Bulbs for Ellis County

flowerlover · Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 107 Location: Waxahachie,TEXAS

It will soon be bulb planting time, but this will be my first attempt at it, other than cannas. Do any daffodils or narcissus or tulips do well down here and actually COME BACK the next year left in the ground year-round?

dragonfly · Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 7:15 pm Post subject:

Daffodils and narcissus do well here. Tulips will survive and will bloom every year, but it really doesn't get cold for a long enough period for them to thrive in this climate. Irises are a great choice (though not a true bulb as far as I know). Some species of lilies also do well here. Oh, I almost forgot to mention that grape hyacinth and crocus bulbs do pretty well also.

flowerlover · Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 107 Location: Waxahachie,TEXAS

Thank you, Dragonfly. What kind of soil do you have where you are? We have the thick black clay. I know these kind of bulbs don't like wet feet, so I'm going to incorporate plenty of drainage. But I wonder what I might need to add to the soil here to help all the bulbs you mentioned do well. Does anyone know?

dragonfly · Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 9:11 pm Post subject:

Our soil is probably pretty similar to yours. We are in a bottomland area and have a creek that goes through the property. The soil is high in organic matter, but also high in clay and fairly alkaline. I don't do anything special to the soil where I plant bulbs. but they are not in a flat area that holds water. I terraced a hillside a few years ago, and that's where my bulb garden is.