8 spring bulbs with pink flowers that you must have in your garden

The late double tulip ‘Chato’

Tulips are undoubtedly the flowers that offer the most shades of pink among bulbous plants; they are classic and timeless bulbous plants.

The ‘Chato’ tulip features double petals, giving it a stunning peony-like appearance, especially as the flowers are enormous, measuring about 12 to 14 cm in diameter, in a vibrant, bright pink! This tulip is late-flowering, revealing its superb blooms from late April to mid-May, held on tall stems of 40 cm. Use it to create beautiful splashes of colour in the garden, planted in masses or combined with lighter tulips to create a romantic colour scheme, or with orange and purple for a precious and theatrical effect. Like all double tulips, it is sensitive to heavy rain, so reserve a rather sheltered spot for it, but ensure it gets plenty of sun. You can cut a few stems that are not fully open yet to make stunning spring bouquets.

Double late tulip ‘Chato’

Allium nevskianum

Here’s a gem, the Allium nevskianum, a pink Allium, a rare colour among ornamental garlics which are mostly mauve to violet. What do we love about it? Everything! Its quirky appearance with its enormous globe-shaped inflorescences, in a rarely seen old pink colour, emerging almost at ground level, as it is quite small (maximum 20 cm), and its beautiful broad blue-green foliage, which remains in place during flowering and beyond, before disappearing in summer. Native to Afghanistan, this Allium is particularly cold-resistant, but also drought-tolerant. It requires very well-drained soil and a sunny or lightly shaded position (to the South or West). It generally flowers in May, sometimes in June.

Its dwarf size allows Allium nevskianum to shine in pots and borders, in rockeries or at the front of mixed borders. It doesn’t go unnoticed despite its small size, a true gem, we tell you!

Allium nevskianum

Cyclamen coum

The Cyclamen coum pink or Cyclamen from the island of Cos flowers in spring, between January and April, unlike another similar cyclamen, the Naples Cyclamen (or Cyclamen hederifolium) which blooms in autumn. This spring cyclamen produces small flowers of a rather bright pink, about 2 cm, curled backwards, borne on reddish stems of 10 cm. The leaves that disappear in summer are beautiful, round or heart-shaped (cordiform), often marbled and silvery, forming a green carpet that will spread over time.

It grows very well in woodland where it emerges from carpets of fallen leaves, or in shaded borders, or even in the lawn or cool rockeries. Very hardy, it can be planted anywhere. Plant the flattened tubercles at the end of summer.

Cyclamen coum

Anemone coronaria ‘Sylphide’

Caen Anemones are among those spring bulb flowers with an old-fashioned charm that should not be forgotten in the garden! With their contrasting black stamen heart, they come in white, pink, or blue-violet. The numerous horticultural varieties are also known as florist anemones.

Among the pink coronaria Anemones, ‘Sylphide’ is a delightful variety that blooms its single cup-shaped flowers in fuchsia to dark magenta in April. The 8 petals are enhanced by a black heart with bluish reflections. It is simply elegant, vibrant, and blooms for quite a long time. Its foliage is finely divided and anise-green. ‘Sylphide’ reaches about 30 cm in height, and you can pair it in a duo with its nearly identical counterpart, ‘M. Fokker’, which has a deep amethyst blue, along with some hyacinths to create a beautiful bicolour mass.

Caen Anemone ‘Sylphide’

Chionodoxa forbesii ‘Pink Giant’

While the Glory of the Snow or Chionodoxas are predominantly blue, some, like Chionodoxa forbesii ‘Pink Giant’, bloom in pink. It features a very pale lilac pink flowering on charming star-shaped flowers, which adds a gentle touch to garden beds. The light yellow stamens further illuminate this delightful bulb. Small in stature (20 cm), it is, however, taller than Chionodoxa luciliae, and benefits from being planted in groups to create a lovely effect. It produces around ten flowers on the flowering stem and has the advantage of naturalising spontaneously. Chionodoxas are among the first to bloom in the year: ‘Pink Giant’ begins its flowering from February to March, lasting for about two weeks. Plant them in full sun or partial shade.

Chionodoxa forbesii ‘Pink Giant’

Ipheion uniflorum ‘Charlotte Bishop’

The Ipheion uniflorum ‘Charlotte Bishop’ is a beautiful spring surprise! This variety produces, unlike most Ipheions, pink flowers tinged with mauve. They have a star shape with 6 petals, appearing early in the season, often from February or starting in March. These are small bulbous plants, reaching a maximum height of 15 cm, that flower for a long time and generously until May. These lovely spring stars will thicken year after year by naturalising. Planted in clumps at the base of deciduous trees, in full sun or partial shade, ‘Charlotte Bishop’ proves to be drought-resistant.

Ipheion uniflorum ‘Charlotte Bishop’

Asian Buttercup 'Double Rose'

The Florist’s Ranunculus, also known as Asian Ranunculus or Oriental Ranunculus, are bulbous plants that are interesting for their flowering in late spring, between late April and June. They provide a beautiful transition to summer.

Among the pink Ranunculus, the Asian Ranunculus ‘Double Rose’ is incredibly romantic with its round flowers, very double, numerous, and tightly packed petals, giving the flower a dense and generous appearance. The very delicate pastel pink colour is fresh, perfect when combined with other ranunculus, a few taller Alliums, or late tulips. You can create charming bucolic bouquets, as this florist’s ranunculus holds up very well in a vase. Plant the tubers in autumn (in the south) or in February (in the north) in light shade or full sun, in very well-drained and light soil, at the edge of a border, within a flower bed, or in pots. This ranunculus is hardy down to -10 °C, though it can be a bit temperamental (feel free to read our comprehensive guide on Ranunculus to assist you with its cultivation and planting).

Ranunculus asiaticus ‘Double Rose’

Tulip viridiflora 'China Town'

Let’s conclude this selection with another stunning tulip featuring pink hues veined with green: the viridiflora tulip ‘China Town’. This tulip is unique with its bicolour aspect, a soft, fresh pink accentuated by green striations, and a deeper pink at the beginning of flowering. The flower shape is very elongated, showcasing beautiful elegance. We also greatly appreciate its foliage, variegated with cream on the edges, broad, providing a lovely green backdrop for the flowering. ‘China Town’ reaches a height of 25 to 30 cm and flowers late in May, for about 3 weeks. This variety has been awarded by the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society). It looks sublime when planted en masse in the garden, and you can also plant the bulbs in a lovely bowl or pot, alongside muscari for example.

Viridiflora tulip ‘China Town’