Bulbs ?

I recently purchased some bulbs that came from Conroe Texas. The seller did not know what kind of bulbs the are. They are red ( clusters of flowers with a yellow center.)Yhe foliage looks like some kind of lily.The bulbs are a pretty good size, about like a turnip. According to the seller, they are very prolific in Texas and bloom in the fall, Can anyone tell me what they are? I am wondering if I can plant them now since here in NJ it can get pretty cold, or should I store them and plant them in the spring?

They are probably this:
Rhodophiala bifada
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/54021/index.html

In which case they are hardy up to 7--try planting in containers but wherever you plant, plant them deep. If they are not this bulb, then probably lycoris radiata. I could tell you which if you told me the price you paid for them. Oxbloods are going from about $8-10/more for the pink form (which is very nice too--I have it) or about $3-4 for Lycoris radiata. Lycoris radiata needs to be planted about neck of the bulb even with soil level. Both are fall blooming bulbs (late summer for Oxbloods down here--September)
Debbie


This message was edited Oct 21, 2006 3:52 PM

Wow, Julie, they sound so nice I wish I had some! But here in Massachusetts they would definitely be an expensive annual and even if I planted them in early spring they wouldn't have enough of a lifespan to flower before they froze to death. I suspect the same would be true for you.

xxxxx, Carrie

Well I planted them. Here in NJ our winters vary some mild and others brutal. I planted them very deep and mulched them really well according to instructions. We are here in southern NJ zone 6B which i thought were close enough to zone 7 to give it a try. I'll just pray for a mild winter.