Great for cut flowers, this beauty is grown from a corm. A corm is actually the base of a stem that becomes swollen solid with nutrients. Available in a wide range of colors like yellow, green, salmon, scarlet, and purple, gladiolus should be planted after the last frost. The bright green foliage is a good background for smaller plants when not in bloom, but if you would like a long season of flowers, stagger your gladiolus planting every two weeks. Another good summer flowering bulb for cutting is the dahlia.
Dahlias are available in the spring as either tuberous roots or seedlings.
The tuberous roots of the dahlia are true roots. When trying to decide which way to plant the dahlia, the buds will be at one end and the roots at the other. Growing from one to five feet depending on variety, dahlias can add height to a marigold or petunia bed. Most summer flowering bulbs prefer full sun to part shade. Be sure to prepare your flower beds with good compost to break up the clay soil and to increase the drainage in the bed.