Just received my order from Brent and Becky's Bulbs..some of these I have never grown...could you tell me where (sun, full sun, shade, morning sun only) you are growing these with our hot texas sun??..TIA..Jeanne
Bessera Elegans aka Coral Drops ..research says Full Sun
Mirabilis "Jalapa" aka 4 oclocks?.. research says Full Sun
Ornithogalum thyrsoides "Alaska" aka "Star of Bethlehem" research says Part Shade
Asclepias Tuberosa aka "Butterfly Weed" research says Full Sun
Sparaxis Tricolor aka "Harlequin Flower" research says Full Sun
Triteleia laxa "Corrina" research says Partial sun morning sun only??
Tritonia Crocata "Pink Sensation" research says Part Sun
Are you growing any of these bulbs in Texas?? Advice please
Four O'clocks, and Asclepias tuberosa can take some shade. I don't know about the others.
Josephine.
Here in Arlington, TX (DFW area), 4 O'Clocks are reliably perennial for us (12 yrs), as are Ornithogalums, both in full sun. Both can handle moderate shade too, and are very tough. Most years I buy some Sparaxis and plant it in full sun, but it's a one-shot deal -- never comes back. I suspect that it needs better drainage. These things are very idiosyncratic though -- they might be fine in your garden; it's just trial-and-error. Asclepias tuberosa (and curassavica) was a vigorous perennial for about 8 yrs, then disappeared. We're totally organic, and some years, some bug, disease, climatic variation or whatever can remove plants that previously were reliable. You just have to experiment. I figure that about 1/5 of what I try initially will come back, but most of that 1/5th is here to stay.
Almost everyone in our neighborhood has a beautiful, purple-blue Triteleia in their lawns that blooms like crazy under any conditions, and most just mow it down (creating an overpowering garlic smell). I'm not sure about the commercial varieties, but this one is a weed and I could send you some.
If you're into spring bulbs, THE most reliable one for us is Tulipa clusiana var. "Cynthia". These multiply like crazy and are are spectacular in March. And, there are lots of Narcissus that do well -- try the Tazetta, Jonquilla, Cyclamineus, and Triandrus types (some really good ones here are "Hawera", "Minnow", "Quail", "Thalia", "Itzem", "February Gold", "Tete-a-tete", "Sundial", and "Jack Snipe". The best and cheapest source is vanengelen.com (if you're willing to buy 50-100 bulbs at once); otherwise, their partner site, John Scheepers (same company) offers exactly the same bulbs in smaller numbers for a slightly higher price.
Ultimately though, it's just trial and error, but these should be some good starting points.
I have four 'oclocks up against a west facing fence (am shade then full sun the rest of the day). They actively grow from late March to late October (same growing and blooming season as Morning glories). In fact, I have mine planted with morning glories to get the morning bloom with the glories and afternoon bloom with the four 'oclocks.
Mirabilis are very drought tolerant and do well even in poor soil (I've read that they dislike mulch and compost)
Mirabilis are difficult to erradicate once you have them (deep, large tubors). The plants do grow tall (I've read of one growing six feet) and do best in full sun.