Bulb and tuber grow guides
Bulbs and tubers guides
Allium
Grow drumstick alliums in Australia: plant bulbs 8 to 10 cm deep in autumn, keep summers dry, cut purple heads for the vase, and keep the bulbs away from pets.
Harmful to cats and dogs| Position | Full sun |
|---|---|
| Depth | 8 to 10 cm deep |
| Spacing | 10 to 15 cm |
| First flowers | Oct to Jan, by zone |
Anemone
Grow poppy anemones from corms in Australia: how long to soak, which way up, autumn planting months by zone, pots, cut flowers and keeping corms over summer.
Poisonous to people| Position | Full sun to light shade |
|---|---|
| Depth | 5 cm, pointed end down |
| Spacing | 10 to 15 cm |
| First flowers | 10 to 14 weeks from planting |
Astilbe
Grow astilbe in Australia: when to plant bare-root crowns, the moist shade it needs, watering, cutting back, dividing clumps and its weed status in each state.
| Position | Dappled or part shade |
|---|---|
| Depth | Buds at soil level |
| Spacing | 45 to 60 cm |
| First flowers | Summer, varying with variety |
Bearded Iris
Grow bearded iris in Australia: when to plant rhizomes, how shallow to set them, six-zone calendar, feeding, dividing clumps, rot, leaf spot and cut flowers.
Harmful to cats and dogs| Position | Full sun, six hours plus |
|---|---|
| Depth | Top at surface, 2 cm max |
| Spacing | 30 to 45 cm |
| First flowers | Spring, often from second year |
Belladonna Lily
Grow belladonna lilies in Australia: plant bulbs in summer with the neck showing, give full sun and no summer water, and keep the poisonous bulbs from pets.
Poisonous to people, cats and dogs| Position | Full sun, the hotter the better |
|---|---|
| Depth | Neck at or above surface |
| Spacing | About 30 cm |
| First flowers | Feb to Apr, first bud open |
Calla Lily
Grow coloured calla lilies from tubers: planting depth and timing for six zones, water and feeding, lifting and storing, pests, toxicity and the arum lily weed.
Poisonous to people, cats and dogs| Position | Full sun, hot-afternoon shade |
|---|---|
| Depth | 10 cm, rough side up |
| Spacing | 20 to 30 cm |
| First flowers | 7 to 12 weeks from planting |
Canna Lily
Grow dwarf canna lilies from rhizomes: planting depth and timing for six zones, feeding for flowers, cutting back, dividing, pests, and the weed lists by state.
| Position | Full sun |
|---|---|
| Depth | 5 to 10 cm, eyes up |
| Spacing | 30 to 90 cm |
| First flowers | 6 to 8 weeks from shooting |
Chincherinchee
Grow chincherinchee bulbs for long-lasting white cut flowers: autumn planting depth, six-zone months, weed status by state, toxicity and vase care in Australia.
Poisonous to people, cats and dogs (severe)| Position | Full sun to light shade |
|---|---|
| Depth | 8 cm, pointed end up |
| Spacing | 10 to 15 cm apart |
| First flowers | October to December from autumn planting |
Crinum
Grow crinum lilies in Australia: plant bulbs with the neck above the soil, where to site them, care through flowering, lily caterpillar control and toxicity.
Poisonous to people, cats and dogs| Position | Full sun to part shade |
|---|---|
| Depth | Neck just above soil |
| Spacing | 40 to 60 cm |
| First flowers | Nov to Apr flowers |
Crocus
Grow crocus in Australia: plant corms 10 cm deep in autumn, give them a cold winter and a dry summer rest, and let the leaves yellow before you mow or tidy.
Harmful to cats and dogs| Position | Full sun or part shade |
|---|---|
| Depth | 10 cm deep |
| Spacing | 7 to 10 cm |
| First flowers | Flowers Jul to Sep |
Daffodil
Grow daffodils in Australia: autumn planting depth, chilling bulbs for warm zones, six-zone months, care after flowering, cut flowers, bulb pests and diseases.
Poisonous to people, cats and dogs| Position | Full sun or part shade |
|---|---|
| Depth | 10 to 15 cm deep |
| Spacing | 10 to 15 cm apart |
| First flowers | Late winter to spring; about 2 months in tropics |
Daylily
Grow daylilies (Hemerocallis) in Australia: planting bare-root crowns, depth and spacing, which type suits each zone, division, pests and the warning for cats.
Harmful to cats (severe)| Position | Full sun, six hours plus |
|---|---|
| Depth | Crown at most 2.5 cm deep |
| Spacing | 40 to 60 cm |
| First flowers | Flowers in one to two seasons |
Dutch Iris
Grow Dutch iris in Australia: when to plant the bulbs in each zone, depth and spacing, chilling in warm areas, cutting stems for the vase and the summer rest.
Harmful to cats and dogs| Position | Full sun |
|---|---|
| Depth | 8 to 10 cm, tip up |
| Spacing | 8 to 15 cm |
| First flowers | August to November, by zone and planting date |
Freesia
Grow freesias in Australia: plant corms 5 to 7 cm deep in autumn, keep summers dry, support tall types, and stop garden freesias spreading into bushland.
| Position | Full sun or light shade |
|---|---|
| Depth | 5 to 7 cm deep |
| Spacing | 5 to 10 cm |
| First flowers | Jul to Nov, by variety |
Gladioli
Grow gladioli from corms in Australia: planting depth and timing for six zones, staking, feeding, cutting, lifting and storing, pests and the wild weed species.
Harmful to cats and dogs| Position | Full sun, sheltered from wind |
|---|---|
| Depth | 10 to 15 cm, flat side down |
| Spacing | 10 to 15 cm |
| First flowers | 13 to 17 weeks from planting |
Grape Hyacinth
Grow grape hyacinths in Australia: plant bulbs 5 to 10 cm deep in autumn, chill them in warm zones, and deadhead so this spreading bulb stays out of bushland.
| Position | Full sun or part shade |
|---|---|
| Depth | 5 to 10 cm deep |
| Spacing | 5 to 10 cm |
| First flowers | Jul to Oct, by zone |
Hippeastrum
Grow hippeastrums in any Australian zone: when to plant bulbs, why the neck sits above the soil, pots, feeding, frost, pests, toxicity and state weed status.
Poisonous to people, cats and dogs| Position | Full sun or dappled shade |
|---|---|
| Depth | Top third above soil |
| Spacing | About 30 cm |
| First flowers | 5 to 8 weeks |
Hyacinth
Grow hyacinth bulbs in Australia: chilling in the fridge, depth and spacing, six-zone planting months, pots and forcing glasses, cut stems and toxic bulb care.
Poisonous to people, cats and dogs| Position | Full sun to part shade |
|---|---|
| Depth | 10 to 12 cm deep |
| Spacing | 10 to 15 cm apart |
| First flowers | Late winter to spring, by zone |
Ismene
Grow ismene, the Peruvian daffodil, in Australia: planting depth and months for six zones, pots, lifting bulbs before frost, pests, toxicity and weed lists.
Poisonous to people, cats and dogs| Position | Full sun to light shade |
|---|---|
| Depth | Base 10 cm deep |
| Spacing | About 20 cm apart |
| First flowers | Flowers in summer, over about two weeks |
Ixia
Grow ixias in Australia: plant corms in autumn in full sun and free-draining soil, keep them dry over summer, and cut spent stems before they seed in bushland.
| Position | Full sun |
|---|---|
| Depth | 5 cm deep |
| Spacing | 5 to 10 cm |
| First flowers | Sep to Dec, by zone |
Jonquil
Grow scented jonquils in every Australian zone: autumn planting months, bulb depth by climate, chilling for the tropics, care after flowering, pests and safety.
Poisonous to people, cats and dogs| Position | Full sun or part shade |
|---|---|
| Depth | 5 to 18 cm, by climate |
| Spacing | 10 to 20 cm |
| First flowers | Midwinter to mid-spring, by district |
Kniphofia
Grow red hot pokers (Kniphofia) in Australia: when to plant crowns, the free-draining soil they need, cutting back, dividing clumps and weed status by state.
| Position | Full sun for best flowers |
|---|---|
| Depth | Crown at soil level |
| Spacing | 60 to 90 cm |
| First flowers | Late spring to autumn |
Leucojum
Grow snowflakes (Leucojum) in Australia: plant bulbs in autumn, 5 to 10 cm deep, in moist soil and part shade, let the leaves wither, and keep bulbs from pets.
Poisonous to people, cats and dogs| Position | Full sun to part shade |
|---|---|
| Depth | 5 to 10 cm deep |
| Spacing | 5 to 15 cm, by type |
| First flowers | Mar-May or Jul-Sep, by type |
Liatris
Grow liatris corms in Australia: planting depth and months for six zones, free-draining soil, pots, cutting and drying the spikes, pests and state weed lists.
| Position | Full sun |
|---|---|
| Depth | 5 to 10 cm deep |
| Spacing | 30 to 38 cm apart |
| First flowers | About 10 to 13 weeks |
Lilium
Grow true lilies from bulbs in Australia: planting depth and timing for six zones, chilling, staking, feeding, cut flowers, pests and the danger to cats.
Harmful to cats (severe)| Position | Sun, with hot-afternoon shade |
|---|---|
| Depth | 10 to 15 cm |
| Spacing | 20 to 30 cm |
| First flowers | Late spring to late summer |
Lily Of The Valley
Grow lily of the valley in Australia: plant pips in winter in moist shade, chill them in mild districts, keep the spread in check and know it is poisonous.
Poisonous to people, cats and dogs (severe)| Position | Part to full shade |
|---|---|
| Depth | Pip tip at soil level |
| Spacing | 15 to 20 cm |
| First flowers | Spring, after a slow first year |
Lycoris
Grow golden and red spider lilies in Australia: plant Lycoris bulbs in late summer with the neck at the surface, keep them dry in summer, cut stems in autumn.
Poisonous to people, cats and dogs| Position | Full sun to part shade |
|---|---|
| Depth | Neck level with soil surface |
| Spacing | 15 to 30 cm apart |
| First flowers | Late summer to autumn |
Nerine
Grow nerines in Australia: plant bulbs in summer with the neck above the soil, keep them dry while resting, leave clumps crowded and cut pink autumn flowers.
Poisonous to people, cats and dogs| Position | Full sun or morning sun |
|---|---|
| Depth | Neck at or above soil |
| Spacing | 5 to 10 cm |
| First flowers | Autumn, as first flowers open |
Peacock Iris
Grow peacock iris in Australia: plant corms in autumn in sun and free-draining soil, water in winter, keep them dry in summer and cut stems before they seed.
Poisonous to people, cats and dogs| Position | Full sun or light shade |
|---|---|
| Depth | 3 cm deep |
| Spacing | 10 cm apart |
| First flowers | Jul to Oct, by zone |
Peony
Grow peonies in Australia: plant bare-root crowns in autumn with the eyes shallow, pick a cold-winter spot, stake, disbud, cut blooms and check weed status.
| Position | Full sun, sheltered from wind |
|---|---|
| Depth | Eyes 2 to 3 cm deep |
| Spacing | 90 cm to 1 m |
| First flowers | Late spring, from year two |
Pineapple Lily
Grow pineapple lily bulbs (Eucomis) in Australia: spring planting depth and spacing, six-zone months, summer water, winter rest, pots and long vase life.
| Position | Full sun to light shade |
|---|---|
| Depth | Tip at or below soil |
| Spacing | 25 to 30 cm apart |
| First flowers | Late summer to autumn, by zone |
No guides match.