Bulbs for zone 5

Full sun: hardy in zone 5

TulipZones 3 to 7 · Mid to late springOrnamental onionZones 4 to 8 · Late spring to early summerAsiatic lilyZones 3 to 9 · Early summerDwarf irisZones 5 to 9 · Late winter

Sun or part shade: hardy in zone 5

DaffodilZones 3 to 8 · Early to mid springCrocusZones 3 to 8 · Late winter to early springHyacinthZones 4 to 8 · Mid springGrape hyacinthZones 4 to 8 · Early to mid springSiberian squillZones 2 to 8 · Early springWindflowerZones 4 to 8 · Early spring

Shade: hardy in zone 5

SnowdropZones 3 to 7 · Late winter

Not reliably hardy in zone 5

These need a milder winter. Summer bulbs on this list can still be grown if you dig them up in fall.

DahliaZones 8 to 11GladiolusZones 8 to 11CannaZones 8 to 11CaladiumZones 9 to 11Elephant earZones 8 to 11

When to plant in zone 5

Plant spring bulbs once the soil cools in fall, around Sep 7 to Oct 26 in zone 5a. Summer bulbs such as dahlias go in after May 3, your median last frost.

Zones measure winter cold, not season length, so your own frost dates can be a week or two off the zone median. Look up your frost dates by ZIP code, or read all about zone 5a.

Hardiness ranges, light and size are typical figures from university extension services and botanic garden plant records; a named variety can differ, so check its tag. Planting dates come from each zone's median frost dates (NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals) and the timing rules in how we check.