Unusual Flower Bulbs
Looking for flower bulbs with more character than the standard choice? In this collection you'll find unusual flower bulbs with striking shapes, unexpected colours and rarer varieties. Think expressive tulip varieties, alliums, fritillaria and other seasonal specials for pots, borders or naturalistic planting. At Blom Garden, you can order selected bulb sizes and quality, with clear planting information, delivery in the right season and Bloom Guarantee.
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What makes a flower bulb unusual?
Unusual flower bulbs stand out because of their flower shape, strong colour contrasts, fragrance, history or simply a new cultivar. These can be exuberant tulips, architectural alliums or quirky fritillaria, but also refined erythronium. Often these are seasonal products or cultivars available in limited numbers, so the range changes throughout the year. That is exactly what makes these unusual bulb plants ideal as a focal point in a pot, as an accent in the border or for striking group planting.
Prefer delicate bells? Consider Leucojum (summer snowflake) as a refined alternative to snowdrops.
Unusual flower bulbs by style, position and effect
| Type | Appearance | Best position or style | Effect and combination |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parrot tulips | Flamboyant and ruffled | Pot, border, romantic garden | Lovely in groups or with softer shades around them |
| Fringed tulips | Playful and refined | Pot, modern border | Works well beside solid-coloured tulips for extra texture |
| Double tulips | Full and richly flowering | Border, pot, cutting garden | Creates a luxurious display in groups |
| Black tulips | Dark and high-contrast | Modern garden, light-coloured border | Pairs well with white, pink or lime green |
| Botanical tulips | Subtle and natural | Edge planting, pot, natural-style garden | Lovely in loose groups with a naturalising effect |
| Giant allium | Architectural and eye-catching | Border, modern garden | Repeat rhythmically for a strong line effect |
| Fritillaria | Exotic and quirky | Accent position, pot, border | Give it space so the shape really stands out |
| Camassia | Airy and natural | Naturalistic planting, border | Lovely in larger groups for a soft effect |
What to look for when buying unusual flower bulbs
- Pay attention to bulb size and firmness: sound, well-developed bulbs have more reserves and can perform more vigorously, especially in free-flowering varieties.
- Before you order, check the position, flowering height, planting season and whether a type is suitable for pots or open ground.
- Unusual flower bulbs are usually no more difficult than ordinary bulbs, but rarer or newer cultivars are often scarcer and therefore more expensive.
- At Blom Garden, you choose selected quality, clear variety information, delivery in the right season and Bloom Guarantee.
Flowering duration and annual return by type
There is no single type that always flowers the longest. You mainly get a longer season by combining cleverly: crocus flowers in February-March, daffodils in March-April, tulips in April-May and alliums in May-June. Striking show varieties often give a short but spectacular peak. For annual return, naturalising bulbs, botanical tulips, grape hyacinths, camassia and chionodoxa are often more suitable, although this also depends on drainage, feeding, position and letting the foliage die back naturally.
Planting time: when do unusual flower bulbs go into the ground?
Many unusual spring bulbs are planted from September to November, as soon as the soil cools and before prolonged frost sets in. Tulips can still go into the ground until mid-December. Unusual summer-flowering bulbs are only planted in spring, when the soil warms up and wet cold no longer poses a risk. For the right timing by type, you can always refer to our planting and care guides.
How to plant and care for unusual flower bulbs
- Plant at the right depth, often about two to three times the bulb's height, in airy and well-drained soil with the point facing up.
- Most unusual flower bulbs do not need intensive care; the right spot is more important than lots of extra work.
- Feed sparingly and, above all, avoid soil that stays wet for long periods, especially with bulbs in pots or more sensitive types.
- Protect pots and vulnerable planting during prolonged frost or winter wet, for example with mulch or a sheltered spot.
- For type-specific tips, see our care pages on tulips, alliums, fritillaria, daffodils and lilies.
Browse the range of unusual flower bulbs
Browse the range of unusual flower bulbs now, or discover all flower bulbs and filter by type, style or planting time. If you already know which direction you want to go in, choose a subtype straight away such as unusual tulips, alliums or naturalising bulbs. Select your favourites and order in good time for the right planting season.