12 Top Performing Spring Bulbs that Come Back Year After Year!

What are Perennial Bulbs and Naturalizing Bulbs?

Perennial Bulbs

• Perennial bulbs are a wonderful addition to any garden, as they have the ability to return and bloom year after year. These hardy bulbs establish themselves in the soil and continue to thrive, providing reliable and consistent bursts of color.
• Some popular options for perennial bulbs include daffodils, tulips, crocuses, hyacinths, and snowdrops. These bulbs are known for their ability to return year after year and are often the first signs of spring, bringing much-needed color and cheer to the garden.

Naturalizing Bulbs

• Naturalizing bulbs, on the other hand, are bulbs that not only return year after year but also multiply and spread, creating larger and more impressive displays over time. These bulbs are particularly well-suited to areas where you want to create a natural look or cover larger areas with color.
• Daffodils (Narcissus) and snowdrops (Galanthus) are among the most common naturalizing bulbs, valued for their early spring blooms. They multiply by producing offsets, or baby bulbs, around the main bulb. These can be left to grow into new plants or can be separated and replanted elsewhere in the garden.
• Crocus and Scilla are also effective naturalizers, quickly spreading to fill an area with their colorful flowers. Grape hyacinths (Muscari) can also naturalize under the right conditions.

With proper care and the right selection of perennial and naturalizing bulbs, you can create a garden that bursts with color and beauty year after year. Whether you’re looking for early spring blooms or vibrant displays later in the season, these bulbs will reward you with their resilience and ability to naturalize, creating a captivating and low-maintenance garden that evolves and thrives over time.

Here is a sampling of top-performing bulbs that can be counted upon to perennialize – and, if happy where you plant them, will most likely naturalize, too, to come back to bloom for years