Planting Spring Bulbs 2025/26

Hyacinths in full bloom...in January!

Nurseries will start selling spring-blooming bulbs as early as August and all the way through winter, providing they do not start to grow in the dusty packaging. Here in Northern California, it is tempting to immediately plant them after purchase, but our temperate climate makes waiting more desirable. Why? Because planting daffodils, hyacinths and tulips during the fall season means they will likely start to emerge as early as November, throwing off the notion of spring blooms. It is not always the case, but our Narcissus 'Paper White' have been blooming since the fall, our Muscari have all leafed out but have the decency to wait until spring to actually bloom, and last year's transplanted Hyacinth are currently in full bloom. Timing is everything, which makes me admire designers who can orchestrate their spring bloom in time for seasonal flower shows. I, however, try to enjoy the serendipitous joy of hobby gardening.

So, how do we tempt spring-blooming bulbs to bloom in the spring? Short answer: refrigerate and wait. The most popular bulbs, including tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils, benefit from some time in the refrigerator. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, we do not receive the snowy cold of Amsterdam, so refrigeration helps their hibernation. We then plant them in the dead of winter; I usually wait until the holidays are over and mark the new beginnings of the coming year. It is a winter ritual in the garden, coupled with pruning dormant fruit trees and roses. These gardening acts help me look forward to the new year.

Emerging hyacinths

When bulbs begin to emerge, I admit to a little excitement, the counter feeling I experience on a winter solstice. Along with transplanted bulbs from last year, I recently planted pots of Narcissus 'Gloriosus' (white and orange daffodils), the aptly named Narcissus 'Regeneration' (yellow and white daffodils), and the elegant Tulipa 'Louvre Orange' (magenta and orange tulips). I potted them up for two reasons: 1) We have so many daffodils in the gardens as a gopher deterrent that I wanted to wait for them to bloom to see where there may be gaps in the defense; and 2) Said gophers love tulip bulbs, so other than the mysterious red bloomers that somehow survive in the garden untouched, we cannot plant others in the ground.

This morning, I noticed that our Narcissus 'King Alfred' and other yellow daffodils are already starting to bloom. What is their rush? We have had several frosty mornings, enough to freeze our imperial dahlia. Yet, the daffodils are unconcerned and have no patience to wake and enjoy our California sun.