Bulb Flowers For Texas

I have a few types of flowers that I grew up seeing in my granny’s flower gardens. Bearded iris were her favorites, my mother’s favorites and mine. But there’s more. Daylillies were always in my other grandmother’s garden. She would plant them in huge drifts. I have always grown gladiolus (as annuals), paperwhites, daffodils and muscari.

In Texas there are variations on some bulbs like daffodils that are made for the south. So: I grow all the above flowers. Plus, I have discovered some that are hardy outdoors that were a surprise. Here in zone 9a I can grow amarylis, gladiolus and canna lily outside, year round.

I have also grown dahlias. Although dahlias are usually not happy if not lifted in fall, even though they make it through our winters.

I rely on tuberous-rooted flowers because I really don’t have time to sow and care for annual seeds. These are the workhorses in my garden as far as flowers.

Some years: I add begonias. They will make it through our heat if they are planted early. I also like to grow caladium and Ipomoea (aka sweet potato vine), for the foliage but they are annuals here.

The only categories of bulbs I avoid are 1) tulips. They come up, start to open and we’ll have a hot day and the petals all fall off. They just don’t like our weather. And 2) peonies. I looooove peonies. But it’s too hot down here for them. (Crying a little tear.)

Anyway, I have found that most tuberous-root flowers do really well in south Texas, if I have them in amended beds with irrigation.

Meet you out in the garden to marvel at our flowers!

Crazy Green Thumbs