I received 3 as a gift from McClure & Zimmerman. When I asked the same question, the reply was that I would love it! Bet it will thrive in your tropical zone. Lovely blue spheres of flowers. If you just got the bulbs planted, we can compare results!
Kristi

I planted a whole bunch of them one year. They bloomed gorgeously and were never seen again. Tried again in a pot, same thing. Dug them up in the pot and they had rotted away. I thought they were tropical then read somewhere they don't like heat and humidity!!!
I was very disappointed. Noone else I know had any better luck with them.

Do you grow scadoxus? AKA blood lily. If not then do! It has the most incredible huge red ball flower, then really cool speckled foliage, they usually go dormant in winter but not always. The bulbs range from about $3 to $10 depending on where you get them. They survived Ike in pots and in the ground. Though they were trashed when AT&T dug the 7' deep pit in the front yard. They last as cut flowers for quite awhile, I used to keep flowers on my desk & this one stopped traffic, everyone wanted to know what it was and where I got it.
Tally HO!

I am learning that Scilla peruviana do well in a cool, dry environment - that is definitely NOT Jacksonville. I am going to pass on these.

Tally, I have not tried blood lily yet, but I want to. I am keeping my eyes open for them.

Have you tried Lycoris radiata (Red Spider Lily or Hurricane Lily)? I haven't tried them, either, but am interested to learn more.

Here is a link that might be useful: Google images of Hurricane Lily

You can get Blood Lillies from Chris W at Southernbulbs.com
K

I have the schoolhouse lilies, like a mini red amaryliis and the lycoris-both red and the yellow. They are great.
Yeah, that was it cool and dry, NOT Galveston that's for sure! Someone had the scadoxus for a great price last year, let me think & I'll tell you what nursery it was, on-line, they have like a landscaping package, bulbs in bulk, so it worked out to about 2 bucks a bulb. Fewer were still the cheapest I've ever found.
Tally HO!

Scillia Peruviana rebloomed a couple times then rotted. Hurricane lillies, and Lycoris aureum bloom very well, but not first year after being disturbed.

Did you put them in pots or in the ground? Mine are just sprouting greenery. Have them in the greenhouse with all the Hippies...PAT...are you ready for the big freeze!?!?
K

In the ground, I dug the schoolhouse lilies around LaGrange. They are pretty hardy.
Keep 'em in the greenhouse this week!
Tally HO!

I have not tried any Scilla, but I do have a Scadoxus that I absolutely love! It has bloomed for me 2 years in a row! The plant, itself, recently faded and died... but the bulb is healthy. It'll rest now.

I highly recommend Scadoxus... as a pot plant in the colder zones, of course.

Good luck here with the Peruvianas. I guess our summer would count as cool and dry compared with the rest of the country. Most temps in 70's over summer and little rain during July-Oct. I planted it in the shade of a tall fir tree which also keeps it a bit dry. It does not seem to mind that the soil is quite infertile in that spot. It has been going fine there though quite neglected for at least 5 years. Guess I should get more of them! The metallic blue of the blooms is outstanding!

See? Lizalilly can grow them, there is no hope for us.

Jodi, I have some scadoxus in pots too, they are so cool you can move them to the porch and they can be seen, in the garden they are just a nice surprise to come around a corner and see them blooming.
Tally HO!

The first time my Scadoxus bloomed, it was like fireworks! The red ball of tiny florets is simply outstanding!

I was actually sort of impressed that it bloomed this year... I've got it in too small of a pot, and the soil is not the best. I can only imagine how it might look if I gave it a better home!

One of my freebies is getting ready to bloom. Will have the camera ready!
K

Eden's Blooms has Scadoxus for $3.99 a bulb or less for quantities of 3+ (free shipping in the US for orders over $50). I bought some before, but they didn't grow or bloom (or maybe they're growing in the yard and I just don't know what they are! LOL). If they didn't grow, I'm sure it's my fault.

Chance , those are gorgeous. I bought one pot this past spring - it was blooming- never seen one before so I had to get it . The bigger bulb is rotting in the middle - going to dig up and see if it can be saved. Glad I found this post.

I always use 3% hydrogen peroxide right out of the bottle in plant rot emergencies. Any fleshy root, rhizome, bulb, succulent, etc. can handle it full strength no problem (in my personal experience) It's an insecticide for soil dwelling pests in larval form that feed on root systems. It instantly aerates and loosens compacted soil that won't drain. It's totally safe and organic (you can put it in your mouth, it is an oral debriding agent afterall). It'll foam up on the plant just like it does when used to treat scrapes and cuts on skin. The more rot, the more it foams. If treating a plant in a container, the soil level will even rise like dough because the reaction's byproduct is oxygen and water. Once the foaming subsides, I give a splash of fresh water to wash any residue away. Let the wound dry and callus before watering again or replanting.