The Essential Guide to Bulbs: Grow a Bounty of Beautiful Bulbs in Gardens and Containers

by Jenny Rose Carey

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction

348 pages, Paperback

Published October 14, 2025

Reviews

[Angie Baer · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a gardener, I was so excited for this book, and The Essential Guide to Bulbs did not disappoint! Over the past five years, my little garden has really evolved, and bulbs have become such a big part of the joy I find in gardening. There’s just something magical about growing plants from bulbs but especially tulips, since they’re my absolute favorite! Last spring, I planted about 400 bulbs, and it gave me the most colorful, beautiful spring I’ve ever had.

This book was exactly what I hoped it would be — stunning photography, a great layout, and so much helpful information. I loved that Jenny Rose Carey shares the history of bulbs first, then dives into different groups of bulbs (using the Latin names, which I really appreciate because flower names can vary so much). There’s also a wonderful chapter on maintenance and caring for your bulbs, plus one of my favorites — a section on planting bulbs in containers (I love container gardening!). And I was so happy to find a chapter all about designing with bulbs, giving real ideas you can use.

As a reader, I also really enjoyed Jenny Rose’s engaging writing style — it’s warm, knowledgeable, and made the whole book a joy to read from beginning to end. Whether you’re just starting out or have been gardening for years, this book is a must-have. You can easily read it cover to cover, like I did, or jump into the chapters you need. If you love growing bulbs — or simply love beautiful gardening books — you’ll definitely want this one on your shelf. It’s a true gem!

I received an ARC to review via NetGalley.

[Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Essential Guide to Bulbs by Jenny Rose Carey is a non-fiction book on gardening, specifically growing from bulbs.


First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Timber Press for granting my wish, and the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

  

First, you should never download a "picture" book and attempt to read on an e-reader.  As pretty as the pictures our, invest in the hardcover!  Second, definitely, don't download them as a .lcpl file -- what was wrong with Adobe files???? Okay, enough talk about the format.

The book is divided into different sections, making it easy to find what you are looking for, with a wonderful index in the back.

The book looks at the different types of bulbs, including true bulbs (tulip, lily), corms (crocus, gladiola), tubers (caladium, tuberous begonias), tuberous roots (dahlias),  rhizomes (canna and calla lily).  Then it moves on to figuring out which are hardy to your area, or which are "tender" and will have to be dug up each fall.  From there, the book gets into the individual bulbs - from A to Z.  Their common name, their scientific name, their cultivars, height and spread.... Then, when to plant them, how to plant them,  when they'll bloom, how much water or space they need, when and if to deadhead, how to over-winter, and even pests and problems....all the basics.

This book is a fountain of information for the newbies to bulbs, and to those of us who already have a lot of them spread out in our garden...it's already given me ideas of what to plant next.

Again, the pictures in this book are so vivid, so beautiful, you will want to purchase the hardcover....even if you don't want to plant bulbs!

Anyway, happy planting!



For a more thorough review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, and its author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
 

[Chatti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timber Press delivers another gem with this beautiful and practical addition to their publishing lineup. Jenny Rose Carey’s The Essential Guide to Bulbs is packed with incredibly useful information for gardeners of all levels. It took me a while to get through, not because it was dense, but because I kept pausing to admire the gorgeous flower photography and absorb the wealth of knowledge on every page.

This is definitely a book I’ll keep within arm’s reach as a long-term reference. My only wish is that it included more photos, especially wide shots, so I could better visualize what a fully bulb-planted garden might look like. With so many varieties mentioned, seeing them in larger garden contexts would have helped spark even more inspiration.

It’s only August, but now is the perfect time to start planning and purchasing bulbs for next season. This book has me genuinely excited for both fall and spring plantings. Whether you’re new to bulbs or a seasoned gardener, The Essential Guide to Bulbs will inspire you to dream big, dig deep, and plant with intention.

Thank you to Timber Press & Netgalley for this advanced reader copy.

[Susan Hamann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great resource for gardeners from beginners to experienced gardeners. Is there anything as simple as planting a bulb? Well, maybe not exactly so simple, but with a little guidance, it is pretty easy. And it can be very complex when you're planting a garden design, or planting for year 'round flowers, or trying to defeat hungry critters.

The book is well organized and easy to follow. I was happy with the alphabetical listing of bulbs with growing conditions, height of plant, seasonal interest (spring, early summer, etc.) and photos. The sections on "About These Bulbs, "Planting and Maintenance," "Design Ideas" and "Species and Cultivars" provide useful information. It would be so helpful to have this book to consult as you're going through those catalogs that show up in your mailbox. Some of the types of bulbs are common to almost anyone and some are more unusual. All may have a place in your garden.

Chapter 3 covers personalizing your garden. Finding places to plant bulbs, do you want something informal or is your style more formal? What season do you need more color? What color themes do you like? Do you want bulbs in a woodland setting, or do you want a lawn of bulbs?

Chapter 4 is for planning and planting a bulb container garden. Chapter 5 describes how to plant and tend to your bulb garden. One of the areas the author covers is "congestion" when bulbs multiply underground. I was the lucky recipient of some gorgeous daffodils when my neighbor had 2 patches that had quintupled the number of bulbs. I dug them up for her, replanted, and redistributed.

So if you're looking for guidance, inspiration, help, and general knowledge, this book is a wonderful addition to your bookshelf.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Essential Guide to Bulbs by Jenny Rose Carey

Grow a Bounty of Beautiful Bulbs in Gardens and Containers
#1 New Release in Container Gardening

Everything you need to know about how to choose, plant, and care for your bulbs—and find joy in the process.

An absolute must-read for any gardener who wants to level up their gardening skills, The Essential Guide to Bulbs is a gorgeously photographed, comprehensive, and inviting resource that is destined to become a gardening classic. Bulbs have a universal appeal—they are extremely diverse with many varieties to choose from, and they are great in containers. While many gardeners may be familiar with the early show of spring bulbs like daffodils and tulips, there are many more to choose from that provide three-season color, drama, and spontaneity in the garden. Plus, they're great for a tighter budget.

In this book, gardeners will discover:
·How to recognize what bulbs you love and personalize your garden to match your vision
·Planting techniques and design ideas for growing bulbs in any size garden
·Incorporating bulbs for pollinators, and the importance of ecological methods
·Tips for creating a brilliant bulb container garden in every season
·A wide array of bulb varieties with in-depth planting information
Wonderful pictures.
Lots of good information.
A good book for a new gardener or seasoned gardeners.
I recommend this book.
The Essential Guide to Bulbs by Jenny Rose Carey is a 5 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Jenny Rose Carey.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are my own.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

More gardeners ought to grow more bulbs! It's a completely different and equally enchanting plant "genre" with trends which come and go but bulbs will always be beloved. They can be grown in most climates (though my zone 2a gardening life and my zone 8b are literally different worlds). Amazingly, most lilies do much better in 2a than 8b as they need the period of cold dormancy. My sister grows thousands of lilies in her zone 2a garden, the most beautiful and extensive I have ever seen. Bulbs can be grown in small or large gardens and in balcony containers. Not only are they stunning but also versatile and suit beginners, novices and experts alike. Some are simpler to grow and care for than others but there are also those requiring just the right amount of challenge for those who seek it.

Author Jenny Rose Carey includes magnificent photographs and information such as seasonal bulbs, combining colours, how to plant and fertilize, how many to plant and when, encouraging pollinators, managing pests and diseases (including the scorned lily beetle), and types of bulbs (corms, rhizomes, tubers...). She also highlights a generous selection of specific bulbs, growing zones and requirements. On my travels, I am always amazed at what bulbs grow successfully (or not) under particularly harsh climactic conditions.

The Essential Guide to Bulbs is a phenomenal book with all one needs to get started or be inspired to foray further. I just love this book! It has given me ideas for adding vigor to one of my tired bulb beds.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful book!! It is an inspirational visual and textual feast to all - seasoned gardeners, beginners and those with just curiosity, as well as anyone who loves to see pictures with nature's beauty! One friend asked me for advice, saying that I was the only person she knew who planted bulbs. I was so happy to help her, and only wish others knew how easy and rewarding it is to plant bulbs! This is the most comprehensive guide to bulbs I have ever seen, and it is truly satisfying! It gave me insights to problem questions I have, like how to help my falling down dahlias. The author uses painted poles and ties all branches with twine! The book not only has glorious pictures, but provides details on selecting bulbs, specific bulb types, where to plant, etc. I learned that most bulbs need at least 6 hours of sunshine. This would made a divine gift to gardeners, as it provides such a comprehensive guide!
I read this book, compliments of the publishers. The views expressed are my own opinion.

[Emi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Publishing date: 14.10.2025 (DD/MM/YYYY)
Thank you to NetGalley and Timber Press for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

My grandmother has always had a garden full of flowers, especially flowers with bulbs. This book gave me a deeper appreciation for the amount of time and care that she put into her garden.

You get:
- Lots of pictures
- Care guides (with some wiggle room for different climates and seasons)
- Info on different bulbs
- Some history
- Tips to create and maintain a beautiful garden

This book is fitting for beginners and experts alike. If gardening is interesting to you I would highly recommend this book.

Giving this 3 stars.

[Randal White · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book! The author has written a very thorough, informative, instructive, and enjoyable book about bulbs. Personally, I love using bulbs in our gardens. They're relatively easy to grow, require very little maintenance, and are absolutely stunning when they are blooming. Carey goes into great detail not only about how to grow bulbs, but into the history and issues with them. And the photography is spectacular! The book is presented in an easily understandable format, and you can dig into it as deep as you wish, or just the parts you want. I learned a great deal, and look forward to really stepping up my game with bulbs in our gardens. Great book!

[Eve L-A Witherington · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover of this book drew me in as someone who does enjoy photographing nature, I was hoping and was happily so surprised by some beautiful detailed photo's of flowers blooming from bulb.

Packed with chapters of detail about how to plant and nurture bulbs as a beginner with only a few mere daffodils, a pineapple plant and a passionflower in my garden so far this was a great guide for learning more about how to plant and nurture the bulbs to be strong beautiful flowers definitely a handy book to refer to.

[Madelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read for me being from Wisconsin, new to bulb planting, and trying to figure out what I want to do in my front yard. It gave lots of tips and tricks and I loved the detail for each variation of bulb. It was extremely helpful to learn all about where certain bulbs grow best and when to plant. I learned a lot and am super excited to start planting bulbs. This will definitely be a book I need on my shelf! Tons of great information and beautiful pictures.

Thank you to Timber Press publishing for providing me an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my review.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the idea of a beautiful garden but don't like a lot of the hard work that goes into creating one. Bulbs are a great way to add beautiful flowers to your garden that come back year after year. This book will give you great ideas for choosing the right bulb for your garden and how to combine bulbs for the wow factor. There are all kinds of bulbs such as daffodils and tulips to start the spring season going all the way to beautiful dahlias that will bloom for most of the summer. This book will teach you how to care for your bulbs so they will bloom and be beautiful for years to come.

[Erin Keller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great guide! The Essential Guide to Bulbs is packed with helpful tips and gorgeous photos that make you want to plant bulbs everywhere. Jenny Rose Carey makes the info really easy to follow. Definitely a must-have for those who want to learn the basics about bulbs and need help deciding what bulbs to plant.
Thank you to NetGalley and Timber Press for the arc!

[Meade Reads (and writes!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant and beautiful! Chock full of useful information for everyone that loves or wants to love bulbs. Will definitely be a reference book for me for the long run.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love using bulbs in my garden - for the most part, they are a "plant it once and forget it" (with a little maintenance), which is refreshing. They're also beautiful statement-piece flowers and frequently are some of the first to show up in the spring at my house. So this book was very useful and inspirational - great information on the caring and feeding of a wide variety of bulbs, as well as lovely photos of all different kinds of flowers.