Stunning Summer-Flowering Bulb Combinations

Bulb combinations are something we get asked a lot about here at Brent & Becky’s. While we’d all like to be able to effortlessly pair the perfect plants together for a garden that blooms all year long, there’s a lot that goes into deciding what to plant and where. Even the most seasoned gardener still needs a plan heading into each planting season, depending on their end game. 

When selecting bulb combinations, you will want to keep in mind whether you want them to bloom sequentially or if you want everything to be blooming at the same time. You’ll also want to consider the different conditions they prefer. Shade-tolerant plants pair best with shade-tolerant plants, plants that prefer well-draining soil are best paired together, and so on. 

We wanted to make the decision-making process a little easier for you, though. Read on for some beautiful bulb combinations, all of which pair perfectly in the garden or large containers. 

Potted Perfection

If you are looking for an explosion of color that thrives in full sun, look no further than our potted perfection combination. At the bottom, we have a short lily known officially as Lilium Matrix, which provides a pop of glorious red. 

Then, we have a South African bulb called Gloriosa Rothchildian. It is a unique, critter-proof climbing plant that has leaves that have little tendrils that curl around an object if given the opportunity. In this case, it climbs up the stiff stem of the Lily. 

Magical Meadow

Both fastigiated (tall and narrow) plants, the Kniphofia and Liatris combination brings a whimsical, almost fairy-tale like appearance to any garden it graces. Kniphofia, or the Torch Lily, has lime green buds that open to white florets and reblooms throughout the season. Kniphofias are known for their long-lasting display of dense, upright spikes that resemble glowing torches. 

The Liatris, which will attract lots of beautiful butterflies to your garden, has spikes filled with lavender blooms, making it a perfect contrast to the Torch Lily’s yellow. More commonly known as Blazing Star, this North American wildflower comes with grassy foliage and velvety-looking flowers that are soft to the touch. 

These two make a great combination for a cutting garden, or, of course, a meadow!

Dynamic Duo

This dynamic duo consists of a Japanese Fern and Oxalis regnellii var. triangularis, both of which are a beautiful addition to any shade garden. Japanese Ferns have a delicate and unique appearance. With a slight shade of purple in its leaves, it’s no surprise as to why it was the only fern ever to be chosen as the Perennial Plant of the Year. 

Paired with the ornate and intriguing variegated purple foliage of the Oxalis, sometimes known as “Purple Shamrocks,” this combination is a perfect representation of what we call a ‘Color Echo.’ The simple concept involves creating color combinations by pairing plants with similar color characteristics in their leaves, petals, or even their seed pods. 

When selecting bulb combinations, you will want to keep in mind whether you want them to bloom sequentially or if you want everything to be blooming at the same time.

These are just a few of our favorite summer-flowering bulb combinations, and we hope they help to inspire you as you start planning your garden. If you need any more plant pairing inspiration, be sure to check out our recently released summer catalogue or drop us a note, and we’d be happy to help!