If you haven’t already planted your spring bulbs for next year, autumn’s the best time to get busy with it. To speed things up, why not try using a bulb basket that you can quickly lift out when the blooms are finished? Suitable for borders and containers, simply fill the baskets with bulbs, drop them into the soil at the correct depth and cover over. 

Browse our full range of spring flowering bulbs for inspiration.

How to choose spring bulbs for containers

With such an enormous number of spring bulbs to choose from, it can be quite a challenge to settle on a planting scheme. When planning a border, you’ll want to choose bulbs which grow to different heights, while woodland gardens look better when planted in drifts.

But if you’re planting spring bulbs in containers, you’ll need to think about blooming time, height and colour. When choosing a colour scheme for patio pots, there are two main formulas to try. You can go for different tones within a narrow range – reds, pinks, and whites, for example. Alternatively, you can choose bold contrasts like blue and orange, or purple and yellow.

Here are 9 professionally curated bulb mixes to help you achieve a striking spring display…

1. Blue and yellow bulb mix

This blue and yellow mix is a popular combination
Image: Spring Bulb Collection ‘Perfume Horizon Mix’ from Suttons

Vibrant blue and bright yellow are a popular pairing for a reason. In this Spring Bulb Collection ‘Perfume Horizon Mix’, the golden petals of the peony-flowered Tulip ‘Secret Perfume’ glow beautifully against the densely-packed, deep blue spikes of Muscari ‘Horizon’. Easy colour and scent for your patio containers.

2. Blue and white bulb mix

Fresh white and deep blue provide a striking contrast
Image: Tulip ‘White’ and Muscari ‘Blue’ Mix from Suttons (© T&M)

For a breathtakingly fresh display, blue and white is a classic combo. In this carefully curated Tulip ‘White’ and Muscari ‘Blue’ Mix, the creamy heads of ‘White Sapporo’ tulips rise from a sea of blue Muscari armeniacum. If you’re looking for a timeless combination that exudes elegance and charm, this is the mix to choose.

3. Purple and mauve bulb mix

Complementary purple and mauve blooms blend together beautifully
Image: Tulip and Muscari ‘Purple Rain Mix’ from Suttons (© T&M)

Try this stunning ‘Purple Rain Mix’ if you want an opulent, professional display for your spring containers. Raising their heads from a carpet of blue Muscari, these carefully curated purple and mauve tulips keep blooming until the end of May.

4. Mauve, purple and white bulb mix

White, lilac and purple is an elegant combo
Image: Tulip, Hyacinth & Anemone Mix from Suttons (© T&M)

For a spectacular succession of spring colour, this Tulip, Hyacinth & Anemone Mix provides a continuous supply of blooms from early March until the end of May. White Anemones are quickly followed by deep purple Hyacinths and then two beautifully coordinated varieties of tulip, in lilac and purple.

5. Red and lilac bulb mix

The striking contrast between these lilac and red flowers is ideal for modern gardens
Image: Tulip ‘Prince Mix’ from Suttons

If you want to update your spring containers with a striking and modern display, Tulip Prince Mix contrasts soft lilac with rich ruby tones. Tulip ‘Candy Prince’ has satin-like mauve petals with a pearlescent shimmer while ‘Ruby Prince’ adds an unexpected jolt of scarlet. With short, sturdy stems that reach just 40cm tall, both varieties are perfect for pots and windowboxes.

6. Red, yellow and white bulb mix

These red, yellow and white tulips are modern, vibrant and architectural
Image: Tulip ‘Elegant Mix’ from Suttons

Fill your spring containers with a graceful display of red, yellow and white using our Tulip ‘Elegant Mix’. Including six different and complementary varieties of lily-flowering tulips, your containers will exude an effortless elegance that lasts until the end of May.

7. Red, yellow and purple bulb mix

Bright and bold colours make this a showstopping mix
Image: Tulip ‘Rembrandt Mix’ from Suttons

The vivid combination of red, yellow and purple in our Tulip ‘Rembrandt Mix’ is a work of art. Named after the famous artist who lived and worked in Holland around the time that tulips first became all the rage, these beautiful petals are decorated with bright ‘paint strokes’. Including five striking bicoloured varieties that flower from March until May, this mix is an easy way to create real wow-factor on your patio.

Spring bulbs are best planted in the autumn, and will burst into life just as the grey days of winter finally start to draw out. Bringing welcome colour, scent and texture to your sleeping garden, they’re a fantastic addition to patio containers which can be moved into the spotlight as spring emerges.

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