The whole "spring bulb" and "fall bulb" labels can be confusing. Tulips/Daffodils/Crocus/Hyacinth and the like, for example - planted in the fall, but people generally call them spring bulbs because that's when they bloom. However, the bulbs you see for sale in the fall are the hardy plants that generally want a cold period and will survive the winter and come back year after year, like those I mentioned above. What you see for sale in the spring are the non-hardy bulbs and bulb-like plants that will not survive in the ground over winter, such as Dahlias, Caladiums, Elephant Ears, Glads, Cannas. Some people treat these as annuals, and others lift the roots and store them from year to year, replanting each spring. Of course, as you move further south, eventually you reach a zone for each of these things where it will be hardy outside through the winter, i.e., they will be perennials - for Glads and Cannas, we're probably talking US zone 7, a little further south for the other things mentioned. Still, they are traditionally sold in the spring because the merchants want to cover the whole range of both cold and warm zones with one sales period. The confusion comes because there are a lot of things you see packaged bare-root like bulbs which are for sale in both fall and spring - such as the Astilbe and Bleeding Heart you mention above and lots of other perennials. As you say, the packages look identical with the same contents and one shows fall planting and the other shows spring planting. These are the things that are successfully divided and transplanted any time they are dormant, which is from fall until they start to grow in the spring, so they are sold at both times. Lilies are a true bulb that is also in this category - the bulb never goes completely dormant, so they can put out new roots any time you transplant and will do well either spring or fall planted. As Cranebill mentions above, the best results for any given growing season will come if you get them in during the fall before, but I have always had success with them in the spring. Also, as Cranebill mentions above, if in doubt when spring comes, plant it anyway. The worst that can happen is that it won't grow, which is ASSURED if you don't plant it. - Steve

Hi qf, Per the FAQ at the Canna Forum: How and When do I divide cannas? The best time to divide cannas is in the spring as you are planting them. However, if you are digging them up later in the season for some reason, you may divide them then. They really arenÂt picky. But it is generally best to divide when you know can replant them soon. Divide the rhizomes by cutting them into pieces containing one or more eyes (growing points). Sue

in my z5 yard ... i move in either October or April ... and only in April .. what i didn't finish in Oct .... never with any thought to what it is .... i figure two cool season.. fall and spring.. before the next heat wave.. is better than one ... tracking who said spring vs fall is near impossible.. and might have been some expert in a higher zone ... frankly... peeps who have never seen the ground freeze... z7 and above.. are startled to hear we move things with success in fall .. and all i can figure is the suspended animation known in the great white north as FROZEN SOIL .... is the only variable we DO NOT share ... who knows ... good luck ken

and I'm itching to move them now, but planting is not the same as transplanting. ===>>> yes it is ... its all about root disturbance.. interfereing with water movement in the plant ... and dealing with all the attendant variables ... this answer you wish is highly zone and location specific ... and you should rely on those near you or with such experience .. like sara and embo ... and gal ... the other answers.. are correct for their locations ... and that sums up.. if you searched the web.. perhaps without knowing some experts location/zone.. you got all confused ... they arent wrong.. they just arent right.. for you ... my MI is so not your CA ... that i am not even going to hazard a guess for you .. ken ps: i think you meant that digging and cutting off roots.. is not like planting a potted plant .. but even that.. done right.. usually involves severe root pruning due to circling roots.. so after all is said and done.. they are about the same.. not different ...