I want to add some tulips to the gardens but don't know which ones to get. I helped my friend plant 500 in her gardens a few years ago. She had purchased the big bags from WalMart and Lowes; they were absolutely beautiful the following spring but did not return. I would like to plant ones that will return for many years but have no idea what to look for or where to find them.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I don't want to spend a ton of money for only one season of blooms.

My favorites for reliable return are the species. There are several forms of T.clusiana, and they're the showiest species I've grown. Brent&Becky's Bulbs and John Scheepers (VanEngelen) offer a good assortment of species, and Touch of Nature offers a few varieties (at excellent prices).

Of the hybrids, the Darwin Hybrids are about the best for perennializing.

Even among those that are better about returning from year to year, they perform best in a location where they can dry out during the summer. They resent moisture during their dormant time.

Thank you so much, that get me started in the right direction!

I've read (and practice) that planting tulips very deep (8") will boost their potential perennialization. I do this especially with Darwins and have had some varieties successfully return for several years.

Kaufmanii and Greggii tulips are often good perennializers also. I've had good luck with T. humilis varieties like Little Beauty returning and even multiplying well, especially if they get "baked" (warm & dry, not next to a soaker hose, and good drainage is a must) in the summer.

Ditto regarding Critters comments on Little Beauty Kaufmanii. LB has increased like crazy for me. Sounds like I'll have to relocate several different species next spring though as I moved them to an area that I water a lot in the summer. Thanks for the life (lives) saving tip Critter.

I think bulbs in general like to be dry during their dormant period. I do have bulbs in beds that I irrigate with soaker hoses... I just put them along the edge of the bed or 2-3 feet away from the nearest soaker. The place where LB's have done best for me is in the bed along my side pathway... the bed gets irrigation, but there's really good drainage by the path due to its gravel underlayment, and I think they like the extra heat that the pavers soak up also.

Daffodils are one of the most reliable bulbs, as they are not eaten by critters. Tulips, however are considered tasty "dinner" by most critters, so even reliable varieties are prone to end up on their dinnerplate.

I have 4 or 5 packs of tulips, 12 to a pk free for shipping. They are posted on FB just scroll down until you see post:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bayou-Blooms-Tropical-Plant-Nursery/117103678306003


Happy gardening!
Dollie

That is were I Buy all my bulbs, Brent&Becky's Bulbs and John Scheepers (VanEngelen). Both have a really great selection and I get good bulbs. This past fall, I only put in about 75 tulips but the year before about 500. I hope the older ones show up and still look good too. Around here the tulips are really stunning the year after planting, okay the year afer and poor the third year and need new bulbs after that. I put my tulips deeper this time so hope that they might come back better, we will see. I like Darwin tulips but try other types also.

I see that this is an older thread but I will reply anyway.
I planted 'Blue Diamond' tulips 5 years ago in my yard in East Texas, in addition to many many other tulips. Of the several cultivars planted, the Blue Diamonds are the only ones that have returned year after year. This will be the fourth year they have come back.

Brent and Beckies has their bulbs up already for 2012. Order before July (I always do) and get the early ordering discount.

https://store.brentandbeckysbu...

I've found the species most reliable for returning. I have had many of the hybrids return but often they take a year or two to recover. I planted several varieties over a three or four year period and now I have a different show every year as some bloom and some rest. Dry summers and excellent drainage increase the chances of return as well.

Are the species the ones with the short stems? I like my tulips to have long stems. Not that they need to be really long, just what I think of as tulips looking.

The return I have this year on the darwins is very good. Looks like all of them. But maybe half only on the early tulips, if that. And some other fancy kinds I got did not come up at all.

Most species are shorter but some are tall. Tulipa sprengeri is tall as well as very late.

Thanks. I did just look at the species tulip section at Scheepers but they are not for me. Well, except for TANGERINE BEAUTY. I do like the looks of that one but it is too short and blooms too late for me.

Here's an example of how well species tulips naturalize.

Very cool.

That does look very pretty.

Great shot Brian