–3 inches deep in well-drained soil once the weather is warm.
Give them full sun to light shade and consistent moisture during their growing season. With the right support, they’ll reward you with climbing stems full of brilliant, flame-like blooms.
