Texas Gardening: Gardening with Texas Native Plants & Wildflowers, Part 10., 1 by SteveIndy

SteveIndy wrote:
Well Mitch I guess it's just another myth. I was told lots of things that were common up north would not grow here in North Texas when I moved here, and in almost 5 years of gardening down here I am finding that to be false. A lot of the problem here is not the climate, it's the soil - it is heavy and dense and does not breathe or drain well. A few raised beds and loam soil and that problem seems to be disappearing. Peonies take awhile and generally do not produce well the first season, and I don't think they'll every be as effortless here as they were up in the Midwest. The singles and early bloomers are better fits for the south than the doubles and lates. I also do lots of daffodils and hyacinths and they return really well for me year after year. Tulips are about the only thing I treat as an annual. I even found some lilac varieties I planted last year that are supposed to do well in southern states - I'll keep you posted on how they do this spring! I guess if I'm told I can't do something, I go out of my way to prove I can!

I have some peonies ready to pop right now, and lots more starting to come up all over the place. I had several bloom last year in their 2nd and 3rd year, also. I guess my efforts for two or three years of waiting are paying off.