Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Friday - March 27, 2009
From: The Villages, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Non-Natives, Herbs/Forbs
Title: How to grow tulips and daffodils in Central Florida.
Answered by: Joe Marcus
QUESTION:
My question is how can you grow tulips and daffdoils in central Florida, just south of Ocala, a place called the Villages? I am from the Washington, DC area and truly miss these flowers, any help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED. Thank You.ANSWER:
Neither tulips nor daffodils are native to North America. As such, they are really outside of our area of expertise. However, we can give you some general advice that might help.
Central Florida is really too far south for tulips to perennialize, that is, come back year after year. You can purchase potted tulips and plant them out as very short-lived annuals, but that is about as well as you're likely to do with them in Ocala. The University of Florida Extension Service has published a nice online article on Bulbs for Florida.
While tricky, it is possible to grow some daffodils in Florida. A great resource for you is the website of the Florida Daffodil Society. Additionally, you can find some excellent growing guidelines at the website of the American Daffodil Society.
As champions of native plants, we would be remiss in passing up an opportunity to encourage you to discover the joys of Central Florida's native flora - plants truly in their place. A great place to start and a wonderful resource is the Marion County chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society!
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
Plant Suggestions for Shady Site under Trees in Alabama
April 03, 2014 - I live in Montgomery, AL and have a bare area (20' x 5’) that's shady and soil erosion is a problem. Grass stops growing at the drip line of the trees here. Do you have any suggestions for growing s...
view the full question and answer
Does a cenizo really predict rain in Austin?
July 18, 2009 - Mr. Smarty Plants, folklore has it that the flowering of Cenizo (aka Barometer Bush) is a predictor of rain fall. The Cenizo in South Austin is blooming profusely right now.
Does this portend a Noac...
view the full question and answer
plants for a rain garden's moist area in Central Texas
January 15, 2015 - I am looking for local natives to plant in the wet portion of a rain garden/bioswale. Can you help, please?
view the full question and answer
Stick with tried and true plants for a green roof in New York
May 12, 2013 - If I use Virginia creepers in a ground covered application for a green roof, how much soil should I provide depth wise?
view the full question and answer
Ground cover for Central California from Concord CA
July 19, 2012 - I live in a part of California where the summers can be very hot and dry but quite cool and wet during the rainy seasons in the wintertime. The soil around my home is very dry, rocky and infertile. I...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |