October 2, 2026
Naturalizing Bulbs
Did You Know? Some fall bulbs are not only perennial but expandable! Daffodil, narcissus, crocus, snowdrop, grape hyacinth, allium, and even some tulips are “naturalizing” bulbs, meaning that they can remain in the garden beds for years AND multiply with each blooming season. What a great way to enjoy stunning spring colours without having to dig and plant new bulbs every fall!
A naturalizing bulb is a reliable producer, able to offer more beautiful blooms each year as they increase both their footprint and their bud count. It’s a win-win relationship: they get to enjoy stable root production and a healthy home environment, and you get to enjoy gorgeous colours every spring without having to dig and plant every fall! Give yourself a break from the shovel and add naturalizing bulbs to your garden beds!
Read on to discover some of our favourite naturalizing fall bulbs. They all prefer full sun locations with well-drained soil; allow their foliage to brown/die back naturally once they’re done flowering to absorb energy for next year.
Daffodils / Narcissus
These bright and sunny blooms are just what we all need after months of winter! The central “cups” are surrounded by lush petals, and can be smooth or frilly, solid or bicoloured. They can have large blooms on thick stems such as ‘King Alfred’, or dense clumps of tiny flowers on delicate stalks like ‘Tete a Tete’. And bonus: squirrels don’t like them! (In case you’re curious, “Narcissus” is the botanical name for the plant family, and “Daffodil” is a member of the family).
Snowdrops
Adorable and super early bloomers! You can see these cute white blooms as soon as the snowbanks start to melt, with their nodding heads signaling the start of a new season. Their minute size means that they’re super easy to pop into gardens and borders; many gardeners will even add them directly into their lawns for an early spring surprise!
Allium (Flowering Onion)
On the other side of the scale, there’s the towering allium! Tall, slender stalks are topped with huge clusters of tiny star-shaped blooms, making your garden look like it’s covered in giant pom poms! Allium typically flower a bit later in the season, making them an amazing addition to the backs and middle sections of sunny borders. And being a part of the onion/garlic family means that squirrels and other critters hate their taste and smell. Belgian also carries several dwarf allium varieties in spring into early summer – you can find them in the Perennial Centre!
Species (Botanical) Tulips
To say the tulip world is vast is an understatement! And most of them will give you 1 or 2 years of showstopping colour before they run out of energy and need replacing, unless they’re a Species/Botanical Tulip! They’re much shorter than they’re hybrid cousins: Species Tulips will reach an average height of 4 to 6” though some varieties can go all the way up to 10” making them perfect for sunny garden borders. Their pointed petals and soft colour combinations are a welcome sight after a long cold winter, and they add a layered effect when paired with taller hybrid varieties.
Crocus (including Fall Crocus)
Did you know that the spring flowering Crocus is a symbol of hope and endurance? Seeing their adorable cup-shaped blooms bursting through the first spring thaw certainly fills us with hope of a new (and warmer) season! They often line garden borders and walkways as a welcome banner into spring; some even plant them in their lawns for an early burst of colour! Have you heard of Fall Flowering Crocus? It also “falls” into the naturalizing bulb category. There’s an old wives’ tale that says the fall flowering crocus will bloom exactly six weeks before the first snowfall, but we’ll just ignore that superstition.
Muscari (Grape Hyacinth)
So adorable! The small flower spikes are covered in rounded florets that give them their “grape” namesake, available in shades of blue, purple, pink, and white. The grass-like green foliage is perfect for lining sunny borders or even adding into your lawn! Make sure they have well-drained soil and lots of sunlight to show off those clusters of colour; some varieties even have a light fragrance!
Hyacinth
The Hyacinth is a borderline naturalizing bulb; they will multiply but at a slower rate than others. They are also perennial and will live in the garden bed for years, producing gorgeous and fragrant blooms every spring! Their flower spikes are tightly packed with small blooms in a variety of vibrant shades and are perfect for borders and cut flower arrangements. Be sure to give them plenty of sun and good drainage.
Fall Bulbs in the Lawn?
Yes! You can absolutely add smaller varieties of fall bulbs into your lawn! They’ll grow and bloom early in the season before you need to worry about lawncare and will be done flowering in time for the year’s first grass cutting. Simply mow over them and you’ll have them deadheaded in no time!
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