Tropical Bulb Plants

Summer Hyacinth

• Pick the summer hyacinth -- also known as Galtonia candicans -- for its fragrant bell-shaped flowers as a choice for your summer garden. The candicans variety has pure white flowers as opposed to the two other strains that have cream or green flowers. This south African native blooms only in summer and is considered an excellent cut flower. This species doesn't like to be in a windy location and prefers full sun to dappled shade. Plant 10 to 12 bulbs in a clump in well-drained soil in the spring. Be careful not to plant the bulb too deeply (have the top of the bulb just under the soil's surface) and protect it from too much water as the bulb will rot if it sits in soggy soil.

Peruvian Daffodil

• Select this summer blooming bulb for additional fragrance in your garden. This variety blooms white and the flowers sit regally on top of leafless stalks. Their bloom color will lighten up a dark garden. Peruvian daffodils like to have full sun and should be planted about three to five inches under the soil. But they are very cold sensitive so it's best to wait until your soil temperature has come above 60 degrees Fahrenheit in the spring before planting. Like many spring blooming bulbs, this plant likes to continue growing some foliage after the blooms have died back. Doing so will give the bulb more energy to produce flowers the following season. Dig up the bulbs before first frost in the fall and store them in a dry place that's between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Caladium

• Opt for caladium bulbs to jazz up a shady garden. This tropical bulb is grown for its striking foliage and is the perfect addition to a garden filled with blooming shade plants like impatiens. The foliage comes in shades of red, white and green as well as variegated and patterned varieties. Caladiums may be planted after the last danger of frost has passed and must be dug up after the first frost of fall for storage. They prefer dappled to full shade and moist, well-drained soil.