There’s something quietly hopeful about planting bulbs in autumn. While the garden settles into its slower season, a few hours spent tucking bulbs into the soil is really a promise to your future self – one that arrives in spring with armfuls of colour. 

Read more: Growing and maintaining winter bulbs
From cheerful daffodils to whimsical wild tulips, the right bulbs can transform sleepy beds into a riot of petals when the first warm days return.  Here are eight favourites worth planting now for a blooming season that feels straight out of a storybook. 

1. Narcissus ‘Rip van Winkle’

This little charmer doesn’t believe in neat petals. Its soft, tousled yellow blooms look almost feathered, bringing a playful touch to borders and pots alike. It’s the kind of flower that makes you smile without trying too hard. 

2. Narcissus ‘Brackenhurst’

Bold and sunny, this daffodil arrives with bright yellow petals and a vivid orange centre. It’s cheerful in the loudest way possible – ideal if your garden could use a little extra personality after winter. 

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3. Narcissus ‘Sailboat’

Elegant and fragrant, this variety carries delicate white blooms that dance lightly in the breeze. Plant it in drifts and let it naturalise – it comes back each year, quietly multiplying the magic. 

4. Fritillaria persica

Tall, moody and dramatic, this Persian lily brings deep plum bells that rise like floral chandeliers. It’s perfect for adding height and a little theatre to spring borders. 

5. Fritillaria meleagris

This one is pure enchantment. Its delicate chequered petals look hand-painted, and planted through grass or beneath trees, it creates a wild meadow feel that bees adore. 

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6. Tulipa sylvestris

Wild tulips are delightfully understated. Their soft yellow flowers carry a subtle lemon scent, making them a lovely surprise when planted under deciduous trees or among ornamental grasses. 

7. Nectaroscordumsiculum 

A little unusual and all the better for it. Its drooping bell-shaped blooms sway on tall stems, softening garden beds and looking just as lovely cut for the vase indoors. 

8. Allium caeruleum ‘Azureum’

A favourite for good reason. Its powder-blue globe flowers hover above the garden like tiny floating lanterns, while butterflies can’t seem to stay away. Plant once, and it tends to return with even more flair each year. 

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ALSO SEE: HOW TO STORE BULBS NOW SO THEY BLOOM BETTER NEXT SPRING

How to store bulbs now so they bloom better next spring