When to plant tulip bulbs in Illinois

Fall planting in Chicago

Oct 22–Nov 26

Across Illinois the window opens between September 27 and October 22. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Chicago: Oct 22–Nov 26
Last frost, Chicago: Apr 10

Plant from 2 weeks before to 3 weeks after the first fall frost. Plant once the soil has cooled below 60°F. Bulbs need 12–14 weeks of cold to flower in spring.

Tulip bulbs planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

ChicagoOct 22–Nov 26

AuroraOct 9–Nov 13

NapervilleOct 2–Nov 6

JolietOct 11–Nov 15

RockfordOct 3–Nov 7

ElginOct 4–Nov 8

SpringfieldOct 8–Nov 12

PeoriaOct 9–Nov 13

ChampaignOct 10–Nov 14

WaukeganOct 5–Nov 9

CiceroOct 17–Nov 21

BloomingtonOct 2–Nov 6

SchaumburgSep 29–Nov 3

EvanstonOct 7–Nov 11

Arlington HeightsOct 12–Nov 16

BolingbrookOct 8–Nov 12

DecaturOct 10–Nov 14

SkokieOct 7–Nov 11

PalatineOct 5–Nov 9

Des PlainesOct 14–Nov 18

Orland ParkOct 8–Nov 12

Oak LawnOct 18–Nov 22

Mount ProspectOct 12–Nov 16

Tinley ParkOct 6–Nov 10

BerwynOct 17–Nov 21

WheatonOct 2–Nov 6

NormalOct 2–Nov 6

Oak ParkOct 17–Nov 21

Hoffman EstatesSep 29–Nov 3

Downers GroveOct 2–Nov 6

All 121 cities

City	Fall planting	Last frost
Chicago	Oct 22 to Nov 26	Apr 10
Aurora	Oct 9 to Nov 13	Apr 19
Naperville	Oct 2 to Nov 6	Apr 28
Joliet	Oct 11 to Nov 15	Apr 19
Rockford	Oct 3 to Nov 7	Apr 24
Elgin	Oct 4 to Nov 8	Apr 26
Springfield	Oct 8 to Nov 12	Apr 15
Peoria	Oct 9 to Nov 13	Apr 16
Champaign	Oct 10 to Nov 14	Apr 15
Waukegan	Oct 5 to Nov 9	Apr 30
Cicero	Oct 17 to Nov 21	Apr 11
Bloomington	Oct 2 to Nov 6	Apr 25
Schaumburg	Sep 29 to Nov 3	Apr 30
Evanston	Oct 7 to Nov 11	Apr 26
Arlington Heights	Oct 12 to Nov 16	Apr 19
Bolingbrook	Oct 8 to Nov 12	Apr 20
Decatur	Oct 10 to Nov 14	Apr 14
Skokie	Oct 7 to Nov 11	Apr 26
Palatine	Oct 5 to Nov 9	Apr 25
Des Plaines	Oct 14 to Nov 18	Apr 16
Orland Park	Oct 8 to Nov 12	Apr 19
Oak Lawn	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Apr 10
Mount Prospect	Oct 12 to Nov 16	Apr 19
Tinley Park	Oct 6 to Nov 10	Apr 23
Berwyn	Oct 17 to Nov 21	Apr 11
Wheaton	Oct 2 to Nov 6	Apr 28
Normal	Oct 2 to Nov 6	Apr 25
Oak Park	Oct 17 to Nov 21	Apr 11
Hoffman Estates	Sep 29 to Nov 3	Apr 30
Downers Grove	Oct 2 to Nov 6	Apr 28
Plainfield	Oct 8 to Nov 12	Apr 20
Glenview	Oct 7 to Nov 11	Apr 26
Elmhurst	Oct 14 to Nov 18	Apr 16
Lombard	Oct 2 to Nov 6	Apr 28
Buffalo Grove	Oct 12 to Nov 16	Apr 19
Moline	Oct 4 to Nov 8	Apr 24
Crystal Lake	Oct 8 to Nov 12	Apr 25
Romeoville	Oct 8 to Nov 12	Apr 20
Bartlett	Sep 29 to Nov 3	Apr 30
DeKalb	Oct 4 to Nov 8	Apr 24
Belleville	Oct 6 to Nov 10	Apr 12
Oswego	Oct 9 to Nov 13	Apr 19
Urbana	Oct 10 to Nov 14	Apr 15
Carol Stream	Oct 5 to Nov 9	Apr 25
Quincy	Oct 16 to Nov 20	Apr 8
Park Ridge	Oct 14 to Nov 18	Apr 16
Wheeling	Oct 12 to Nov 16	Apr 19
Streamwood	Sep 29 to Nov 3	Apr 30
Carpentersville	Oct 4 to Nov 8	Apr 26
Hanover Park	Sep 29 to Nov 3	Apr 30
Rock Island	Oct 4 to Nov 8	Apr 24
Addison	Oct 14 to Nov 18	Apr 16
Calumet City	Oct 6 to Nov 10	Apr 23
Northbrook	Oct 7 to Nov 11	Apr 26
North Chicago	Oct 5 to Nov 9	Apr 30
Woodridge	Oct 2 to Nov 6	Apr 28
St. Charles	Oct 5 to Nov 9	Apr 25
Mundelein	Oct 6 to Nov 10	Apr 29
O'Fallon	Oct 6 to Nov 10	Apr 12
Glendale Heights	Oct 2 to Nov 6	Apr 28
Elk Grove Village	Oct 14 to Nov 18	Apr 16
Pekin	Oct 9 to Nov 13	Apr 16
Algonquin	Oct 4 to Nov 8	Apr 26
Highland Park	Oct 7 to Nov 11	Apr 26
Gurnee	Oct 5 to Nov 9	Apr 30
Niles	Oct 14 to Nov 18	Apr 16
McHenry	Sep 27 to Nov 1	May 1
Huntley	Oct 8 to Nov 12	Apr 25
New Lenox	Oct 11 to Nov 15	Apr 19
Glen Ellyn	Oct 2 to Nov 6	Apr 28
Lake in the Hills	Oct 8 to Nov 12	Apr 25
Galesburg	Oct 5 to Nov 9	Apr 20
Burbank	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Apr 10
Danville	Oct 6 to Nov 10	Apr 21
Lansing	Oct 6 to Nov 10	Apr 23
Lockport	Oct 8 to Nov 12	Apr 20
Wilmette	Oct 7 to Nov 11	Apr 26
Round Lake Beach	Oct 9 to Nov 13	Apr 24
Vernon Hills	Oct 6 to Nov 10	Apr 29
Granite City	Oct 22 to Nov 26	Apr 4
Oak Forest	Oct 6 to Nov 10	Apr 23
Yorkville	Sep 29 to Nov 3	Apr 28
Batavia	Oct 9 to Nov 13	Apr 19
Chicago Heights	Oct 6 to Nov 10	Apr 23
Edwardsville	Oct 22 to Nov 26	Apr 4
Woodstock	Oct 8 to Nov 12	Apr 25
South Elgin	Oct 4 to Nov 8	Apr 26
Belvidere	Oct 3 to Nov 7	Apr 24
West Chicago	Oct 5 to Nov 9	Apr 25
Alton	Oct 22 to Nov 26	Apr 4
Homer Glen	Oct 8 to Nov 12	Apr 20
Morton Grove	Oct 7 to Nov 11	Apr 26
Zion	Oct 7 to Nov 11	Apr 30
Westmont	Oct 2 to Nov 6	Apr 28
Melrose Park	Oct 14 to Nov 18	Apr 16
Collinsville	Oct 12 to Nov 16	Apr 8
Loves Park	Oct 3 to Nov 7	Apr 24
Rolling Meadows	Oct 12 to Nov 16	Apr 19
Elmwood Park	Oct 14 to Nov 18	Apr 16
Lisle	Oct 2 to Nov 6	Apr 28
Kankakee	Oct 10 to Nov 14	Apr 19
Maywood	Oct 17 to Nov 21	Apr 11
Freeport	Sep 29 to Nov 3	Apr 26
Machesney Park	Sep 28 to Nov 2	May 1
Roselle	Sep 29 to Nov 3	Apr 30
Bloomingdale	Sep 29 to Nov 3	Apr 30
East Peoria	Oct 9 to Nov 13	Apr 16
Darien	Oct 8 to Nov 12	Apr 19
Montgomery	Oct 9 to Nov 13	Apr 19
Villa Park	Oct 2 to Nov 6	Apr 28
Carbondale	Oct 8 to Nov 12	Apr 9
Blue Island	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Apr 10
Frankfort	Oct 6 to Nov 10	Apr 23
Grayslake	Oct 6 to Nov 10	Apr 29
Geneva	Oct 5 to Nov 9	Apr 25
Park Forest	Oct 6 to Nov 10	Apr 23
South Holland	Oct 6 to Nov 10	Apr 23
Libertyville	Oct 6 to Nov 10	Apr 29
Crest Hill	Oct 8 to Nov 12	Apr 20
Dolton	Oct 6 to Nov 10	Apr 23
East Moline	Oct 11 to Nov 15	Apr 16

Questions

When should I plant tulip bulbs in Illinois?

In Chicago, fall planting from October 22 to November 26. Across Illinois the window opens between September 27 and October 22, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Plant from 2 weeks before to 3 weeks after the first fall frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.