Hello Uli: Thanks for your reply. Though there are seems some tropical geophytes, but the commercially available varieties are most derived from the tropical highlands and still grown and breed in the temperate countries. Most the common Hippeastrum, Ismene,Hymenocallis, Crinum, Gloriosa, Amorphophallus, Begonia, Gesneriads varieties bloom not reliably after first year and still be treated as annual pot plant. (Even the famous Phalaenopsis varieties of Taiwan, most are still cultivated in the cool house which remain below 30 degree C in our long summer, and need to be moved to the mountains in Autumn for chilling requirement for the Chinese New Year market) Hippeastrum: There are 1-2 species which cloud be perennial in Taiwan for long years, but most varieties are not blooming reliably after the first year. (Some nurseries in the hills do have better flower.) Ismene: Seldom bloom and even shrink by years. hymenocallis:///There/ are 1-2 evergreen species which cloud be perennial in Taiwan for long years but less common that the 1-2 species of Hippeastrum. The others Seldom bloom. crinum:///There/ are 1-2 evergreen species which common in Taiwan (1 should have naturally distributed in Taiwan), 1-2varieties seems also bloom well. Gloriosa: They perform better during the rainy summer, but not hot and sunny summer days, but easily broken by typhoon. Amorphophallus: There are some natural species in Taiwan. But most are in the mountains. Begonia: The tuber varieties are not common as annual pot plant in Taiwan, even Rieger Begonia are easier to see, but still as a annual pot plant. Gesneriads: Only the Gloxinia varieties easier to be seen in the market. But less and less common. But most people doesn't get them wake after dormant. And the species truly from the tropical lower-land are not easy to be imported, because there are too many pests share the same host with them and our crop. Though I also interested in the aquatic bulbs, but won't try. Because there are still some disease would cause by the Mosquito that threaten Taiwan even all year, and there are no free running water such as a river going through near my house for using. Fierycloud, Taiwan ----- Original Message ----- From: "Uli Urban" <johannes-ulrich-urban@T-Online.de> To: "Pacifib Bulb Society messages" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Date: 02 Oct 2010 19:13 GMT Subject: [pbs] perennial bulbs > Why do you gardeners from hot climates complain? If I were in your > climates...... I would dream to plant all sorts of Hippeastrum, Ismene, > Hymenocallis, Crinum, Gloriosa, Amorphophallus, Begonia, Gesneriads to > name but a few..... What about the tuberous blue tropical waterlilies > that go dormant in winter but hate our cool summers? > > Greetings from a colourful late summer/early autumn in my garden (Nerine > in pots in flower) > > Uli