I love finding new ways to make my garden personal, so I'm always delighted to discover more birth month plants I can grow. With spring fast-approaching, my latest obsession is birth month bulbs.
Just like your birth month flower, there's a beautiful bulb for your birth month. But, these 12 bulbs aren't a definitive list. Rather, the Gardens team here at Homes & Gardens have expertly curated it based on when different bulbs are flowering or need planting.
The best part is you can easily grow all 12 in your yard for year-round color, so keep reading to discover your birth month bulb and tips to add it to your flower beds.
12 Beautiful Birth Month Bulbs
If you want a flourishing flower garden, why not challenge yourself to grow all 12 birth month bulbs?
Better yet, gift them to loved ones so they can enjoy a floral display on their birthday – a gift that keeps on giving.
There's no better birth month bulb for January than snowdrops. These are some of the earliest blooming bulbs in the year, often emerging through snow and reminding us that spring is right around the corner. It's best to plant snowdrops in fall, or you can plant snowdrops 'in the green' once the flowers fade in spring.
In February, you might start to spot crocus flowers. These low-growing, bright flowers are a great naturalizing bulb, creating a colorful carpet of purple, white, and yellow blooms in your yard. Plant crocus in fall for spring flowering, ensuring they're 2-4" apart.
There are so many narcissus varieties to choose from, with the earliest ones (like 'February Gold' above) appearing in late winter. These spring staples are undeniably joyful, especially when planted en masse. Or, plant daffodils in pots in fall for charming spring containers.
Another spring garden staple, tulips are the birth month bulb for April. There really is a type of tulip for everyone, from fringed tulip varieties to classic single varieties. For the best tulip display, plant tulip bulbs in fall with the pointed edge facing upwards. They generally do best in a full sun position.
One of the best purple plants is the allium. These spherical beauties are pollinator-magnets, coming in a wide range of shades and sizes. 'Purple Sensation' is one of the most impressive, with flowerheads measuring 3-4" in diameter. Plant alliums in fall for a spring and summer display.
With tall stems and showy blooms that are on full display by June, oriental lily makes the perfect birth month bulb for this month. There are endless types or oriental lily to choose from, suiting a wide range of garden color schemes. Pictured above is the striking 'Viva la Vida' lily. You can plant bulbs in both fall and early spring, with the former offering a longer time for roots to establish.
In July, crocosmia brings fiery hues to flower borders, often reaching over five feet tall with elegant arching stems. It actually comes from a corm that lands on the list of perennial 'bulbs' to plant in spring. The good news is crocosmia is hardy and doesn't need to be lifted for winter, so simply plant once and enjoy a returning display every year. Though, it can be wise to divide these plants every few years to avoid overcrowding.
Gladiolus is the obvious birth month bulb for August, as its also one of August's two birth month flowers. Coming in a whole range of colors, they make valuable additions to cut flower gardens. After gladioli flower, it can be a good idea to lift and store the bulbs (technically corms), as these tender perennials won't survive freezing winters.
Canna lilies are summer-blooming bulbs (technically rhizomes) that put on a display into fall. They come in a whole range of colors, but one of the most striking is 'Pretoria' (pictured above) with its variegated foliage and orange flowers. They're best planted in a full sun position, encouraging vibrant flowers and foliage.
There's lots of choice when it comes to bulbs to plant in October, including a spring staple: hyacinths. Getting these bulbs in the ground in fall will reward you with a beautiful display of blooms with clusters of bell-shaped florets. You can grow hyacinths in pots particularly well because they require plenty of drainage.
Muscari is one of the best miniature bulbs you can grow. There's still time in November to plant them for a charming spring display, looking particularly pretty when planted as a cluster in pots. They're sometimes referred to as 'grape hyacinth' because their appearance is reminiscent of hyacinths, just in smaller form.
For December, the birth month bulb has to be one of the best indoor bulbs to force for Christmas: amaryllis. During the dark days of winter, these bright red blooms brighten interiors, often reaching impressive heights of 18-36" tall. You can give your amaryllis some attention in January to get it to bloom again before storing amaryllis bulbs. Use a kit like this one to grow an amaryllis indoors with ease.
You don't need a garden to enjoy these birth month bulbs, you can grow many bulbs in water on your windowsill indoors, too.
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This stainless steel bulb planter tool helps cut precise holes for bulb planting, it has a wooden handle and depth marker.
