Species Tulips worth trying in Zone 9?

Hi,

I'm in the San Jose bay area and I'm currently planting a new raised bed border. I'd like to try some species tulips if there is any chance of them coming back. Soil conditions are pretty much perfect and I can withhold water fairly easily after dieback.

Anyone tried/had success with species tulips in this area?

Also, due to the short stature of these tulips I have read that interplanting with perennials can be tough. Perhaps someone can recommend a low growing, flowering perennial that will at least partially mask the dying foilage.

Thanks

Depends how much you absolutely HAD to have tulips. When I lived in Brentwood (near Antioch), Z 9b, I had an extra refrigerator in the garage that I stole from DH so I could chill tulips and daffodils. Even then, it was hit and miss with the tulips depending if we went from 60 to 90 in one week or if we actually had spring weather. I didn't try the species types - had red darwin hybrids. They were usually good the first year, ok the second dependent on weather, and by the 3rd year, they would make foliage but no flowers, even with refrigeration. I gave up on them.

I grew species tulips very successfully south of Santa Rosa. We're a few degrees cooler here than in San Jose typically. I'll know in the spring if they were able to get a hold and naturalize. The only bulb I have the patience to dig up and refrigerate are the amaryillis.

Many daffodils naturalize well here. I've found that the Van Engen catalog is very reliable with their zone recommendations, and I've had several hundred successful reblooms in the naturalized area.

Alex;
I just read that T. clusiana cultivars need little chilling. Try them, they're cheap.
K. James

Thanks,

I did some more research and I found some answers in The Western Garden Book. I don't recommend Ortho's Bulb book - lots of nice pictures but they would have you believe that every bulb in there naturalizes everywhere!

According to Western garden the following species tulips should persist year to year in mild winter areas-

T. Bakeri (Lilac Wonder)
T. Clusiana (Lady, Candy tulip)
T. Saxatilis
T. Sylvestris

I ordered some Lilac Wonder and some praestans fusilier (had to have bright red even though it's not on the list).

I don't really mind digging them up every year and putting in new ones but I'm planning them for a mixed perenial garden with over planting and I'm not sure how easy this can be done w/o destroying much of the surrounding plants.