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Best Spring Bulbs for the Tropical Regions

Spring Bulbs, Spring Flowers

Tropical Regions, Spring Bulbs for Tropical Regions, Spring Flowers for Tropical Regions,US Region Map, US Planting Map

Your climate seldom if ever, gets a frost and has hot humid summers. It is the ideal climate for a vast assortment of summer-blooming, tropical bulbs, but not particularly hospitable to the traditional hardy spring-flowering bulbs such as tulips.

Optimum Planting Time: December 1st – January 31st
USDA Hardiness Zones: 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		 U.S. Bulb Planting Regions Map

General Instructions

  • The range of lush tropical bulbs available to you is mind-boggling ("to die for" as some Northerners would say!). But hardy spring-flowering bulbs such as tulips are a fish out of the water, in your neck of the woods. Still, if you crave seeing tulips in spring, check out your local garden retailer or florist for pots of nursery-grown tulips and other traditional spring bloomers.

Guide Information

Plant Type Bulbs
Season of Interest Spring
Height
Spread

List of Bulbs for Perennializing (return for several years)

Amaryllis Apple Blossom, Amarylis Bulbs, Hippeastrum Apple Blossom, Hippeastrum BulbsAGM Award

Amaryllis ‘Apple Blossom’ (Hippeastrum)

Award-winning Amaryllis ‘Apple Blossom’ (Hippeastrum), an old-time favorite, is a real knockout with its large, funnel-shaped, white flowers, up to 7 in. across (17 cm), delicately brushed with soft pink. Long-lasting, they are adorned with an extensive bright green throat lined with a ring of red dots. Introduced in 1954, this large flowering Amaryllis is one of the most popular pink Amaryllis. Elegantly rising to 20 in. (50 cm), each bulb usually produces 2-3 stems and 4-6 flowers per stem and blooms 6-8 weeks after planting.

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Amaryllis Dancing Queen, Amarylis Bulbs, Hippeastrum Dancing Queen, Hippeastrum Bulbs, Bicolor Flowers, Bicolor Amaryllis

Amaryllis ‘Dancing Queen’ (Hippeastrum)

Resembling peonies, Amaryllis ‘Dancing Queen’ will take your breath away. This stunning beauty mesmerizes the viewer with extra large, luscious, frilly edged, double flowers, up to 9 in. across (22 cm), adorned with red and white stripes. The dramatic blossoms are packed with 12-14 tepals and several petaloid stamens. Elegantly rising up to 20-22 in. (50-55 cm), each bulb usually produces 2-3 stems with 3-4 flowers per stem and blooms 5-6 weeks after planting.

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Amaryllis Double Record, Amarylis Bulbs, Hippeastrum Double Record, Hippeastrum Bulbs, Bicolor Flowers, Bicolor Amaryllis

Amaryllis ‘Double Record’ (Hippeastrum)

One of the most eye-catching Amaryllis, ‘Double Record’ (Hippeastrum) is a gorgeous beauty with large, white, double flowers, up to 6.5 in. across (16 cm), delicately brushed with raspberry-red around the edges and adorned with a bright lime-green throat lined with a ring of red dots. Each long-lasting, frilly edged blossom is packed with 9-15 tepals and 2-4 petaloids. Elegantly rising up to 14-18 in. (35-45 cm), each bulb usually produces 2-3 stems with 5-6 flowers per stem and blooms after 6-8 weeks after planting.

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Amaryllis Hercules, Amarylis Bulbs, Hippeastrum Hercules, Hippeastrum Bulbs, Red Amaryllis, Red Flowers

Amaryllis ‘Hercules’ (Hippeastrum)

Amaryllis ‘Hercules’ (Hippeastrum) is quite flamboyant with its large, deep, rich carmine-pink flowers, up to 8 in. across (19 cm)! Elegantly rising up to 24 in. (60 cm), each bulb produces 2-3 stems and 4-6 flowers per stem and blooms 8-10 weeks after planting.

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Amaryllis Jewel, Amarylis Bulbs, Hippeastrum Jewel, Hippeastrum Bulbs, White Flowers, White Amaryllis

Amaryllis ‘Jewel’ (Hippeastrum)

Amaryllis ‘Jewel’ will take your breath away. How not to be mesmerized by this stunning beauty with large, semi-double, trumpet-shaped, cream flowers, up to 6.5 in. across (16 cm), exuding a delicate fragrance? Occasionally, the flowers are fully double or even single, but more often they emerge semi-double, adorned with 6 tepals and 6 petaloid stamens. The foliage of dark green leaves remains fresh looking for up to 10 months. Elegantly rising up to 14-20 in. (35-50 cm), each bulb usually produces 2-3 stems with 2-4 flowers per stem and blooms 6-8 weeks after planting.

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Amaryllis Nymph, Amarylis Bulbs, Hippeastrum Nymph, Hippeastrum Bulbs, White Flowers, White Amaryllis

Amaryllis ‘Nymph’ (Hippeastrum)

Bringing instant glamor to your home, Amaryllis ‘Nymph’ (Hippeastrum) is a voluptuous beauty with extra large, glistening white, double flowers, up to 10 in. across (25 cm), resembling peonies and delicately brushed with soft pink stripes! A magnificent, double flowering Amaryllis, packed with up to 14 tepals and several petaloids, that makes wonderful cut flowers. Elegantly rising up to 14-18 in. (35-45 cm), each bulb produces 4-6 flowers per stem and blooms 8-10 weeks after planting.

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Amaryllis Orange Souvereign, Amarylis Bulbs, Hippeastrum Orange Souvereign, Hippeastrum Bulbs, Amaryllis Orange Sovereign, Hippeastrum Orange SovereignAGM Award

Amaryllis ‘Orange Souvereign’ (Hippeastrum)

Robust and stunning, award-winning Amaryllis ‘Orange Souvereign’ (Hippeastrum) is an exceptional variety with large, frilly edged, brilliant orange flowers, up to 8 in. across (20 cm). Long-lasting, the well-proportioned, exquisitely veined blossoms are enhanced by the bright green leathery foliage and never fail to attract attention. A large flowering Amaryllis that is very popular, reliable and regarded by many as the finest, large, deep orange hybrid. Elegantly rising up to 14-16 in. (35-40 cm), each bulb usually produces 2-3 stems and 4-6 flowers per stem and blooms 6-8 weeks after planting.

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Amaryllis Picotee, Amarylis Bulbs, Hippeastrum Picotee, Hippeastrum Bulbs, White Flowers, White AmaryllisAGM Award

Amaryllis ‘Picotee’ (Hippeastrum)

Bringing instant glamour to your home, award-winning Amaryllis ‘Picotee’ (Hippeastrum) is quite amazing with its large, crispy white flowers, up to 6 in. across (16 cm), with just a hint of red around the petals! An Amaryllis of choice with its audacious, sexy tropical-looking blossoms to help take the gray chill out of the dead of winter! Elegantly rising up to 24 in. (60 cm), each bulb produces 4-6 flowers per stem and blooms 8-10 weeks after planting.

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Amaryllis 'Red Lion, Amarylis Bulbs, Hippeastrum 'Red Lion, Hippeastrum Bulbs, Red Flowers, Red AmaryllisAGM Award

Amaryllis ‘Red Lion’ (Hippeastrum)

Award-winning Amaryllis ‘Red Lion’ (Hippeastrum), an old-time favorite, is a real knockout with its large, voluptuous, rich red flowers. So festive and glamorous! Elegantly rising up to 24 in. (60 cm), each bulb produces 2-3 stems and 4-6 flowers per stem and blooms 7-9 weeks after planting.

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Amaryllis Rio Negro, 'Rio Negro' Amaryllis, Amarylis Bulbs, Hippeastrum Rio Negro, Hippeastrum BulbsAward General

Amaryllis ‘Rio Negro’ (Hippeastrum)

Resembling the exotic Butterfly Amaryllis (Hippeastrum Papillio), Amaryllis ‘Rio Negro’ is truly graceful and eye-catching with abundant, spider-like flowers presenting bright green midribs and elegantly dark red veined petals. Up to 6 in. wide (15 cm), the blossoms rise on dark purple stems, another unusual and interesting trait. Imagine the lovely and long-lasting bouquet this Amaryllis creates! Winner at the 2007 Keukenhof Amaryllis show. Elegantly rising up to 15 – 24 in. (37 – 60 cm), each bulb produces 1 to 3 stems and 1-3 flowers per stem and blooms after 8-10 weeks.

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Amaryllis Royal Velvet, 'Royal Velvet' Amaryllis, Amarylis Bulbs, Hippeastrum Royal Velvet, Hippeastrum Bulbs, Red FlowersAGM Award

Amaryllis ‘Royal Velvet’ (Hippeastrum)

With one of the largest flowers, award-winning Amaryllis ‘Royal Velvet’ will surely draw the attention of all! Up to 9 in. wide (22 cm), the flowers are far from being flashy or gaudy as a result of their distinctive and elegant dark burgundy red color. Arising 4 per stem on sturdy and long-lasting plants, they will succeed in bringing their glamour to help take the gray chill out of the dead of winter! Elegantly rising up to 24 in. (60 cm), each bulb usually produces 2-3 stems and 4 flowers per stem and blooms 6-8 weeks after planting.

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Amaryllis Samba, 'Samba' Amaryllis, Amarylis Bulbs, Hippeastrum Samba, Hippeastrum Bulbs, Red Flowers

Amaryllis ‘Samba’ (Hippeastrum)

Amaryllis ‘Samba’ will take your breath away. This statuesque beauty mesmerizes the viewer with its 7 in. (19 cm), slightly ruffled flowers. Bright red, the rounded petals are strikingly adorned with a white star at their heart and white tips. A large flowering Amaryllis variety that will make you dance! Elegantly rising up to 24 in. (60 cm), each bulb produces 2 to 3 stems and 4-6 flowers per stem and blooms after 6-8 weeks.

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List of Bulbs for Naturalizing (return & multiply)

Oxalis tetraphylla 'Iron Cross', Good Luck Plant 'Iron Cross', Iron Cross Oxalis, Red flowers, Foliage Plant

Oxalis tetraphylla ‘Iron Cross’ (Good Luck Plant)

Exceptionally rewarding, Oxalis tetraphylla ‘Iron Cross’ (Good Luck Plant) is a bulbous perennial forming a lush mound of rich green leaves composed of 4 heart-shaped leaflets, each with a dark purplish blotch at its base. The burgundy marking across the center of the leaves is reminiscent of a cross. During the day the leaves open out to receive sunlight but at night they retract and fold up like small umbrellas, adding interest to the plant. From early summer until frost, the handsome foliage is topped by sprays of trumpet-shaped, bright pink flowers. Easy to grow and not invasive, this Good Luck Plant makes a colorful addition to rock gardens and offers a long season of interest when grown in containers.

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Oxalis triangularis, Purple Shamrock, False Shamrock, Pink flowers, Purple Foliage, Love Plant, Luck Plant

Oxalis triangularis (False Shamrock)

Sought after for its beauty, Oxalis triangularis (False Shamrock) is a bulbous plant forming a lush foliage clump of trifoliate leaves that close at night and open wide to the morning light. Each leaf has the shape of a little heart but is triangular like butterfly wings. Depending on the variety, the foliage may be rich purple or green, sometimes with a darker triangle of color in the center. In summer, umbels of delicate, five-petaled flowers, white or pale lavender-pink, appear atop slender stems, above the handsome clover-like foliage. This is a very easy foliage plant to cultivate and maintain. Incredibly long-lived, False Shamrock is a good choice for containers, borders, or indoors. Great as a ground cover in mild winter areas.

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Oxalis triangularis subsp. papilionacea, Purple Shamrock, False Shamrock, Oxalis regnellii, Oxalis regnellii 'Brazilian Butterfly', Pink flowers, Purple Foliage, Love Plant, Luck PlantAGM Award

Oxalis triangularis subsp. papilionacea (Purple Shamrock)

Adding striking color to borders or pots, Oxalis triangularis subsp. papilionacea (Purple Shamrock) is a bulbous plant forming a lush foliage mound of deep burgundy, trifoliate leaves that close at night and open wide to the morning light. Each leaf has the shape of a little heart but is triangular like butterfly wings. In summer, umbels of delicate, five-petaled flowers, white to pale lavender-pink, appear atop slender stems, above the handsome clover-like foliage. This is a very easy foliage plant to cultivate and maintain. Incredibly long-lived, Purple Shamrock is not invasive and is a good choice for containers, borders, or indoors. Great as a ground cover in mild winter areas.

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Special Note
The group of bulbs below are from warmer climates that do not require much if any cooling. Hippeastrum (amaryllis) — which thrive in hot, humid climates — make perfect 'tulips for the south' with their sturdy stems and large velvety flowers in a broad range of colors (including stripes!). In general, in areas where the garden isn't far above sea level, raised beds can improve drainage after hot, humid, summer storms.

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Plant Type Bulbs
Season of Interest Spring
Height
Spread

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