Hot-summer Tulipa and other species?
Leo A. Martin (Thu, 23 Jun 2005 17:29:06 PDT)

Hello,

This fall I'm going to be constructing a fairly large rock garden with
extremely well-drained soil and boulders.

I'm looking for suggestions as to bulbs to plant, especially species
Tulipa or others from Asia Minor and the Middle East, which I suspect
may have a climate similar to here. There is almost no information
available about growing Tulipa in hot summer climates.

Summer rain occurs between early July and mid September and falls as
deluges in thunderstorms. The ground dries in a few days. Daytime highs
are routinely above 105F for months on end. Night lows are in the upper
80s to low 90s during this time. About 60% of our annual average 8
inches of rain falls in the summer.

Fall is dry and temperatures decrease. By November nights are in the 60s
or lower.

Winter rain starts sometime in November. Gentle, steady rains begin.
But, they are spotty. Daytime temperatures are in the 70s or perhaps
60s, and nights in the 40s to 50s. Here, I get 5-20 nights per year with
a few hours below freezing, usually between 20F and 30F.

Winter rain stops and spring starts between February and April.
Temperatures begin rising.

I live next to some periodic streams and my soil consists of fist to
eraser-sized rocks with a little dust in between. I will be filling the
proposed beds with more substantial soil, but it will still drain fast
and have very little organic matter.

Mediterranean climate plants (bulbs, mesembs) do exceptionally well here
in the winter with supplemental watering. I have grown them in pots and
brought the pots under cover or into the house for the summer.

I guess the main concern will be the summer rain. Typically I will get
4-6 thunderstorms at my house. Each will wet the soil to about 2-4
inches. I think all but the most fastidious bulbs wouldn't mind such a
small amount of summer rain.

Bulbs that have done well here in the ground with little care include
paperwhite narcissus, Amaryllis belladonna, red Lycoris, common Muscari,
Calochortus (some native), Brodiea (B. pulchellum is native), common
Tulbaghia, Rhodophiala, and something with broad strap-shaped leaves
that grows every summer but never blooms. (Not Hippeastrum, not
Agapanthus.) Those that don't make it long include 'Chinese sacred lily'
yellow narcissus, Dutch iris hybrids, and any hybrid tulips, which are
annuals here.

From reading it seems some of the species Tulipa might do well here.

Suggestions?

Thank you,

Leo
--
Leo A. Martin
Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Some must watch while some must sleep-so runs the world away.
Shakespeare