Plants That Reproduce Through Bulbs

Bulbs contain a miniature version of the plant in a fleshy, underground organ that stores the plant's complete life cycle. Plants that reproduce through bulbs rely on the nutrients stored in these subterranean structures for survival. Bulb-grown plants do not all come from a traditional bulb, however, as there are five varieties of bulbous structures generally considered part of the bulb family. The versatility and variety of bloom times in plants grown from bulbs provide many beautiful choices and planting options no matter what location-specific challenges gardeners face.

True Bulbs

True bulbs are made up of the basal plate at the lower end that grows the roots; the fleshy scales that store the nutrition for the young plant; the skin-like tunic to protect the scales, the shoot of new flowers and leaf buds; and the lateral buds that produce new bulbs around the parent bulb called offsets for more yield from the planting. True bulb specimens hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture zone 8 include hyacinths and garlic. Snowdrops, fritillaria, glory of the snow, tulips, alliums, onions, and lilies are hardy in both zones 8 and 9. Spanish bluebells or scilla, camassia, amaryllis, belladonna lilies, shallots, spring snowflake, lycoris, narcissus paperwhites, shallots, daffodils, grape hyacinth and giant white squill will thrive in the Mediterranean climate of zones 8, 9 and 10.


If you cut a corm in half, you will not be able to see the storage rings as you would with a true bulb. The swollen stem base has a basal plate, a tunic, and a growing point and stores the energy for the growing plant. Zone 8 hardy specimens include crocus and saffron crocus while freesia is hardy in zones 9 to 10. Gladiolus, babiana, calochortus, sparaxia, and watsonia work in zones 8, 9, and 10.


Tubers store energy in a thickened subterranean stem. They do not have a basal plate or protective tunic like the true bulbs and corms. Instead, buds sprout from the surface of the tuber and develop shoots and roots. Zone 8 and 9 tubers include geranium and bleeding hearts. Oxalis, anemones and caladiums are hardy to zone 10 in addition to 8 and 9.

Tuberous Roots

The difference between tuberous roots and other bulbs is that the nutrients are stored in the fleshy root instead of a bulbous stem. Daylilies are hardy to zones 8 and 9, and plumeria to zones 9 and 10. Dahlias, begonias, ranunculus, ixia, and ornithogalum prosper in zones 8, 9 and 10.


Rhizome stems grow horizontally below the surface of the ground, storing the energy to feed the young plant. Plants that reproduce from rhizome bulbs and are hardy to zones 8 and 9 include lily of the valley, astilbe, hostas, Dutch iris, Siberian iris, Japanese iris, and foxtail lilies.Orchids are hardy in zones 9B and 10, while bearded iris, ginger, callas and cannas flourish in zone 8 to 10.

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