Bulbs species that grow well in the Deep South (Part 3)

Narcissus can be well adapted or very picky, depending on the kind.  There are many types, derived from several original species, native to mountainous regions of such places as the Caucasus.  Enthusiasts have divided them into strict categories, based on floral form and habit, but not on adaptability.  You frequently see clumps of yellow jonquils still growing on old home sites; the houses and people are long gone but jonquils remain.  Where the land starts to rise from the coastal plain, you will find naturalized trumpet daffodils, such as the variety King Alfred.  Few daffodils do well south of that line.  Some varieties that do are Ice Follies, Fortune, Thalia (white), Tete-a Tete (dwarf and yellow), February Godl, and Baby Moon, whch has branched flower stems with one inch yellow flowers.   Some of the old white narcissus that bloom in midwinter in the coastal south have been passed along for generations.  Paper-white narcissus, often forced during winter, need no chilling period and if they are properly handled during shipping, are almost certain to bloom the first season from dry bulbs.  After bloom these may be planted into the garden and, after a year to make new leaves and initiate new flowers, can repeat for years. 

A longevity and performance study done at LSU identified several small-flowered bulbs that perform well and persist in south Louisiana and in other areas of the coastal South.  These include Broiaea Laxa, which wens up striking blue flower clusters on stems about twelve inches tall before leaves grow in late spring.  Scilla campanulata, sometimes called Canterbury bells, produces stems about a foot tall with clusters of one-inch, nodding, bell-like flowers (they can be blue, white or pink).

Triteleia uniflora sends up leaves in early winter, then one-inch star-shaped flowers on six-inch stems in early spring.  These increase from offsets as well as seeds, and may invade the lawn near beds where they grow.  Most people find this desirable, especially as it is too early to mow the grass.  Later on, just mow over them.

One invader that can be troublesome is star-of-Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum).  this grows about eight inches tall, with leaves emerging in early winter, and flwers in spring with clusters of white blooms with dark centers.  Charming as they are, they produce huge numbers of offsets that spread throughout the bed, defying efforts to remove them.

Rain lillies, species of Habranthus and Zephyranthes can border beds without becoming a nuisance.  These got the common name from their habit of respondingto rains, especially after dry spells, with a profusion of flowers.  Some bloom as early as April in the humid South-some as late as September.  Most are native to Mexico or to Central or South America-a few are native to the Gulf crescent from south Florida through coastal Texas.  Severe cold limits the range of most.  Flowers are usually from one to three inches across, lilylike on stems up to 18inch tall.  Colors range from white and yellow through rose and pink; apricots and pure reds are known.
Cannnas used to be more popular back in the old days, because they take up a lot of space.  There is a leaf roller insect that turns up wherever cannas are grown.  This little critter presents a constant challenge to anyone who tries to keep cannas' foliage looking good.

Callas are old-fashioned plants that have been dramatically improved by breeders in recent years.  We all thought that callas were like lillies as the tall, white zantedeschia aethipica with 3 foot stems.  We also thought of them as plants for funerals, but the newr forms and species, especially Z. elliotiana (yellow) and Z. rehmannii (red) have some really "hot" colors and smaller plants, they would look out of place at a funeral.  You can now choose from colors such as coral, pink, burgundy or yellow-some with attractive white spotted leaves.  All of these will be damaged by hard freezes, but mulching will protect them into the mid-twenties, or they can be lifted and stored over colder periods.

We almost forgot to mention Leucojum aestivum, the snowflake.  This small spring-flowering bulb can substitute for lily-of-the valley (convallaria), which does not do well in hot weather.  


Snowflake makes stems about a foot tall with clusters of nodding, bell-like blooms, which are white with a distinctive green dot at the ends of the floral segments.  

Thanks to Ed and Leon