Spring blooming bulbs have a natural sequence of flowering that is very reliable, but it can be influenced by several factors. The most unpredictable factor is the weather. Cold weather might make your bulbs bloom later than expected and warm weather can encourage them to bloom earlier. Flowering time can also be affected by where they are planted in your yard. For instance, a crocus planted in a sunny location might bloom several weeks before those you planted on a north facing slope. You can even slightly change their bloom time by the depth at which you plant the bulbs. Even though this might sound complicated and discouraging, it makes the game even more fun. If you want to, you now have several ways you can manipulate your bulbs to achieve the desired effect. Or you might just want to know when to expect the beautiful flowers to make their debut.

When choosing bulbs, somewhere on the package it should give general information as to the season of bloom. Because the bulbs are packaged and labeled to be sold in all the different hardiness zones, they don't give any specifics. But they do use a standardized system. A tulip labeled early will bloom at about the same time as an early daffodil, hyacinth or any other bulb labeled as early. Use the following lists to help when planning your spring bulb display.

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