What bulbs perform best in your southern garden?

....and what problems have you run into with growing bulb plants in the south?

Lookin' forward to future blogs/discussions! Thanks for starting this forum!

Thanks! - the low chill bulb factor I need. Is there a list for zone 9?

Harold, that's a good question. I did a little searching on line and didn't come up with a list specifically for zone 9. Brent & Becky's site is a good one for recommendations for southern gardens, have you checked them out?

I have a question about how/when to divide my daffodils. Some of them have already finished blooming, others are coming along. But I can tell i planted them too close together.When can I dig them up and replant for the best results? Any tricks i need to know?

Thanks Neal for setting this forum up. It's really difficult knowing which bulbs will survive down here!

Kat

Teacup, once your bulbs have finished blooming, and the foliage has had time to replenish the bulbs for next years bloom cycle, the leaves will start yellowing. That is the best time to dig them- while there is still some foliage attached and you can see where to dig (and avoid slicing into the bulbs). Once the yellowing starts, keep a close eye out- they disappear quickly. Here that happens in June for Daffodils, and a little earlier for other bulbs- probably a few weeks earlier in your neck of the woods.

After digging you can either go ahead and replant the bulbs, or store them in a dry place and replant in fall.

Kat, you're so welcome! Are you growing any bulb plants presently?

Well Neal...Not as many as I would like too!

But I am a Caladium Freak and plant them both in pots and in the ground...

Here's my favorite though - Neomarica or Walking Iris/Apostle Plant

And I know this isn't a favorite of all as it is sometimes considered a weed, but I love it in pots - Purple Oxalis

I've also been planting a few Amarylis lately - Here's Lady Jane

I love purple oxalis too KatG. It gives a punch of color for me.I've never tired it in a container though. Great idea!

Teacup - it goes great with others also...Here it is sitting with some Orchids

And is great for showing off light colored foliage plants

Those are gorgeous KatG! I have to go to work now.... drat, I can't wait to see what cubits has going on now that it is"live" ( KatG,Love your container cubit too)

Awesome Kat! I love purple Oxalis too, in pots and in the ground. Its not weedy at all here. I think the weedy forms of Oxalis have given the nice ones a bad name. That Walking Iris is gorgeous too! I'm a big fan of Caladiums too, gonna get some more for my shady deck containers for this year.

Have you tried Pineapple Lilies? I grow them in containers, but you'd have the option of keeping them in the ground there. Callas are great too, I've even found them winter hardy here.

I have several kinds of Daffodils blooming now. Here is one I really like - a tiny, mini, has come back now for 3 years.
It's really hard to get the perspective tho to show how tiny they are. Anyone else growing these?

Neal...I did try the Pineapple Lillies one year and they're okay. I had planted them into the ground though and my soil is so bad. They came up but weren't up that impressive. Next time though, I'm going to put them into pots.

Now Cannas...again when I plant them in the ground...they're just okay. But when I put them in Containers they're great. I wish I had of taken a photo of these when they had bloomed...but even without the bloom, the foliage is beautiful! (tropicana).

HaroldS, I love those tiny daffodils. Do you know the name?