Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Bridging the Gap with Late-Spring Bulbs
- Hardy Perennials That Follow Tulips
- Using Foliage to Camouflage Fading Bulbs
- Summer Bulbs for Continuous Color
- Simple Rules for Garden Succession
- Planning Your Planting Schedule
- Creating a Color Palette That Works
- Managing the Transition Phase
- Safety in the Garden
- Conclusion
- FAQ
Introduction
There is nothing quite like the excitement of seeing those first tulip sprouts poke through the soil after a long winter. Their bold colors and elegant shapes are the highlight of the spring landscape. However, because each tulip variety only blooms for a few weeks, many gardeners find themselves wondering how to keep that beauty going once the petals begin to fall.
At Longfield Gardens, we believe every yard should have a succession of blooms that lasts from the first thaw until the final frost. Planning for the "after-tulip" phase is the secret to a garden that feels vibrant and intentional all season long. This guide is for home gardeners who want to bridge the gap between spring bulbs and summer perennials with ease.
By choosing the right mix of late-spring bulbs and early-summer flowers, you can create a seamless transition in your garden beds. Whether you are working with a small patio container or a sprawling backyard border, the right plant choices make all the difference. Success in the garden comes down to matching the right plants to your space and timing your plantings for a nonstop show.
Bridging the Gap with Late-Spring Bulbs
As your mid-season tulips begin to fade, a new group of flower bulbs is ready to take the stage. These "bridge" plants are essential because they bloom during the transition from the cool days of spring to the warmer onset of early summer.
The Magic of Alliums
Alliums are often the most popular choice for following tulips. These members of the onion family are famous for their whimsical, globe-shaped flower heads that sit atop tall, sturdy stems. Because they bloom in late May and June, they perfectly overlap with late-tulip varieties.
One of the best things about alliums is their unique silhouette. While tulips provide a classic cup shape, alliums add architectural interest with their round "pom-pom" look. Varieties like 'Purple Sensation' offer a deep violet hue that looks stunning when planted behind fading pink or white tulips. If you want a real showstopper, larger varieties like 'Globemaster' produce flower heads that can be as large as a volleyball.
Alliums are also practical. They are generally resistant to deer and rodents, which often leave them alone due to their faint onion scent. This makes them a reliable choice for gardens where wildlife might otherwise be a challenge.
Spanish Bluebells for Shady Spots
If your tulips are planted in a part-of-the-yard that gets dappled shade, Spanish Bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica) are an excellent successor. These bulbs are incredibly hardy and produce clusters of bell-shaped flowers in shades of blue, pink, and white.
Spanish Bluebells are known for their ability to naturalize. This means they will come back year after year and slowly spread, creating a lush carpet of color. They typically bloom just as the tulips are finishing, providing a soft, romantic look to the garden floor. They are particularly effective when planted under deciduous trees, where they can soak up the sun before the trees fully leaf out.
Dutch Iris for Elegance
Dutch Irises offer a sophisticated look with their orchid-like blooms and slender stems. They usually begin blooming in late spring, bridging the weeks between tulips and the arrival of summer perennials. Their color palette includes striking blues, purples, yellows, and crisp whites.
These flowers are a favorite for cutting gardens. If you enjoy bringing fresh bouquets into your home, Dutch Irises are a must-have. They are easy to tuck into existing beds because they take up very little horizontal space. Their upright habit allows them to grow between other plants without crowding.
Key Takeaway: Alliums, Spanish Bluebells, and Dutch Irises are the primary "succession bulbs" that fill the time gap immediately after tulips finish their display.
Hardy Perennials That Follow Tulips
While bulbs provide the initial bursts of color, hardy perennials are the long-term residents of your garden that provide structure and reliability. Several classic perennials are timed perfectly to begin their show just as the tulip season ends.
Peonies: The Queen of the Late-Spring Garden
Few plants can rival the sheer beauty and fragrance of a peony in full bloom. Peonies are the quintessential late-spring perennial. Their massive, multi-petaled flowers often start opening just as the last of the late-blooming tulips are dropping their petals.
Peonies are long-lived plants that can thrive in the same spot for decades. They come in three main forms: single, semi-double, and double (often called "bomb" types). Varieties like 'Festiva Maxima' offer classic white blooms with small flecks of crimson, while others provide shades of coral, pink, and deep red.
When planting peonies near tulips, give them plenty of space. Peonies grow into substantial shrubs by mid-summer, and their bushy foliage is excellent for hiding the yellowing leaves of your spent tulip bulbs.
Bearded Iris and Siberian Iris
Irises are a diverse group of plants, but the Bearded and Siberian varieties are the stars of the post-tulip garden. Bearded Irises are known for their "beards" (fuzzy strips on the lower petals) and an incredible range of colors, including bicolors that look almost painted.
Siberian Irises are slightly more delicate in appearance, with grassy foliage and elegant blooms that held high on wiry stems. They are exceptionally hardy and can handle moister soil than many other iris types. Both types offer a vertical element to the garden that contrasts beautifully with the rounded shapes of peonies or alliums.
Columbine (Aquilegia)
Columbine is a charming, airy perennial that feels right at home in a cottage-style garden. Its unique, spurred flowers come in a rainbow of colors and often feature two-tone combinations. Columbine typically blooms in May and June, making it a perfect partner for the transition period.
These plants are relatively short-lived as individuals, but they often self-seed, meaning new plants will pop up to take their place. They are excellent for filling in gaps in a border where bulbs have finished blooming.
Using Foliage to Camouflage Fading Bulbs
One of the most common questions we hear is what to do with the tulip leaves once the flowers are gone. It is important to leave the foliage alone until it turns yellow and brittle. This is because the leaves are still working to gather energy through photosynthesis, which is stored in the bulb to fuel next year's flowers.
The best way to handle this "messy" phase is to use companion plants with bold foliage that will grow up and over the fading tulips. For more guidance, see this article on what to plant on top of tulip bulbs.
Hostas: The Ultimate Coverage
Hostas are perhaps the best plants for hiding spent bulb foliage. They emerge from the ground as small spikes while tulips are blooming. As the tulips fade, the hosta leaves unfurl into broad, overlapping mounds of green, gold, or blue-tinted foliage.
Large varieties of hostas can easily cover a large patch of tulips. This "living umbrella" keeps your garden looking tidy and protects the soil from drying out too quickly during the summer. Hostas thrive in shade to part-shade, making them perfect companions for bulbs planted under trees.
Daylilies (Hemerocallis)
Daylilies have strappy, grass-like foliage that looks very similar to the leaves of many spring bulbs. This similarity allows them to blend in perfectly. As the tulip leaves begin to flop and turn yellow, the vigorous green growth of the daylilies takes over.
Daylilies are "tough-as-nails" perennials that bloom in early to mid-summer. By planting them among your tulips, you ensure that the area remains green and lush throughout the transition. Once the daylilies start blooming in July, the tulips will be completely dormant and out of sight.
Catmint (Nepeta)
Catmint is a drought-tolerant perennial that produces a low mound of grayish-green foliage and spikes of lavender-blue flowers. It has a sprawling habit that is excellent for softening the edges of a garden bed. If you plant catmint in front of your tulips, its stems will naturally lean over and hide the base of the bulbs as they go dormant.
What to do next:
- Identify the areas in your garden where tulips currently leave a "bare spot" after blooming.
- Choose 1–2 foliage plants like hostas or daylilies to plant in those gaps this season.
- Leave tulip foliage in place until it is completely yellow to ensure blooms for next year.
Summer Bulbs for Continuous Color
If you want to keep the "bulb look" going all the way into autumn, you can plant summer-blooming bulbs. These are typically planted in the spring, around the same time your tulips are finishing their show.
Lilies: Asiatic and Oriental
Lilies are the true successors to the spring bulb season. Asiatic lilies are the first to bloom, usually in June or early July. They offer upward-facing flowers in bright, saturated colors. They are generally shorter and bloom earlier than their Oriental cousins.
Oriental lilies, such as the famous 'Casa Blanca' or 'Stargazer' types, bloom later in the summer (July and August). They are prized for their intense fragrance and massive, flared petals. By planting a mix of Asiatic and Oriental lilies, you can have lily blooms for nearly two months.
Dahlias for Late-Season Impact
Dahlias are the champions of the late-summer and autumn garden. While they don't bloom immediately after tulips, they are often planted in the garden while the tulips are still active. Dahlias grow throughout the early summer and begin blooming in July or August, continuing until the first frost.
Because dahlias come in so many sizes—from tiny "pom-pon" types to massive "dinnerplate" varieties—they can fill almost any role in the garden. They are excellent for filling the space where early spring bulbs have gone dormant.
Gladiolus for Height
Gladiolus produce tall spikes of trumpet-shaped flowers that add a dramatic vertical element to the garden. You can plant gladiolus corms in "succession" by planting a handful every two weeks from late spring through early summer. This ensures that you have fresh spikes of color from mid-summer well into the fall.
Simple Rules for Garden Succession
Achieving a nonstop display of flowers doesn't have to be complicated. Most gardening success comes from following a few basic principles that focus on what the plants need to thrive.
Right Plant, Right Place
When choosing what to plant after your tulips, consider the light and soil in that specific spot. Tulips generally prefer full sun and well-draining soil. If you follow them with a plant that needs deep shade or soggy soil, neither will perform at their best. Match the successor's needs to the environment your tulips already enjoy.
Timing is Everything
The most common mistake is waiting too long to plant the "next act." For the best results, perennials like peonies and irises should be planted in the fall (alongside your tulips) or in the early spring. Summer bulbs like dahlias should go into the ground as soon as the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up to about 60°F.
Give Them Space to Breathe
It can be tempting to pack plants tightly together for an instant full look. However, plants need room for air to circulate around their leaves to prevent disease. When planting perennials to hide tulip foliage, follow the spacing recommendations on the plant tag. The foliage will fill in faster than you think.
Water Correctly
Most spring bulbs prefer to stay relatively dry while they are dormant in the summer. When you plant successors like daylilies or catmint, they will help soak up excess moisture from the soil. When watering your summer flowers, aim for the base of the plant rather than spraying the entire bed. This keeps the water where the roots need it and helps prevent rot in the dormant bulbs below.
Planning Your Planting Schedule
Creating a garden that blooms in waves requires a little bit of calendar planning. Here is a simple breakdown of how to time your plantings for the best results. Use the Hardiness Zone Map to help plan for your climate.
Fall (September to November)
This is the primary planting season for most of the flowers mentioned in this guide.
- Plant your tulips, alliums, and Dutch irises.
- This is also the best time to plant or divide peonies and irises.
- Getting these in the ground in the fall allows them to establish roots before the winter freeze.
Early Spring (March to April)
As the ground thaws, you can begin adding perennials.
- Plant hostas, daylilies, and columbine.
- If you didn't plant them in the fall, many perennials are available in containers at this time.
- This is also when you will see your first tulips emerging.
Late Spring (May)
As your tulips are at their peak or just beginning to fade, it is time for the summer bulbs.
- Plant dahlia tubers and gladiolus corms.
- Tuck in annuals like pansies or snapdragons to provide immediate color while the perennials are still growing.
Key Takeaway: A beautiful garden is a marathon, not a sprint. By planting in phases throughout the year, you ensure that as one group of flowers finishes, the next is already rising to take its place.
Creating a Color Palette That Works
When choosing what flowers bloom after tulips, you can either stick to a single color theme or create a vibrant contrast.
The Harmonious Look
If you love a calm, serene garden, choose successors in the same color family as your tulips. For example, if you have pink and white tulips, follow them with pink peonies, white alliums, and purple catmint. This creates a soft transition that feels very natural.
The High-Contrast Look
For a garden that "pops," choose complementary colors. Yellow daffodils and tulips look incredible when followed by deep purple irises or blue Spanish bluebells. The contrast between yellow and purple is one of the most classic and striking combinations in gardening.
The "White Garden"
A white garden is a sophisticated choice that looks especially beautiful in the evening. Start with white tulips, follow with 'Mt. Everest' white alliums, white peonies, and eventually white Oriental lilies. This provides a clean, elegant look that lasts all season.
Managing the Transition Phase
The period between late May and mid-June is often the trickiest for home gardeners. This is when the tulips are done, but the summer perennials haven't quite reached their peak.
Using Annuals as Fillers
If you have a gap that your perennials haven't filled yet, annuals are your best friend. Plants like Petunias, Lantana, or Zinnias can be tucked into small spaces. They provide instant color and will bloom continuously until the fall. They are also useful for filling containers where bulbs have finished.
Mulching for a Tidy Look
A fresh layer of organic mulch, like shredded bark or compost, can do wonders for a transitioning garden. It covers the bare soil where bulbs have gone dormant and provides a clean, uniform backdrop for the emerging perennials. Mulch also helps retain moisture and suppress weeds, making your summer garden much easier to maintain.
Safety in the Garden
While gardening is a rewarding and healthy activity, it is important to remember that some common garden plants can be toxic if ingested by pets or children.
- Alliums and lilies are known to be toxic to cats and dogs.
- Foxgloves and certain types of iris can also be harmful.
- Always check the toxicity of a plant before adding it to your yard if you have curious pets or small children.
Keep your bulbs stored in a safe, cool place before planting, as they can sometimes be mistaken for onions by pets. At Longfield Gardens, we want your gardening experience to be both beautiful and safe for the whole family.
Conclusion
Creating a garden that stays in bloom long after the tulips have faded is one of the most satisfying parts of being a gardener. By selecting a mix of late-spring bulbs like alliums, hardy perennials like peonies, and summer-blooming favorites like lilies, you can enjoy a continuous parade of color in your yard. Remember that the "messy" foliage of your tulips is just a sign that they are preparing for next year’s show, and with the right companion plants, you can easily camouflage it.
At Longfield Gardens, we are here to help you succeed. Whether you are choosing your first set of bulbs or looking to expand an established border, focusing on the basics of timing and placement will yield the best results. Gardening is a journey of discovery, and every season offers a new opportunity to learn what works best in your unique soil and climate. Learn more about growing spring bulbs in containers if you are working with a patio or small-space garden.
Next Steps for a Beautiful Garden:
- Plan your succession: Choose at least one late-spring bulb and one early-summer perennial to add to your garden.
- Shop early: Many popular varieties of peonies and alliums sell out quickly during the planting season.
- Stay patient: Some perennials, like peonies, may take a season or two to fully establish, but the wait is well worth the reward.
FAQ
What is the single best flower to plant right next to tulips?
Daylilies are often considered the best companion for tulips. Their foliage emerges early enough to blend with the tulip leaves, and as the tulips fade, the daylilies grow large enough to completely hide the dormant bulbs. Plus, they offer beautiful blooms in mid-summer.
Can I plant summer bulbs like dahlias in the same spot where my tulips just finished?
Yes, you can plant dahlias in the same bed, but be careful not to dig up the tulip bulbs. It is best to plant the dahlias in the gaps between your tulip clusters. This way, the dahlias will fill the vertical space while the tulips are resting underground for the summer.
Why didn't my alliums bloom after my tulips this year?
Alliums, like all bulbs, need a period of cold to bloom. If they were planted too late in the spring or if the winter was unusually warm, they may only produce leaves. Another common reason is that the bulbs were planted in a spot that doesn't get enough sunlight; most alliums need at least 6 hours of direct sun to flower well.
Is it okay to move my tulips to make room for other flowers?
It is best to wait until the foliage has completely turned yellow before moving tulip bulbs. If you move them while the leaves are still green, you interrupt the energy-storing process, and the bulbs may not bloom next year. If you must move them, try to take a large clump of soil with the roots and foliage intact.