Fall/Winter Bulbs in California

There are many daffs/narcissi that will come back in Zone 9-10--especially some of the old tazettas and jonquils. Look for the ones that have naturalized in the Riviera or Texas. I grow 'Avalanche', 'Grand Monarque', 'Grand Primo', campernelle, 'Trevithian', 'Erlicheer', 'Gardenia' , and the early paper whites like 'Ziva', 'Ariel', 'Galilee', 'Bethlehem', 'Golden Rain', etc. They thrive in our warm wet winters and dry summers and have multiplied to make nice clumps. Erlicheer and Avalanche are reputed to tolerate summer water from overplanting with annuals


Love those fressias.

I bought some cut ones in the grocery store for my DH(his favorite flower) and when they opened they had zero fragrance even though I purposely chose the creamy white ones which are supposed to have more fragrance. That's what I get trying to rush the season.

I have some old small Freesia albas in the garden which are VERY fragrant, however they aren't in bloom yet.

Chris

Thanks for the compliments on the daffie. I was surprised too, especially since the devil grass almost killed it.
Now freesia's are my second favorite fragrant plant. The tuberose beats it by a hair.
Yours come back, Rob and Chris? I got to find a place where they will be happy here.
Can't wait for yours to bloom Chris. Wish you could take a photo of the fragrance! Yummmy!
WIB,
SW

I have a ton of freesias. Someone once mentioned to me the beautiful fragrance. Fragrance? What fragrance? Turns out that with freesias, I'm the nasal equivalent of colorblind....I even started a thread on it in the Fragrant Gardening forum. It gave me great comfort to know that there are others like me out there!
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/906918/

SW, yes, they do come back here and I'll tell you something bizarre....When they bloomed the first time last year, I couldn't smell anything. I moved them to another spot in the garden...and this year, they smell great! I mean, it's not a heady smell like a gardenia or a jasmine...but more sublte....like baby powder.

rob, I think that is why I like them so much. It is such a delicate fragrance. What kind of baby powder are you using rob? Where do you have them planted now? I'm going to start planning ahead for next year so I can get over my Freesia envy! ^_^
ima, that is so sad. I think Freesia's smell really good. So do masses of 4 O'clocks in the evening. Thanks for the link. You are always so thoughtful that way.
WIB,
SW

4-o clocks I can definitely smell---I have a delicious white one that stands out in the dark and smells fabulous! I can save seeds next year if anyone is interested.

I am! I not really doing trades right now on a count of having a new born but sounds lovely. I've never grown 4 'o clocks.
frittilaria. I'm really wondering what these are going to look like.

Congratulations on your new little one! I'll take some pictures when they start blooming (right now they're completely dormant) and put them on my trade list. Frittilaria have always looked so interesting in the catalogs---anxious to see how yours do!

ima, mine are all different colors. Would the white ones breed true? I might be interested. I am thinking of lining a fence line between the trees with them. I love their odor.
Oh, looky at what I found today. Pity I can't remember what it is. Does anyone know? This one is beginning to bloom.
WIB,
SW

wonderearth, Congrats on the new addition to your family! ^_^
Here is the one next to it, that is already blooming.
WIB,
SW

Looks like a hyacinth?
I've had my white 4-o-clocks for about 5 years, and they keep coming back pure white. That being said, I don't have any other colors in my yard for them to cross-pollinate with, but I do know there are others not too far away. A single plant grows about 3 feet tall and wide. I have no idea where they came from---I didn't plant them, I just had one show up, and they've been back every year.

Ima, please save me some seed. I can always grow them in the green house. I'd love to try them out. ^_^
Anyone who wants the colorful 4 O'clocks, just let me know. I usually have them in abundance. Despite my stealth seeding at my friends condo. Tee Hee.
WIB,
SW

SW, I'll probably have some 4 o'clocks too. They produce tons of seeds! Hyacinths are all coming up now...

It's daffodil season!!!

Gorgeous blooms. Love the way the hyacinth smells!
Look at all those daffies, doss. WOW!
WIB,
SW

Has anyone in So. Cal. had luck with tulips? Mine came up last year, but didn't flower. The same bulbs are coming up again and I'm crossing my fingers for flowers this time!!!!!!!!! Susan

Mine only ever bloomed the first year. I think they need more cold, or a different location. Still hoping for the new tulips I planted to bloom. No joy yet.
WIB,
SW

smh, did you chill them in the fridge before planting? they should bloom the first year and then maybe not after. Did you buy them or trade them? You can force tulips inside so they should have bloomed despite being in too warm a climate. Also, I'm also in 9 and purchased some species tulips that are supposed to naturalize in this zone. They are up but not blooming yet. Here are some regulars.

I've never tried tulips, I think it's too hot for them over here. These Tazetta Dafs are supposed to come back in CA. This is the first time I grow them, I love it!

I've had great luck with daffs and ZERO with tulips. I've thrown a lot of money into the ground and never had a single one come back.

Wonderearth: Lovely tulips with the red/orange feathering and the light edges!! Do you happen to know their name? If they return for you , I would love to try some next year.

I grow some species types like T. bakerii 'Lilac Wonder', T. clusiana, and T. orphanidea which return for me. But I have also had really good luck with Fosteriana tulips specifically Red Emperors (aka Madame Lefeber). They have come back and bloomed for 5 years now. See my post above for Dec 5. This year I planted 100 White Emperors (aka Purissma) and 100 pink ones (Albert Heijn). The new ones are up and a buds are appearing--if the rain stops and we get some sun I think they will begin blooming in the next couple of weeks.

Tulips orphanidea (yellow-front) and T. Madame Lefeber (red-planted 2004) taken in Mar 2008--be sure to click to see red tulips

T. Lilac Wonder taken last year in March--so far this year only buds. Need a few sunny days. They were planted in 2002.

chris, just STOP it, please...LOL! You're just strewing temptation in my path!!

haha. Most of the time I treat tulips like annuals but I do have some that are big and red that do come back every year. I wonder if its the same as your chris. I don't know what they are called because they came in one of those forced florist bulb collections for inside the house.

I don't know the name of the orange/yellow tulip unfortunatly. I bought them while chasing my 2 year old little boy around the nursery. I grabbed them and threw them on the counter scrambling to keep the wake of destruction small : ) Next year I want to plant some of those "crocus". I hope I can keep track of this thread.

Tulip Albert Heijn

The first buds of my new Fosterianas are coloring. The stem is still short (6 In) but I expect it to get about 12-14 in tall when they are all open.

Ok, Ok Enough beautiful photos. I'm jealous enough!!!!!!!!!!! I guess I'll have to buy a six pack of ready to bloom tulips at Lowe's and pretend I planted them as bulbs........:(

Chris,
Don't listen to them! I love all your photos! Even if I am envious. At least with your diligence I know which ones are likely to bloom again year after year. Keep 'em coming! I'm making me up a shopping list! LOL!
The red tulips are beautiful! So are the T.Lilac Wonders. Such a pretty pink! ^_^ Can't wait for the other to bloom too!
Thanks for sharing the beauty in your yard. Do you give tours?
WIB,
SW

Tulip Albert Heijn

a Fosteriana tulip. The whole bed is about 80% open now. Some appear to be much more pink and some sort of peachy pink. Not sure if they will darken as they mature.

Just lovely, chris! All that hard work on your knees last fall paid off. Thank you for sharing. Us tulip starved people appreciate it.
WIB,
SW

oh thank you - that is so pretty !

Your tulips rock!! Have you had any luck with the parrot kind of tulips?

smhgarden: Thanks. I haven't tried the parrot tulips. I like to find tulips that will return and bloom for several years and somehow I got the idea that the parrot types would not do that in my climate. I know they grow gorgeous old parrot tulips out at Filoli which is only a few miles from me, but I think they plant fresh bulbs every year.

Beautiful tulips chris. I think that you are right about filoli. I've tried the parrot tulips adn they haven't worked real well for me. French late tulips are some of the best for here. There are naturalizing tulips that I have tried and they've lasted a couple of years for me but still, replanting every year is the best bet with tulips.

This is supposedly a Fall Winter Bulb thread but since we have had a lotta discussion about tulips that do well and even come back in our warm winter climates I decided to continue posting here.

Some more tulips. Tulip bakeri Lilac Wonder. These were planted about 7 years ago and have bloomed every year since. They are about 7-8 in tall, and get no summer water. The Fosteriana tulips, Albert Heijn, that I posted above get taller--12-14 in.

oh those are very cheery, remind me of Easter.

Wow, I love those tulips! For you folks who have been successful with them...can you let us know which sunset zone you are? I am zone 24, perhaps that is too hot for them isn't it?

Below: Freesias!

Robcorreia: Your freesias are beautiful and so lush. But look, are those Leucojum next to them? I had no idea that they would grow in such a warm zone.

According to their map my Sunset zone is 16 --- but we are elevated slightly and shaded heavily in winter by a steep ridge with tall trees to the south so we are often 5-10 degrees colder than just 2 mi down the hill.

Lilac Wonder is a species tulip native to Crete. Seems like that would be similar to your climate? I fertlize when I see the first shoots in Jan, but important to give them a dry summer after the leaves die down. Mine are growing at the top of a stone wall in very well drained, gravelly soil. They are small bulbs that only need to be planted 3-4 in deep and no pre chilling. Also easy to find from John Scheepers or Brent and Becky's or others.

Chrisw99, you have a good eye! Yes, they're Leucojum, they come back every year larger and better, blooming in the winter all over my garden.

rob, after yet another trip to plantfiles, I have questions about leucojum:
are yours in full sun?
how long do they bloom?

I see there's a spring variety and an autumn one....anyone tried planting both in the same spot?

Imapigeon, they are mostly in shade/part shade, under decidious trees. They bloom all winter until mid-spring, then totally disappear. I love them. The little leaves start peeking through the soil in the fall, giving me something to cheer up whem everything else is going to sleep!