I'll respond. My sister in Austin, Texas grows tulips, albeit species tulips (T. clusiana types, T. sylvestris or saxatilis [can't remember which]) and I know some others there do as well. And it's a direct consequence of all those who "grow" tulips as Jim describes. Because there, more so than here in So. California I believe, one *must* refrigerate them for 6 weeks or so before planting them in the ground. And even then, if they don't bloom early enough, the flowers get destroyed by the heat that quickly develops in late spring there. And then that's it; they never return for a second year. So my sister (and others--Cynthia Mueller???) have hunted for and planted species that, while not as big and boldly colored as the Dutch varieties, come back each year, increase in numbers, and bloom all on their own without having to bother with all the yearly refrigerating, purchasing of new ones each fall, etc. I think that would count as growing tulips rather than "growing" them.... (Of course, none of her friends think they are tulips.) --Lee Poulsen Pasadena area, California, USDA Zone 10a On Aug 25, 2005, at 8:39 AM, Jim McKenney wrote: > But as John said, who indeed among us really grows South African > heaths - > and I'll add, or tulips?