Best Spring Bulbs for the Southern Pacific Coast Region

Optimum Planting Time:
There are two major fall planting seasons for the Southern Pacific Coast:

• Plant Mid-August (or as soon as available) into December
  B
ulbs that are native to the Mediterranean and other climates, such as
 babiana, sparaxis, tritonia, watsonia, bearded iris, ixia, Oxalis purpurea, Scilla Peruviana, freesias, the small alliums, etc.

• Plant Mid-October through late January

  Dutch bulbs including daffodils, dwarf narcissi, ranunculus, anemone coronaria, Spanish bluebells, muscari (grape hyacinths), lilies, and Dutch iris.
 Many are envious of your glorious year-round weather. But few realize how great your region is for gardening with flower bulbs! True, many of the bulbs you plant in the fall are different from those planted in the other regions.

Classic "spring bulbs" such as tulips, hyacinths, and crocuses will need pre-cooling before planting in your region and will most likely perform as annuals. (See pre-cooling info below).

But others – including the big yellow trumpet daffodils, dwarf narcissi, and iris – need no special treatment at all and should perennialize or naturalize, if not heavily watered when bulbs are dormant (after flowering, once the leaves have died back). Some tulips do better than others for you: try Single Late, Double Late, Lily-Flowered, and some of the species types. Local garden centers are generally reliable for stocking bulbs appropriate to your region.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9, 10

A. New England B. Mid-Atlantic Coastal C. Appalachian D. South Atlantic Coastal E. Great Lakes F. East Central G. South Central H. Tropical I. Gulf Coast J. Northern Central K. Central & Great Plains L. Rocky Mountains M. Arid West N. Northern Pacific Coast O. Southern Pacific Coast P. Alaska

Special Note
To pre-cool tulips, hyacinths, and crocuses, store at 35-45° F, for instance, in a refrigerator crisper drawer, for a minimum of 6 weeks and up to 14+ weeks. It's important to avoid storing bulbs near ripening fruit, as it gives off ethylene gas, which can damage the flower inside the bulb. Once removed from cool storage, plant bulbs immediately. Once cooled for at least six weeks, bulbs may be planted anytime from November through January – and regardless of when planted, they will bloom in late February/March.