Eranthis hyemalis (Winter Aconite) is a charming tuberous perennial that bursts from the ground in late winter (before crocuses) with cup-shaped, upward-facing, bright yellow flowers (1 in. wide or 3 cm), surrounded by divided leafy bracts. The foliage of rich green leaves, divided into several lobes, emerges after the flowers. Winter Aconites go dormant by late spring.

Leucojum aestivum, although called 'Summer Snowflake', flowers in mid-spring and boasts 4-8 white, nodding, bell-shaped flowers with green-tipped tepals, dangling from each long, fairly sturdy flower stem. As an added bonus, the flowers are softly chocolate-scented!

Native to the Mediterranean region, Ornithogalum umbellatum (Star of Bethlehem) is a bulbous perennial bearing pretty racemes of star-shaped white flowers, green on the outside, in late spring to early summer. The flowers open only if enough sunlight is present. During dull weather, they close to display the green exteriors of their petals. Each stem bears up to 16-20 starry white flowers that are arranged in loose umbels. The foliage of linear leaves, adorned with a white mid-vein, fades as the flowers emerge. Star of Bethlehem is a vigorous naturalizer, often spreading rapidly by offsets. Best planted in areas where this plant will not disturb other plants.

One of the earliest spring bloomers, Scilla siberica is a bulbous perennial boasting intense blue, bell-shaped, nodding flowers (2-5 per stem) in early to mid-spring. Each bulb produces 3 to 4 flower stems above a grassy foliage of narrow strap-shaped leaves. Easy to grow, this is one of the most winter hardy of the scillas and can be found in hardiness zone 2. A great naturalizer, it multiplies and comes back year after year, turning the landscape into a sea of blue. Looks best when planted in large drifts. Grows up to 3-6 in. tall and wide (7-15 cm). Hardiness Zones: 2-8

Alliums are plants of exquisite beauty that deserve a place in perennial gardens. Easy to grow and undemanding, these very ornamental bulbs distinguish themselves by their great diversity in color, inflorescence, flowering height and bloom times. Many species bloom in early summer - just after the spring-flowering period and just before the exuberant full bloom of summer. 

Native to North America, Camassias (Camas) are bulbous perennials with long racemes of up to 100 star-shaped flowers, adorned with six slender loose petals, a green center and bright yellow stamens. The flowers vary in color from pale lilac or white to deep purple or blue-violet. Borne on stout, willowy stems, they open sequentially from bottom to top for a long-lasting display. Blooming in late spring to early summer, these spring-flowering bulbs rise atop a foliage clump of linear green leaves. A striking feature in the garden, Camassias add something different to the borders at a time when the summer perennials have not yet hit their stride. Left undisturbed, they are vigorous growers and will increase freely in damp soil.

Native to Crete and Turkey, Chionodoxa are one of the earliest and loveliest spring flowering bulbs, adding beauty to the garden. Flowers are saucer-shaped with a conspicuous white eye in the center and bloom in very early spring. Once established, this little bulb naturalizes well and comes back year after year. It provides a pretty display when planted among early-flowering perennial plants in the border. Grows up to 4-6 in. tall (10-20 cm). Hardiness Zones: 3-8

Eremurus (Foxtail Lilies) provide quite a breathtaking sight with their flower clusters rising high on imposing stalks - towering up to 8 feet (240 cm) above the ground - making them one of the most spectacular bulbous plants. When well-sited with good soil preparation, Eremurus can be long-lived showstoppers in the garden.

Native to Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan, Fritillaria imperialis grows up to 40-44 inches tall (100-110 cm) in a beautiful display of orange, yellow or red pendant, bell-shaped flowers topped by a crown of small leaves. This striking ensemble rises high at the end of an upright stem bearing lance-shaped, glossy leaves. Blooming occurs in mid to late spring and lasts for 2-3 weeks. Specimens that receive what they need often continue to flower year after year in the same location. Great for borders and perennial beds. Hardiness Zones: 5 - 8

There are 20 different Snowdrop species and several hundreds of hybrids. Yes, several hundreds (!). The craze known as Galanthophilia has swept through the ranks of gardening enthusiasts in the past few years. While all snowdrops look the same to the uninitiated - dainty, nodding white flowers, with a dab of green, held on a thin arching stalk at the end of a thicker stem - they reveal their differences when you take a closer look.

Native to the Iberian Peninsula, Hyacinthoides hispanica (Spanish Bluebell) is a great bulbous perennial that is easy to grow, low care and incredibly good-looking. Each bulb produces attractive, nodding, bell-shaped flowers hanging from sturdy, round flower stalks, atop clumps of glossy strap-shaped leaves. Blooming heartily from mid to late spring, Spanish Bluebell is a beautiful and reliable addition to the landscape, where it will happily multiply in optimum growing conditions. Typically forms spreading clumps up to 12-18 in tall. Hardiness Zones: 3-8

Rich and heavily fragrant, hyacinths are spring-flowering bulbs that produce gorgeous red, pink, orange, salmon, yellow, purple, white or blue spike-like flowers that mostly cover their stem with a multitude of florets or bells. Floating atop erect, lance-shaped bright green leaves, these beauties bloom once each year in early to mid spring and last about 2 weeks, depending on the weather. 

Robust and hardy, Ipheion (Spring Starflower) are small bulbous perennials with lovely star-shaped, sweet violet scented flowers borne on long slender scapes in mid to late spring. Blooming for up to 8 weeks, the dainty blossoms rise atop a cushion of narrow, pale, delicate and grass-like leaves. Regarded to be one of the easiest bulbs to grow, the plants die down in early summer and the flowers can be cut for pretty indoor decoration.

While called 'Dutch Iris', this iris never grew wild in the Netherlands. Instead, it is the product of hybridizations carried out by Dutch growers. Tall and slender, it features flowers that are 4 in. wide (10 cm) with flower stalks, surrounded by gray reed-like leaves, that are very sturdy - a quality which makes them quite suitable for use as cut flowers. The color assortment is very wide and includes bicolored varieties.

Most Muscari species are so extremely winter hardy and easy to grow that no garden should be without them. They naturalize extremely easily and will come back year after year and multiply. They come in different shades of blue, in white and even pink. An additional benefit is that all Muscari have a lovely fragrance. The more you plant, the more fragrance you get!

The most popular companion of the tulip, daffodils are spring flowering bulbs mostly known as yellow trumpet-shaped flowers. However, daffodils (Narcissus) offer a wider range of flower shapes and colors that are absolutely fabulous when combined with other spring bulbs. Long-lived, they naturalize and multiply year after year. Versatile, they are perfect for beds and borders, rock gardens, containers, or window boxes. They also make gardening easy. Once planted, there is nothing left to do: these bulbs can stay right where they are and produce flowers year after year. As an added, most are fragrant and all are deer and rodent-resistant.