• Dahlias offer showy blossoms in the fall.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Bulbs are a kind of flowering plant that stores its nutrients in a bulbous root, using the stored energy to shoot up a stalk and flower. Bulb plants usually have a dormant period followed by a period of relatively rapid growth. Gardeners frequently add bulbs to their flower beds because of the showy blossoms they produce. Although many of the most popular bulbs flower in the spring, there are several that flower in fall, as well.
  
  

Caladiums: Fall-Flowering

• Caladiums (Caladium bicolor) have colorful, heart-shaped leaves that vary from green to red to rose to white, with many variegated patterns. Plant caladiums in the spring, after the last anticipated frost date. As the plant is native to tropical climates, it cannot tolerate winter outdoors in cold climates. However, you can store the bulbs after flowering has finished in a cool and dark place, where temperatures range from 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. For best results, plant caladiums in loamy soil in a shady place. While the plant is tolerant of direct sun, its colors brighten in shadier spots. You can add a balanced fertilizer once a month as the caladium grows, to ensure maximum growth.
  
  

Dahlias: Fall-Flowering

• Dahlias (Dahlia variabilis) begin blooming at the end of summer and continue through early fall. Plant them no earlier than two weeks before the last frost date in the spring. The flowers will fare best with loamy, well-drained soil and direct or partial sun. As dahlias can grow quite high, reaching up to seven feet when mature. They respond well to staking. Over the winter, store the dormant dahlia bulbs at temperatures between 35 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
  
  

Anemones: Spring-Flowering

• Anemones (Anemone coronaria), also known as windflowers, flower in mid-spring. Plant them in the autumn in climates where the ground temperature will not drop below 28 degrees Fahrenheit, as far north as USDA hardiness zone 7. In zone 7, add mulch over the soil surface to increase the ground temperature. The anemone is native to the Mediterranean, explaining its preference for relatively warm climates with mild winters. For best results, plant in full sun and keep soil moist.
  
  

Giant Flowering Onions: Spring-Flowering

• The giant flowering onion (Allium giganteum) belongs to the same family as the popular amaryllis. It grows as far north as USDA hardiness zone 5, where it blooms in late spring or early summer. The plants' flowers are striking in shape, forming large balls of tiny, pink-purple flowers. For best results, plant the giant flowering onion in clusters of several bulbs together. They can tolerate either full or partial sun and any kind of soil.