Autumn-flowering bulbs to brighten your garden

As summer fades, it’s easy to think the colourful days of the garden are behind you – but autumn-flowering bulbs can offer a vibrant second act. These useful bulbs bring fresh colour to the garden just as many plants are starting to fade. Their bold flowers and striking shapes help extend interest in borders and containers well into autumn, bridging the gap between summer and winter.

When choosing the best bulbs for autumn colour, the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a helpful guide. AGM plants have been tested for performance, reliability, and ease of care in real garden conditions. In this guide, we’ll look at some of the top RHS AGM autumn-flowering bulbs to plant for long-lasting colour - whether you’re adding instant impact with bulbs in bloom or planting dry bulbs ahead of the season.

1. Colchicum (Meadow Saffron, Naked Ladies)

Colchicums are one of the best-known autumn-flowering bulbs, producing large, goblet-shaped blooms in shades of pink, lilac or white. Often called “naked ladies”, they get their nickname because the flowers appear before the leaves. Although sometimes mistaken for autumn crocuses, colchicums belong to the lily family. One simple difference is that colchicum flowers have six pollen-bearing parts in the centre (stamens), while true crocuses only have three. 

Best for: Colchicums are perfect for naturalising in informal areas of the garden. Since the flowers emerge without any leaves, they can look a little bare on their own and may flop after heavy rain. To show them at their best, plant colchicums in grass, under trees, or at the front of shaded borders where their large, leek-like leaves won’t be too conspicuous in spring. They’re a great choice for bringing autumn colour to areas that often feel empty at this time of year.

Care: Plant colchicum bulbs (technically corms) in late summer, around 15cm (6 inches) deep and spaced well apart, into well-drained soil. They grow best in full sun or partial shade with rich, leafy soil that stays cool and moist in summer but never waterlogged. An organic mulch can help conserve moisture and improve the soil. Always wear gloves when handling colchicums, as all parts of the plant are toxic if ingested or if sap contacts skin.

AGM varieties to try:

• Colchicum autumnale ‘Nancy Lindsay’: A compact variety reaching about 15cm tall, with mauve-pink flowers held on deep purple stems. One of the earliest colchicums to bloom, often producing up to five flowers per corm from late summer into early autumn.
• Colchicum speciosum ‘Album’: A more robust variety with larger flowers than C. autumnale. ‘Album’ stands out for its striking pure white blooms, growing up to 23cm (9 inches) tall.
• Colchicum ‘Waterlily’: A showy double-flowered variety with soft pink petals resembling a waterlily. Compact in size, it typically reaches around 10cm tall and makes a real statement when planted in groups.

2. Autumn-flowering crocus

Autumn-flowering crocuses showcase goblet-shaped flowers in shades of lilac-blue, often with darker throats and striking orange stigmas. A member of the iris family, they are short plants, typically no more than 10 cm (4 inches) tall. They are sometimes confused with colchicums, although colchicums have larger flowers and much larger clusters of leaves that appear after flowering. 

Best for: Autumn crocuses are perfect for rock gardens, gravel beds, or naturalising in grass.

Care: Plant corms in late summer or early autumn, in full sun or light shade, ensuring the soil is well-drained. Place them about 5-7cm deep and allow the leaves to die back naturally after flowering.

AGM varieties to try:

• Crocus speciosus (Bieberstein's Crocus): Blooming from late September to October, C. speciosus is one of the showiest and easiest crocuses to grow.
• Crocus kotschyanus/zonatus (Kotschy's Crocus): This variety has long-tubed, pale lilac flowers with yellow throats. 

3. Sternbergia lutea (Winter Daffodil, Lily of the Field)

Also known as the winter daffodil, this bulb produces bright yellow, crocus-like flowers in autumn. Unlike colchicums, Sternbergia lutea sends up its green 'daffodil' leaves at the same time as its flowers. The smell of its broken flower stalks is reminiscent of the daffodil's. It grows to around 10 cm (4 inches) tall and thrives in well-drained, sunny areas.

Best for: Ideal for rock gardens, borders, and sunny slopes where it will receive a welcome summer baking. It particularly loves free-draining sandy or chalky soils.

Care: Plant bulbs in late summer, about 15 cm (6 inches) deep and 10 cm apart, in well-drained, fertile soil in full sun. 

4. Nerine bowdenii (Guernsey Lily, Diamond Lily)

This South African beauty produces clusters of star-shaped, bright pink flowers with wavy petals atop 75 cm stems from late September to November. Nerine bowdenii is one of the few hardy nerines that can withstand UK winters. The vivid pink blooms provide a wonderful shock of colour at the end of the growing season, and they make excellent cut flowers.

Best for: Plant in borders, pots, or sheltered sunny spots. It thrives in light, sandy soil, and a south-facing wall is ideal for providing the warmth it needs to bloom.

Care: Plant bulbs in late summer with the tops just covered in well-drained soil. In colder areas, consider growing them in large pots and bringing them into a greenhouse or conservatory for winter protection.

AGM varieties to try:

• Nerine bowdenii ‘Quinton Wells’: A standout with intense pink blooms.
• Nerine bowdenii ‘Stefanie’: Another striking pink variety, known for its vigour.

5. Cyclamen hederifolium

This hardy cyclamen offers delicate, nodding pink or white flowers with marbled, ivy-like leaves that appear in autumn. It grows to about 8 cm (3 inches) tall and is perfect for adding subtle charm to shady areas.

Best for: Shady borders, woodland gardens, or areas under trees and shrubs. Cyclamen hederifolium is ideal for naturalising in dappled shade.

Care: Plant tubers in late summer or early autumn, just below the soil surface, in humus-rich, well-drained soil. Partial to full shade is best for healthy growth.

6. Amaryllis belladonna (Belladonna Lily)

Known for its large, trumpet-shaped, scented pink flowers, Amaryllis belladonna blooms from late August to October on tall, leafless stems (up to 60 cm). It adds a dramatic flair to any garden with its late-season display.

Best for: Sunny, sheltered borders or against south-facing walls where it can soak up heat and stay dry in summer, crucial for flowering.

Care: Plant bulbs in summer, ensuring they are about 15 cm deep in well-drained soil. Amaryllis belladonna thrives with minimal disturbance, so leave clumps undisturbed for many years for the best results.

7. Amarine tubergenii (Belladiva Series)

A beautiful cross between Amaryllis and Nerine, Amarine tubergenii produces stunning clusters of up to ten pink, lily-like flowers on leafless stems in autumn. The flowers are smaller than those of Amaryllis but more trumpet-shaped than Nerine, creating a striking display. These plants grow to around 45-60 cm tall.

Best for: Amarine tubergenii thrives in full sunlight and sheltered spots protected from wind and rain. They’re ideal for sunny borders or containers in warmer areas of the garden.

Care: Plant in spring in moderately fertile, well-drained soil, with the bulb tips just above the surface. In colder areas, protect the bulbs with a deep, dry mulch over winter.

AGM varieties to try:

• Amarine tubergenii ‘Anastasia’: A popular choice with pink lily-like flowers.
• Amarine tubergenii ‘Emanuelle’: Another lovely variety from the Belladiva series, featuring delicate pink blooms.

By selecting these RHS AGM-awarded autumn-flowering bulbs, you’re not only adding beauty to your garden but also choosing plants that have been rigorously tested and proven to thrive in UK conditions. Plant them in the right spots, and your garden will come alive with vibrant colour long after summer blooms have faded.