It’s Time to Order Tulips and Daffodils, Here Are My Faves

By the time North Texans start to think about buying and planting spring bulbs, most suppliers are sold out. I always buy bulbs online because I need large quantities of specific varieties. To reserve my bulbs before they’re gone, I place my spring bulb orders now.

How to order spring bulbs:

1. When buying tulips, the best kind for NTX are single late or double late tulips. The term “late” refers to when the tulips bloom. If you plant “early” type tulips, they tend to have very small blooms and short stems or not bloom at all. Though debated ad nauseam, tulips should be pre-chilled to ensure proper bloom. When you order, ask for tulips to be shipped to you between October 1 and October 25. This allows for eight weeks of chilling before planting between Thanksgiving and Christmas. You can pre-chill tulips in the fridge, but do not put ethylene-releasing fruits or vegetables in there during this time. An extra garage fridge is a Texas gardener’s best friend. I use mine to store cured onions and then store bulbs. Tulips will not come back here in NTX. Treat as an annual.
2. We can grow nearly any type of daffodil, but the best types for strong perennializing include tazetta and jonquilla types. Daffodils do not need pre-chilling and can be planted as late as mid-January, but planting at the same times as tulips (between Thanksgiving and Christmas) is ideal.
3. Order as many as you can. Bulbs look best when planted in massive numbers. (Think Aboretum.) Pick one bulb type or variety and then order a boatload of them.

Best tulips for NTX:

Mrs. John T. Scheepers

Menton (my personal favorite)

Pink Impression

Kingsblood

Queen of the Night

Maureen

Dordogne

Renown

Sorbet

Temple of Beauty

Temple’s Favourite

Best daffodils for NTX:

Ice Follies

Carlton

Thalia

Gritty Southern Blend from Colorblends (my favorite)

Salome

Hillstar

Avalanche

Accent

Tahiti

Grand Primo

Erlicheer

Campernelle

Texas Star

For the best supply of Texas heirloom bulbs, visit Southern Bulb company.

Bulbs are available to purchase locally at most nurseries during planting time in December. Online suppliers include Southern Bulb Company, Colorblends, John Scheeper’s, McClure & Zimmerman, Dutchgrown, Breck’s, and White Flower Farm among others.

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Callie Works-Leary

Founder of The Dallas Garden School, Callie is an expert garden educator with 20 years of personal and professional gardening experience. She specializes in growing food, small-space gardening, managing community gardens, and plant propagation. She has an MBA from Southern Methodist University, a bachelor's degree from Skidmore College, and served as a horticulture intern for the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. Callie is a member of the Native Plant Society of Texas, The Herb Society of America, the National Garden Bureau, and is a Certified Texas Master Gardener.

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