Spring bulbs to plant for a blooming beautiful summer garden

With the arrival of spring just around the corner, now is the perfect time for gardeners to start planning their vibrant summer display. By planting spring bulbs now, they can ensure a stunning burst of colour, striking shapes and beautifully fragrant flowers in the months ahead. 

To help with this seasonal preparation, Emma Fell, head of horticulture at Hillier Garden Centres, has shared a guide on the best varieties to plant now for a spectacular summer show. 

Glamini 

For a fresh take on a classic garden favourite, Gladiolus Glamini are the perfect choice. These short but sturdy mini Gladiolus varieties reach around 90cm in height, making them ideal for borders, containers, or even as bouquet flowers. Blooming from July to September, they offer vivid, long-lasting colour with minimal maintenance. 

Among the best varieties are four exciting new additions to Hillier this year. Glamini Blondie, which produce soft white blooms, while Glamini Jenny boast bright orange flowers. Glamini Tina provide a beautiful purple hue, and Glamini Tom offer a rich red hue. Plant them in spring, in well-drained soil and a sunny spot. Space them 10cm deep and 30cm apart for the best display. 

Dahlia 

Few plants offer the sheer variety and impact of Dahlias, and this year Hillier is offering its largest range yet. With their lush, intricate blooms and strong stems, Dahlias bring vibrancy and drama to any garden. They love a sunny, sheltered spot and well-drained soil. Plant tubers in late spring, about 10cm deep and 60cm apart, ensuring they have space to develop. Keep the soil moist, and you’ll be rewarded with spectacular flowers from mid-summer until the first frosts. 

For deep, velvety richness, Arabian Night (£4.99) dazzles with its dark burgundy petals. Bishop of Llandaff (£4.99), a classic red dahlia with dark foliage, adds a striking contrast to borders, or for a two-tone effect, Crème De Cassis (£4.99) delivers stunning purple and soft pink blooms. 

Agapanthus 

Agapanthus is a fantastic choice for adding height and structure to the garden. Their tall, elegant stems topped with globe-like clusters of flowers make them a real showstopper. Flowering from mid to late summer, they are a fantastic long-term investment, thriving in well-drained soil and a sunny location. 

For a classic look, Agapanthus Blue (£7.99) features rich blue blooms, while Dr. Brouwer (£4.99) is a deeper blue variety with a striking presence. For a more delicate effect, Agapanthus White (£4.99) produces graceful white flowers that complement any garden setting. Plant in spring, spacing bulbs 10cm deep and 30cm apart, and enjoy their elegant display year after year. 

Lilies 

Lilies are among the most elegant and beautifully scented summer plants. With tall, graceful stems and bold, exotic-looking blooms, they thrive in well-drained soil and a sunny spot. Plant in early spring, placing bulbs 10-15cm deep and 30cm apart. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, and they will bloom in mid to late summer, filling the garden with their unmistakable fragrance. 

For those who love strong, dramatic colours, Stargazer is a must have, with vibrant, deep pink blooms. Big Smile offers a radiant touch with its white flowers and deep red flames, while Eastern Moon provides an understated elegance with shades ranging from white to pink. These varieties work beautifully in mixed borders or as standout features in pots. 

Hillier has an extensive range of bulbs available to purchase both online and in its 22 garden centres. With special offers across the bulb range, including 3 for £12.50 on all standard bulb packs and 3 for £17.50 on all large bulb packs, it’s even easier to create a stunning summer display (Offer valid while stocks last). 

For more seasonal planting tips, plus exclusive offers and expert advice, sign up to the Hillier Gardening Club today, www.hillier.co.uk/gardening-club. 

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Editors notes

“To inspire the creation of green living spaces for now and the future” Hillier is one of the leading names in the horticultural industry, with 160 years of growing and retail experience.

Founded in 1864 by Edwin Hillier, the company remains a family-run nursery with the fifth generation now actively involved in the family business as it continues to grow.

Not only is Hillier the largest producer of semi-mature trees in Europe and grower of over one million plants at its Hampshire nursery, but it also employs over 750 staff across its nursery, amenity trees and 22 garden centre divisions and is a flourishing multi-million pound company. It proudly holds the world record for the most consecutive gold medals awards at the world-famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show, with 74 wins.

As one of the leading growers in the UK, Hillier is involved in many peat-free initiatives, including the RHS Peat-Free Fellowship, the largest peat-free collaborative research project globally. The company was amongst the first nurseries to become 100% peat-free across both its production nursery and retail garden centres, and all Hillier plants are grown in peat-free compost.

Recent successes for the company include the launch of its online shop, the substantial redevelopment of Hillier Garden Centre Newbury and the acquisition of the Rosebourne Garden Centre Group in November 2022, as well as sponsorship of BBC Gardeners’ World Live and BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair, and the incredibly popular free ‘Hillier Gardening Club’ loyalty program which now has over half a million members.

Renowned for being a leading breeder of plants in the UK at its 100% peat-free nursery in Hampshire, each year Hillier introduces amazing new varieties. Many of these have become essentials in British gardens and the company continues with the tradition of innovation and the introduction of new garden plants in the present day.