Persistence and performance of spring-flowering bulbs in warm- and cool-season turfgrasses in a subtropical climate

Performance of eight spring-flowering bulbs, Chionodoxa sp. ‘Blue Giant’ (glory-of-the-snow), Crocus tommasinianus ‘Ruby (crocus), vernus ‘Remembrance’ Narcissus ‘Ice Follies’, N. ‘Tete-a-Tete’, ‘Thalia’ (daffodil), Muscari Magic’ (grape hyacinth), and Scilla sybirica (Siberian squill), was evaluated after planting into cool season tall fescue lawn [Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh. (syn. Festuca arundinacea Schreb.)] ‘Lexington’ warm-season hybrid bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. × C. transvaalensis Burtt Davy] ‘Tift 94’ (TifSport) subjected to various mowing regimes. In the first year planting, bulbs flowered over a three week period, with peak bloom from last February until mid-March. However, only daffodil Tete-a-Tete crocus Ruby Giant exhibited satisfactory persistence (defined as >40% flowers two growing seasons), although Thalia showed in lawn. Mowing treatment did not significantly affect total count second planting. Based on our results, Ice Follies, Siberian squill, grape hyacinth, glory-of-the-snow were non-persistent <10% seasons). The specially designed bulb planter used this study appear negatively impact turf health. This demonstrated that cool-season lawns could be successfully interplanted geophytes subtropical climate; however, species cultivars selection is essential ensure long-term maximum aesthetic appearance.