If you’ve ever tried to picture what a bulb or a tuber looks like inside, you’re probably scratching your head. They’re hidden underground, mysterious, and honestly—kinda hard to imagine. But here’s a trick: think about something you know well, something you’ve definitely seen in your kitchen. Onions and potatoes.

Slice open an onion and you’ll see those neat, layered rings stacked tight like nature’s own packing peanuts. That’s exactly how a bulb looks. It’s all layers, wrapped around each other like a cozy blanket storing food and moisture to help the plant grow strong and tall when it’s ready to sprout.

Now grab a potato. Solid, chunky, and kind of lumpy, right? That’s what a tuber is like. It’s a thick, fleshy lump packed full of nutrients, but no fancy layers inside—just good, dense potato power ready to fuel new growth.

When it comes to flowers, lilies grow from bulbs—those onion-style powerhouses. And callas grow from tubers, those potato-like energy balls. So next time you’re looking at your flower bed, remember: you’re planting nature’s onions and potatoes!

But here’s where it gets even cooler: the way these two grow couldn’t be more different.

Lilies? They’re like a carefully prepared recipe, set and ready before you even plant them. The bulb already knows exactly what it wants to do—it’s got all the pieces in place, like a little flower blueprint tucked inside. It waits for the perfect moment—just the right mix of moisture and temperature—and then boom, it sprouts, following that plan no matter what.

Tubers, on the other hand? They’re the ultimate free spirits. They don’t come with a fixed plan. Instead, they’re always checking out their surroundings, ready to improvise based on what the weather, soil, and light tell them that day. If conditions are great, they’ll grow shoots and flowers. If not, they’ll focus on leaves or roots instead. This is why preparing calla tubers before planting is so important—getting them ready means helping those free spirits start off on the right foot.

And it’s not just about how they grow—it’s about how you take care of them, too. Bulbs like to chill in cool, moist storage, planted deep and cozy underground. Tubers want to hang out somewhere warm and dry, closer to the surface, soaking up the sun.

This difference also explains why bulbs can brave cold winters buried safely underground while tubers prefer a frost-free life, always a little more sensitive to the cold.

So, whether you’re planting those layered onion-like lily bulbs or the chunky potato-like calla tubers, you’re really working with two very different but equally fascinating parts of nature. Each has its own style, its own rhythm, and its own way of making your garden bloom.

Next time you tuck those bulbs and tubers into the soil, remember: you’re not just planting flowers—you’re planting nature’s onions and potatoes, each with a story of growth waiting to unfold.