Summer bulbs for a pot

Alstroemerias

The  Alstroemeria, also known as the Inca Lily, is valued for its exotic appearance. Its colourful trumpet-shaped flowers, often bicoloured or striated, resemble a multitude of butterflies. Its exceptional long flowering period extends from late May to October, even November. This makes it perfect for enhancing terraces or balconies throughout the beautiful season. Its flowering stems are also highly appreciated by florists for their long vase life. The Inca lilies prefer a semi-shaded position.

Somewhat tender, they are sensitive to winter frosts. In regions with harsh winters, pots should be stored in a sheltered place to protect the tubercles during winter.

The colour palette of these Lilies ranges from cream white to deep pink, including red, orange, and purple. Here are some of the most remarkable varieties:

• The Alstroemeria ‘Duchesses Béatrice’ features a flowering in soft pastel white and pink tones. The petals of its barely pink flowers are marked by a pink midline and beautifully striped with rose-brown.
• The Alstroemeria ‘Inca Pulse’ adds vitality to a pot with its red and yellow flowers, speckled with brown. This brings a lovely touch of exoticism to a terrace.
• The Alstroemeria Inticancha ‘Sunday’ boasts splendid flowers that are both exotic and vibrant, in lilac pink with a yellow centre and brown spots.
• The Alstroemeria ‘Mauve Majesty’ stands out for its good hardiness, as well as its mauve pink flowers, slightly maculate with cream and splashed with purple.
• The Alstroemeria aurea ‘Orange King’ is a large variety that can reach 80 cm in height. It bears bright orange flowers, touched with yellow and striped with brown.

→ Discover more varieties of Alstroemeria.

Alstroemeria Inticancha ‘Sunday’, Alstroemeria ‘Inca Pulse’ and Alstroemeria Inticancha ‘Sunday’

Calla Lilies

The Arums, also known as “Calla”, are valued for their elegant funnel-shaped flowers. Their lush, glossy green leaves also add a touch of exoticism to a terrace or balcony. The large flowers typically bloom from May to September. Depending on the variety, they can reach heights of between 30 cm and 1.5 m. Note that smaller arums are better suited for pot cultivation. They thrive in sunny or semi-shaded locations, as long as the substrate remains cool and moist.

Indeed, arums cannot tolerate drought or winter cold. Therefore, it is essential to protect the pot from frost during the cold season. This plant, which is somewhat demanding, will require care, but it will reward you with its beauty.

Depending on the variety, the flowers, known as spathes, can be white, yellow, pink, orange, red, dark purple, or variegated. Here are some lovely examples:

• The Arum ‘Schwartzwalder’, also known as Black Arum, stands out with its deep purple, almost black flowers. Its small size is perfect for pot cultivation.
• The Arum Solfatare is a small Calla. Its lemon-yellow flowering adds a sunny touch to a terrace or balcony.
• The Arum ‘Captain Melrose’ will bring softness to a pot with its elegant flowers in a delicate pink hue.
• The Calla ‘Captain Murano’ is a small variety that adds vibrancy to a pot with its dark orange flowers, heavily tinged with carmine red.
• The Zantedeschia aethiopica or White Arum is a beautiful calla with white flowers, reaching up to 1 m in height. It should be grown in a large pot or container.

→ Discover all our varieties of Arums

→ Check out our tips for growing an arum in a pot.

Arum ‘Captain Murano’, Arum ‘Captain Melrose‘ and Arum ‘Schwartzwalder’

Begonias

Begonias provide abundant flowering for a balcony or semi-shaded terrace throughout the summer. Depending on the variety, the flowers can be white, but also very colourful, ranging from pink to red, including yellow and salmon orange. They are also notable for their decorative leaves, which are rounded, fleshy, and glossy, in shades of green, bronze, or purple. Easy to grow, begonias quickly enhance a planter or hanging basket.

This is a frost-sensitive plant that cannot withstand negative temperatures. Begonias can be brought indoors during winter, in a bright room, to enjoy their beauty for longer. It is also possible to store the tubercles away from light and moisture in some turf.

Certainly, begonias are very popular, but do you know these remarkable varieties:

• The Trailing Begonias pendulata ‘odorata’ are a mix of three cultivars with large, very double flowers. The vibrant flowers can be white with a pink reverse, bright pink, or light red. Their uniqueness comes from their light fragrance, which is rare among begonias.
• The Begonia pendula ‘White’ is a charming trailing variety, perfect for decorating a hanging basket or planter with its cascade of large, usually double, white flowers. Note that this cultivar is also available in yellow, orange, or pink mixed with white.
• The Begonia ‘Bertinii’ offers a multitude of light, trailing red flowers that continuously renew throughout the summer. Its flowers have pointed petals and can be single or double. This begonia is easy to grow in pots and tolerates minor watering neglect.
• The Begonia grandiflora ‘Pink’ features large, beautiful double flowers in bright pink. Its flowering resembles that of camellias. Its cushion-like shape with fleshy foliage beautifully decorates a trough or pot.
• The Begonia crispa ‘Marginata White-Red’ stands out with its large, frilled flowers, featuring white petals edged in burgundy.

→ Discover more beautiful varieties of Begonia bulbs

→ Check out our tips for creating a Begonia planter or a hanging Begonia display

Trailing Begonias pendulata ‘odorata’, Begonia crispa ‘Marginata White-Red’, and Begonia grandiflora ‘Pink’

Dahlias

With thousands of varieties around the world, Dahlias offer an incredible range of shapes, heights, and colours. In the garden, they are highly valued for their long flowering period, which can extend from June to October without fading. The flowers are often compared to those of camellias, anemones, cacti, or peonies. In recent years, Dahlias have made a comeback to decorate cottage or English gardens, exotic beds, as well as terraces and balconies. One can choose from the shorter varieties, such as dwarf Dahlias or semi-dwarfs for pot cultivation.

Not very hardy, their pot cultivation allows for storage over winter, enabling the dahlias to be preserved from one year to the next. They should be kept in a dry place, protected from frost. The pot can be brought out or the bulbs replanted once the risk of frost has passed.

From the most modern to the most classic, from the most extravagant to the most discreet, whether small or very large, here is a small selection of this bulbous plant with exceptional flowering:

• The landscape Dahlia ‘Priceless Pink’ stands out for the originality of its semi-double flowers, with white petals edged in bright pink. They bloom from July to October.
• The dwarf Dahlia ‘Gallery Art Deco’ produces magnificent flowers in salmon orange with a carmine reverse, which can be admired from July to October.
• The dwarf cactus Dahlia ‘Aspen’ is an original variety thanks to its curious large flowers with undulating and curled petals. Additionally, they offer a beautiful gradient of pure white on the outside, fading to a yellow-green white at the centre.
• The collarette Dahlia ‘Alstergruss’ brings dynamism to a terrace or balcony with its large colourful flowers. Each flower consists of bright orange petals, adorned with a central crown of tiny yellow petals, enveloping a heart of gold.

→ Discover our other varieties of dwarf Dahlias.

→ Discover our tips for growing Dahlias in pots.

Landscape Dahlia ‘Priceless Pink’, Dwarf Dahlia ‘Gallery Art Deco’, Dwarf cactus Dahlia ‘Aspen’ and Collarette Dahlia ‘Alstergruss’

Canna lilies

Cannas are highly valued for their vibrant and colourful summer flowering, which adds an exotic touch to the garden. Their foliage is equally decorative and exotic, displaying green or purple hues, often beautifully striated. The larger varieties will be majestic in open ground, while in pots, dwarf cannas are much more suitable. These are vigorous and resilient plants that quickly enhance a container on a terrace or balcony. To flower well, cannas require a warm, sunny position. It is also important to ensure that the substrate remains slightly moist at all times, without ever drying out.

As with dahlias, you should bring your pot indoors at the first signs of cold. Their rhizomes can also be stored in a dry, cool place, protected from frost, in a little turf.

Depending on the variety, the flowers come in warm colours: yellow, orange, red, or pink. Here are a few examples:

• The Canna ‘Angelique’ stands out with its admirable dark purple-violet foliage. Throughout the summer, it produces beautiful bright salmon-pink flowers.
• The Canna ‘Pink President’ is adorned with beautiful bright pink flowers reminiscent of gladioli. This semi-dwarf variety is perfect for decorating a pot or container. Its blue-green foliage is beautifully veined with dark green.
• The flamboyant Canna ‘Lucifer’ cannot go unnoticed with its bright red flowers edged in golden yellow. This dwarf variety is perfectly suited for pot or container cultivation. Its beautiful medium green leaves with bluish hues are slightly undulated.
• The Canna ‘Picasso’ will bring originality to a terrace with its yellow flowers entirely speckled with red. Its stunning flowering resembles that of orchids. Its lush blue-green foliage, reminiscent of a banana plant, will add a lovely exotic touch.
• The Canna ‘Louis Cottin’ is an old dwarf variety, distinguished by its purple foliage. Its large beautiful flowers are yellow, slightly apricot, with a red centre.

→ Discover our other varieties of Canna.

Canna ‘Angelique’, Canna ‘Pink President’, Canna ‘Lucifer’, Canna ‘Picasso’ and Canna ‘Louis Cottin’