Red Amaryllis, by Elenor Mason
Rockwall County (August 6, 2025) – If your desire is to have a year round garden of blooms, bulb gardening is your answer! Whether you are a garden newbie or a seasoned gardener, adding bulbs to your landscape provides an easy, enjoyable, and beautiful part of any southern garden design. They are great indicators of when spring, summer and fall seasons are here and can many times carry on through winter.
Most people think of tulips from Holland farms come spring in reference to bulb gardening; however, Heirloom bulbs are really the foundation of the southern garden – the “comeback stars,” that can last for years to many generations! They can be incorporated into formal, meticulously maintained garden beds or planted into natural yard settings. From varieties of daffodils, narcissus, amaryllis, crinum, lilies, hyacinths, gladioli, our USDA 8B plant hardiness zone allows for some of the most beautiful heirloom bulbs that offer amazing color pallets, heights, and textures to be grown. There is even a rare but gorgeous red tulip, also known as the Texas tulip, which is available to be grown for years to come.
Heirloom bulbs are perennial, propagate well and provide a pretty punch of color! They can also be planted throughout the year. Planning on where to plant, prepping the area to plant and planting appropriately the specific type of bulb is crucial to success! Most bulbs need to be planted in a sunny location. Prepping the soil to ensure proper drainage is very important. Too much water rots the bulbs while not planting deep enough can hinder their growth. Follow the planting guides, which are easy: always place bulbs with the points facing up and the bottom round with roots facing the soil. Many bulbs are forgiving and if they are planted on their sides, can find their way to grow. Using soil mixed with organic material to help with drainage, adding a good quality, slow-release fertilizer and then watering the soil well is very important. Mulching is also good. Once planted, they should adapt and naturalize very well. Be prepared to wait, though, as some bulbs may take months to a couple of years before they bloom. This is normal, so patience is the key! Once established and with blooms becoming beautiful and prolific, there is nothing better than sharing your bulbs with friends and family. Heirloom bulb gardening is truly the gift that keeps on giving! Happy bulb planting!
Want to learn more about the treasure of heirloom bulbs?
Rockwall County Master Gardener Association will host author and horticulturist Chris Wiesinger on September 19th at Liberty Hall inside the Rockwall County Courthouse. Beginning at 10am, Chris will be sharing valuable horticultural knowledge on how to grow and care for perennial bulbs. These heirloom bulbs will bring years of floral beauty and timeless charm to your cut flower garden and landscape. You will learn what varieties will grow in our area, when to plant each one and how to care for them. Mr. Wiesinger was featured in a New York Times story which affectionately dubbed him “The Bulb Hunter” and Chris later used that as the title for his book. In 2013, he wrote “The Bulb Hunter” detailing his life as a bulb collector and farmer.
Tickets are now available for purchase at: https://txmg.org/rockwall/
Following the program, will be a catered lunch from The Pie Queen herself, Tara Royer Steele, from Royer’s Pie Haven in Round Top, TX –– where dreams do come true. Tara is the founder of Gather and Grace and author of “Keep Your Fork, There’s Pie!” as seen on the Today Show with Hoda and Jenna.
By Lisa Walker, Rockwall County Master Gardener, edited for publication in Blue Ribbon News. Photos by Elenor Mason
From the Rockwall County Master Gardener Association: A year-round garden of blooms added by Melanie M on
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