Perennial Tulips

Any advice on tulips that you have found to be perennial in upstate SC, or do I just need to bite the bullet and treat them as annuals? Thanks.

The species tulips are perennial in SC. They have gazillions of them at Riverbanks in Columbia and I have even gotten them to repeat for me down here.

Riverbanks is having a bulb sale now. They will ship and the charges are not too bad considering the bargain prices onthe bulbs. The bulbs they sell are known to do well in SC. I think the website is:
www.riverbanks.org

If that is not correct, just google Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden.


This message was edited Sep 8, 2008 2:02 PM

If you like large-flowered tulips try the Darwin hybrids. For a mixed-color look I recommend 'Gudoshnik'. If you want a solid color try one of the 'Apeldoorn' series. Both of these have returned for the past 5 years for me.

My favorite perennial species tulips for zone 7/8 are Tulipa clusiana types. If you want the true species T. clusiana get them from Old House Gardens. 'Lady Jane' is similar but the centers are yellow instead of dark (not quite as showy). 'Tinka' has a beautiful soft yellow petals with dark red exteriors. If you want the same size but with bright gold/yellow get 'Tubergen's Gem'. T. clusiana var. chrysantha has yellow flowers w/red exterior but about 1/2 the size of Tinka or Tubergen's Gem.

thanks for info on perennial tulips. yes available at the zoo.

https://www.riverbanks.org/forms/bulbsale.shtml

here's the link

I just ordered some more too. I love Old House Gardens but Riverbanks Botanical Garden prices are but a fraction of the OHG prices and I have always found them to be true to species. The Gladiolus byzantinus I bought from OHG cost close to $10 per bulb. The same ones bought at the Riverbanks sale were 10 bulbs for $6.00.

Thanks Alice

With this great weather comes the urge to do some ordering.

The species tulips I bought from them 2 years ago came back nicely last year,Those that weren't et that is.