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.
I love installing southern daffodils, but some need extra care to come back.
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.
Amaryllis does well here but watch out for deer and rabbits.
Invasion of the daylillies. They are starting to shade out everything else. They still look nice next to the wine leaf crepe myrtles.
I have also grown dahlias. Although dahlias are usually not happy if not lifted in fall, even though they make it through our winters.
My favorite dahlia color.
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.
I love installing caladium, but they don't make it through the winter, even though ours are mild.
Chartreuse potato vine.
Dark purple leaf potato vines. These guys go nuts when I grow them but are definitely annuals.
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.)
Begonias can handle our heat and drought but they need to be planted early to do this. Sometimes these even come back the next year. But over time, they fade out.
Over the years, this bed has changed a lot. Some perennials faded away, some years I got tired of installing annuals. Now the daylillies have taken over. I'll be dividing this fall and putting some saliva back in.
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
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