Tulips are not reliable perennial plants in the south. They don't get the chilling time that they require to do well. Sometimes they don't come back at all and sometimes they come back sparsely for a few years before stopping.

They are also enormously popular with squirrels and other pesky critters. Best to plant them in wire cages if you spend a lot of money on special ones.

I believe there are some "species" tulips that do better in the south. Hopefully someone will chime in about their experience with those.

There are several categories of bulbs/corms, usually divided into two groups: spring blooming ones which are available and planted in the fall (daffodils, tulips, crocus, hyacinth) and summer blooming ones which are available and planted in the spring (cannas, dahlias, gladiolas, caladiums) but which could also be planted in the fall if they are hardy (caladiums are not usually).

Here is a link that might be useful: A bit about species tulips

I have a few that have come back, but not that fantastic. Couldn't tell you what kind they are...they were cheap and I thought 'what the heck.' I don't think I'd put forth a huge effort for a bed of them, but I'm more of a daffodil gal anyway.

Here is a link that might be useful: What Walter Says

Jmzms, well I'd also like to mix in some daffodils as well. So I pose the same questions about them. When to plant, where to buy, how to plant, which types are best? are there any that bloom more than once, or longer than others? are they a bulb? are they expensive? full sun?

thanks

Daffodils - buy in the fall, plant in the fall (around November). There are early, mid and late season varieties so some people plant some of each for the longest show.

Some people swear by adding bone meal to the hole when planting.

They don't bloom more than one per season. Yes, they are a bulb and yes they like full sun. Not usually very expensive. Home Depot and other places usually have them at the right time.

Once they are done blooming, you want to leave the foliage in place - the plant uses that to absorb sun and get enough energy to bloom the next year. Once it starts to yellow, you can remove it. Some people plant other things (like daylilies) in front of them to hide the dying foliage (because daylilies come up after them).

thanks esh, I saw that Growers outlet has all of their daffodils at 35 cents each 10 for 3.50. Sounds like a pretty good deal right?

What other perrinials will do well north of atlanta?

My first planted tulip bed came back this year for the 3rd time. They came back pretty strong..but definitely not as good as last year. And the blooms didn't seem to stay as long as usual they were not as tight, they seemed more soft like and open.

I got all the tulips I planted this year (300+) at Lowes' at the end of the season and they were 50 and 75% off (I bought most of them at 75% off. This made bags of like 40 bulbs for $2 I think. They were very nice (and some are still coming up) I think when I got these, most people said it was probably too late...but I got them all in and had flowers pretty early.

rjinga

what time of year was it when you found the deals at Lowed and what time of year did you plant them and could you give me some details on how you plant them? do you have to amend the soil? how deep do you place them? thanks