Dear All, I did not fully understand the point about the best perennial bulbs, but nevertheless, here are my best perennial bulbs: Snowdrops, galanthus nivalis and its forms and hybrids. if planted in the right spot, half shade, into the leaf litter of especially Hazel (Corylus avellana) they are multiplying by themselves. Eranthis hyemalis, same treatment as snowdrops, produces masses of seed which takes 2-3 years to reach flowering size, I found the darker yellow Eranthis cilicicum not perennial. Cyclamen hederifolium, in flower right now, is of mediterraneann origin und likes hot summer temperatures. I am always surprised it is fully hardy here. It is fully dormant in summer, leaves appear with or after the flowers in autum and last until may. Seed have a sweet appendix which attracts ants which helps seed dispersal with seedling coming up around the adult plants and in unexpected places. hamburg new botanical garden (Klein Flottbeck) has most impressive carpets of Cyclamen hederifolium under its trees, My garden is not like this, though..... Muscari, I think the most vigorous one is armeniacum, It may seed but the main propagation is by offsets, forms very robust big clumps and is almost evergreen with only a very short dormany in high summer. Nacissus jacetanus, very dwarf and very early trumpet, from Spain but not from the mediterranean climate, it is a high meadow plant. I have one small clump which increased every year and produces fertile seed which I sow in pots and then plant the seedlings after a few years into the garden. lives under a semi-deciduus shrub (Choisia Aztec Pearl) dry in summer but not baking hot. Tulipa bakeriana 'Lilac Wonder' Tulipa batalinii, are my best tulips but do not set seed and do not really multiply but they are still there many years after planting which is very good for my garden. Dracunculus vulgaris, most impressive 'stinker' does not multiply but has come back vigorously for many years. Sets a lot of seed (should get some for the BX) The problem with its seeds probably is that it has a long dormancy before it germinates and that does not work in the open garden. Arum italicum 'Pictum' wonderful foliage from autumn to may, bright red seed heads in late summer. Selfseeds but the seedlings mostly are inferior in leaf patterns than the parent plant. is mediterranean and likes hot summers rest. Very hardy here. Fritillaria imperialis, lasts forever and the clumps become bigger if it gets plenty of fertilizer and IF LILY BEETLE IS CONTROLLED. Seed is sometimes set but does not germinate in the garden, I never bothered to sow it in pots. This is one of the oldest garden bulbs in Germany. Ornithogalum umbellatum, is almost a weed but I like its white stars that open wide in sunshine. propagation and spreading by millions of bulbils. I actually do not have it in my garden because it is too weedy but aquired another one under the same name which was said not to be weedy andI think it is a different species, bigger in all parts and taller than O. umbellatum. I garden in northern Germany, Zone 7 (but I find the US zones difficult to apply here) sandy soil, winter with sometimes severe frost, rain all year dry spelly in summer possible, all in all a moderate maritime climate with continental influx. What I can NOT grow in my garden: Hybrid Tulips, Hyacinths, Lilium, Crocus, this is due to mice and voles that eat the bulbs, I have some mouse-proof beds but this seems to be different from the open garden as they do not grow well in there either. Especially Hyacinths are very long lasting if not eaten and form big clumps in time. Nacissus tends to decline on sandy soils but are increasing every year on loamy or clay soilsand can remain forever in abandoned gardens if not shaded. The best, i.e. least decreasing ones with me are 'Carlton', 'February Gold' and obvallaris. Tête-a-Tête is not hardy enough as are all the mediterranean tazetta type ones. They are commercially grown in Israel so should do fine in California or other mediterranean climates 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