Winter landscapes in much of Texas can be boring and lifeless for so long that one may think there will never be color again. Then in March, while the days are still short and the temperatures cool, hardy flowering bulbs poke through the soil and offer bright, happy color. To enjoy spring flowers however the bulbs must be planted in autumn.
What Spring Flowering Bulbs Work Best in Texas
A Texas gardener has many choices of spring flowering bulbs especially if one is thinking of them as annuals rather than perennials. If the garden requires perennial bulbs, those that are planted once in a area and continue blooming each year, some careful selection is needed. Scott Ogden’s book, Garden Bulbs for the South provides valuable advice and should be part of any Texas gardener’s library.
According to the Collin County Master Gardeners advice on spring flowering bulbs, “Gardeners in the South have a unique dilemma when it comes to planting tulips, daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs...most of the popular spring flowers will not 'naturalize' - or return year after year - for us, as they require a longer chilling time in the ground.” Here are some flowering bulbs that work well in most Texas gardens:
- Amaryllis
- Daffodils - sometimes blooms without replanting
- Jonquils - sometimes blooms without replanting
- Crocus - sometimes blooms without replanting
- Tulips
- Lilies - sometimes blooms without replanting
- Grape Hyacinths - usually blooms without replanting
- Ranunculus
- Iris - usually blooms without replanting
How to Plant Spring Flowering Bulbs
The good news is that spring blooming bulbs are not too picky about soil types—sandy, clay or loam is okay. However, the soil must be well drained. Bulbs that sit in wet soggy soil are likely to rot rather than bloom. Blooming bulbs like sunlight, but remember that many shady areas in summer will have bare branches in spring and allow plenty of sunlight.
Plant the bulbs in well-worked, composted soils. Selecting good bulbs rather than bargains ones provide a much better chance of having excellent blooms. Plant bulbs in October or November with the pointy part of the bulb facing up. As a general rule, plant the bulbs to a depth that is three times the bulbs diameter. Neil Sperry in his book, Complete Texas Gardening (Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, 1991) recommends the following bulb planting depths:
- Lilies 6"-7" (cannas more shallow around 4")
- Tulips 7"
- Amaryllis 2"
- Iris 1" (with cut leaves above the soil line)
- Daffodils 6"
- Jonquil 5"
- Crocus 4"
- Hyacinth 6"
- Ranunculus 2"-3"
Plant spring flowering bulbs in clusters or groupings to gain a nice visual effect. Do not forget to mark where the bulbs have been planted. After blooming, cut back flowering stems to the ground and cut the leaves after they have died back naturally.
Barbara Brown - Internet readers are looking for answers to their questions, so that is what I try to do - provide useful information from the perspective ...
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