One of the South African genera I actually can grow in my much colder northern Oregon garden is Eucomis, probably because they are dormant in winter. To protect the bulbs I plant them quite deep, and put a thick layer of bark mulch on top. I think they don't grow so deep in nature. I grow them in a bed that gets watered a lot because it contains a large Franklinia. My plants flower well (in this bed I have E. pole-evansii, E. autumnalis, E. bicolor, and one of the purple-leaved hybrids) and are not floppy, as Terry and Mary Sue complained. Perhaps the deep planting helps with the latter problem? Also, the soil is quite rich, and I fertilize them along with all the other perennial beds, with an application of 8-month-release commercial pelleted fertilizer in spring, as well as occasional top-dressing with composted cow manure. Jane McGary Northwestern Oregon, USA where the ground is icy and dusted with snow today.