My wife's favorite flowers are tulips, but I have always read that they don't come back reliably in Texas, so I had never planted any. But recently I heard about two varieties that may work in Texas. The cheaper of the two is Tulipa Clusiana or Lady Tulip, and the more expensive is Tulipa Praecox or Texas Tulip (which cost $25 for two bulbs and only seems to be available here: http://www.southernbulbs.com/texas-tulip/).
Does anyone have any experience with either of these bulbs? My wife would be soooo happy if they really do work down here!
Dennis
Tulips for Texas?
i hadnt heard to the Texas Tulip, they look nice. i did plant a bunch of species tulips, tulip tardia, last winter. they are supposed to come back and mult. i dont know for sure yet. would love more info on the Tx Tulip, since it looks much larger than the species. i planted tons of regular tulips last year and they were gorgeous this spring, however, i knew they wouldnt really come back. :(
tracie
I purchased tulip bulbs from the school band once. (The band director didn't know they don't do well here) They bloomed the first spring. Before the summer was over an armadillo had found them along with a squirrel or two and they were no more.
I am about where you are on tulips (but I'll admit I ordered some Holland tulips that aren't supposed to do well here; I'm going to put them in the shade, and see for myself): I saw that southernbulbs offered tulips that will grow here, but the price was too high. Maybe you should set up a co-op, and see if southernbulbs would offer Dave's people a 50% discount. I'd get some!
Kendalia
you know they did away with coops? really hate that since i got tons of nice stuff from coops that i have been in. never had a single problem. last year i got a bunch of asiatic lilies and glads from two seperate coops. the lilies would have been upwards of $3 a bulb if you bought them regularly. we got them down under $1 a bulb due to bulk order. i would never have bought any at the higher price. but, i got about 50 nice bulbs using the coop and they were gorgeous last spring!
tracie
Aggie, check the recent 'sticky.' Coops are back on. Here is an excerpt:
"Co-ops went into a downward spiral: as more problems cropped up, fewer people were willing to act as organizer. Fewer co-ops meant more people wanted in on the few that were offered, which increased the risk of the co-op failing. We finally stopped co-ops altogether last year because of the problems.
Many people have asked us to reconsider our decision, and we have. We are going to allow co-ops once again."
wow! i hadnt been checking the forum since they decided to stop them. thanks for the info! :)
tracie
I planted Tulipa clusiana var. chrysantha in 2005 and they bloomed nicely. They came up the next year; however, they did not bloom. The following year, they disappeared and have not returned. This does not mean that they will not do well for others.
I bought some tulips at SAM'S two years ago. They came up last year and this year.
Mike
I planted some Tarda Tulips over 10 years ago, and they have come back every spring.
Some of the standard Dutch tulips will even come back to some degree if conditions are right. I had lots come back for me last year - not all but maybe 50% last year (these were single lates). The key is good drainage and soil that stays very dry during the summer. The colder temps you get, the better. On the species tulips, I have planted Tulipa bakeri "Lilac Wonder" and it came back well. Don't have those at the place we've had since 2006, though.
Easy to Grow Bulbs has a nice selection on species tulips that they claim will do well in warm climates. I have bought many other things from this company and they have great products - nice bulbs, and my luck with them has been really good. I might try species tulips from them next year - maybe even this year though I cannot bear the thought of spending more money on bulbs!!!
http://www.easytogrowbulbs.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=243
I went ahead and bought several varieties of clusiana on Easy To Grow Bulbs. I held off on the fancy one from Southern Bulbs - too rich for my blood. I have three different parts of the yard to try them in. Hopefully at least one works out. Wish me luck!
I may have to try out those Tulip Tardas if these don't work out. I think my wife would really like those.
Thanks for all the advice.
Dennis
Mine were planted in areas that had to be watered through the summer so I think that they may have rotted like SteveFtWorth mentioned.
Dennis...there's a guy here in Austin, Danny Fowler, that sells tulips, and some are considered species tulips. You might check out his website....texastulips.com ...Even if you don't buy from him, he has good planting information.
In the spring, Tyler home landscapes are full of tulips, every year. Tyler has the Azalea Tours. You might be able to contact them via the web or city site and ask them what most homeowners use. There are a kagillion of them, all kinds and they are beautiful.