When to plant tulip bulbs in Texas

Fall planting in Houston

Dec 15–Jan 15

Across Texas the window opens between October 15 and December 15. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Houston: Dec 15–Jan 15
Last frost, Houston: Feb 2

Plant from 2 weeks before to 3 weeks after the first fall frost. Plant once the soil has cooled below 60°F. Bulbs need 12–14 weeks of cold to flower in spring. In the warmest parts of Texas, chill bulbs in the fridge for 8 to 10 weeks first and plant in late December.

Tulip bulbs planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

HoustonDec 15–Jan 15

San AntonioNov 14–Dec 15

DallasNov 15–Dec 15

Fort WorthNov 10–Dec 15

AustinDec 15–Jan 15

El PasoNov 6–Dec 11

ArlingtonNov 7–Dec 12

Corpus ChristiDec 15–Jan 15

PlanoNov 7–Dec 12

LubbockOct 28–Dec 2

LaredoDec 15–Jan 15

IrvingNov 10–Dec 15

GarlandNov 7–Dec 12

FriscoNov 7–Dec 12

McKinneyNov 1–Dec 6

Grand PrairieOct 30–Dec 4

AmarilloOct 15–Nov 19

BrownsvilleDec 15–Jan 15

DentonNov 6–Dec 11

KilleenNov 3–Dec 8

MesquiteNov 5–Dec 10

McAllenDec 15–Jan 15

PasadenaDec 15–Jan 15

WacoNov 6–Dec 11

MidlandOct 26–Nov 30

Round RockNov 6–Dec 11

LewisvilleNov 3–Dec 8

CarrolltonNov 7–Dec 12

AbileneOct 27–Dec 1

PearlandDec 15–Jan 15

All 171 cities

City	Fall planting	Last frost
Houston	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 2
San Antonio	Nov 14 to Dec 15	Feb 25
Dallas	Nov 15 to Dec 15	Mar 2
Fort Worth	Nov 10 to Dec 15	Mar 5
Austin	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 20
El Paso	Nov 6 to Dec 11	Mar 2
Arlington	Nov 7 to Dec 12	Mar 9
Corpus Christi	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 22
Plano	Nov 7 to Dec 12	Mar 7
Lubbock	Oct 28 to Dec 2	Mar 24
Laredo	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 25
Irving	Nov 10 to Dec 15	Mar 8
Garland	Nov 7 to Dec 12	Mar 7
Frisco	Nov 7 to Dec 12	Mar 7
McKinney	Nov 1 to Dec 6	Mar 17
Grand Prairie	Oct 30 to Dec 4	Mar 20
Amarillo	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 15
Brownsville	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 9
Denton	Nov 6 to Dec 11	Mar 13
Killeen	Nov 3 to Dec 8	Mar 14
Mesquite	Nov 5 to Dec 10	Mar 12
McAllen	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 9
Pasadena	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 30
Waco	Nov 6 to Dec 11	Mar 9
Midland	Oct 26 to Nov 30	Mar 26
Round Rock	Nov 6 to Dec 11	Mar 11
Lewisville	Nov 3 to Dec 8	Mar 14
Carrollton	Nov 7 to Dec 12	Mar 7
Abilene	Oct 27 to Dec 1	Mar 20
Pearland	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 31
College Station	Nov 16 to Dec 15	Feb 27
Odessa	Nov 2 to Dec 7	Mar 15
New Braunfels	Nov 4 to Dec 9	Mar 8
League City	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 31
Conroe	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 24
Richardson	Nov 7 to Dec 12	Mar 7
The Woodlands	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 19
Tyler	Nov 7 to Dec 12	Mar 7
Allen	Oct 28 to Dec 2	Mar 18
Beaumont	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 14
Edinburg	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 8
Sugar Land	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 9
Georgetown	Nov 10 to Dec 15	Mar 6
Wichita Falls	Oct 26 to Nov 30	Mar 26
San Angelo	Oct 27 to Dec 1	Mar 20
Temple	Nov 6 to Dec 11	Mar 14
Atascocita	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 13
Bryan	Nov 16 to Dec 15	Feb 27
Leander	Nov 10 to Dec 15	Mar 6
Mission	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 9
Baytown	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 20
Mansfield	Nov 7 to Dec 12	Mar 9
Longview	Nov 9 to Dec 14	Mar 7
Pharr	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 9
Flower Mound	Nov 3 to Dec 8	Mar 14
Cedar Park	Nov 6 to Dec 11	Mar 11
San Marcos	Nov 15 to Dec 15	Feb 28
Missouri City	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 15
Harlingen	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 9
North Richland Hills	Nov 6 to Dec 11	Mar 10
Kyle	Nov 15 to Dec 15	Feb 28
Pflugerville	Nov 6 to Dec 11	Mar 11
Rowlett	Nov 5 to Dec 10	Mar 10
Spring	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 13
Victoria	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 14
Fulshear	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 9
Celina	Nov 2 to Dec 7	Mar 24
Wylie	Nov 5 to Dec 10	Mar 10
Little Elm	Nov 6 to Dec 11	Mar 13
Euless	Nov 10 to Dec 15	Mar 8
Texas City	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 25
Burleson	Oct 31 to Dec 5	Mar 21
DeSoto	Nov 11 to Dec 15	Mar 6
Port Arthur	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 14
Rockwall	Nov 5 to Dec 10	Mar 10
Galveston	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 18
Sherman	Nov 5 to Dec 10	Mar 14
Grapevine	Nov 3 to Dec 8	Mar 14
Waxahachie	Nov 2 to Dec 7	Mar 16
Cedar Hill	Oct 30 to Dec 4	Mar 20
Huntsville	Nov 14 to Dec 15	Mar 1
Bedford	Nov 6 to Dec 11	Mar 9
Midlothian	Nov 2 to Dec 7	Mar 16
The Colony	Nov 7 to Dec 12	Mar 7
Keller	Nov 3 to Dec 8	Mar 12
Hutto	Nov 7 to Dec 12	Mar 8
Schertz	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 21
Prosper	Nov 1 to Dec 6	Mar 17
Haltom City	Nov 6 to Dec 11	Mar 10
Weslaco	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 8
Channelview	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 2
Princeton	Oct 28 to Dec 2	Mar 18
Rosenberg	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 9
Forney	Nov 4 to Dec 9	Mar 11
Coppell	Nov 3 to Dec 8	Mar 14
Friendswood	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 31
Seguin	Nov 12 to Dec 15	Mar 1
Weatherford	Oct 25 to Nov 29	Mar 25
Lancaster	Nov 5 to Dec 10	Mar 12
Copperas Cove	Nov 3 to Dec 8	Mar 14
Cleburne	Oct 29 to Dec 3	Mar 17
Cibolo	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 21
Hurst	Nov 6 to Dec 11	Mar 10
Duncanville	Oct 30 to Dec 4	Mar 20
Socorro	Nov 6 to Dec 11	Mar 2
Farmers Branch	Nov 15 to Dec 15	Mar 2
La Porte	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 31
San Juan	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 9
Mission Bend	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 2
Greenville	Nov 2 to Dec 7	Mar 18
Texarkana	Nov 3 to Dec 8	Mar 15
Anna	Nov 1 to Dec 6	Mar 17
Harker Heights	Nov 3 to Dec 8	Mar 14
Timberwood Park	Nov 14 to Dec 15	Feb 26
Del Rio	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 16
Lufkin	Nov 1 to Dec 6	Mar 11
Deer Park	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 2
Canyon Lake	Nov 17 to Dec 15	Mar 1
Sachse	Nov 5 to Dec 10	Mar 10
Nacogdoches	Nov 3 to Dec 8	Mar 13
Converse	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 21
West Odessa	Nov 2 to Dec 7	Mar 15
Southlake	Nov 3 to Dec 8	Mar 14
Alvin	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 14
Melissa	Nov 1 to Dec 6	Mar 17
Fate	Nov 5 to Dec 10	Mar 10
Eagle Pass	Nov 17 to Dec 15	Feb 19
Katy	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 2
Royse City	Nov 5 to Dec 10	Mar 10
Lake Jackson	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 13
Balch Springs	Nov 5 to Dec 10	Mar 12
Denison	Nov 5 to Dec 10	Mar 14
Saginaw	Nov 5 to Dec 10	Mar 11
Belton	Nov 6 to Dec 11	Mar 14
Colleyville	Nov 3 to Dec 8	Mar 14
Ennis	Nov 7 to Dec 12	Mar 8
Kerrville	Oct 24 to Nov 28	Mar 27
Corsicana	Nov 2 to Dec 7	Mar 14
University Park	Nov 15 to Dec 15	Mar 2
Corinth	Nov 6 to Dec 11	Mar 13
Paris	Nov 2 to Dec 7	Mar 14
Horizon City	Nov 6 to Dec 11	Mar 2
Sienna	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 15
San Benito	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 9
Pecan Grove	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 9
Kingsville	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 25
Cloverleaf	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 2
Marshall	Oct 28 to Dec 2	Mar 20
Benbrook	Nov 2 to Dec 7	Mar 14
Alton	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 23
Fresno	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 15
Boerne	Oct 30 to Dec 4	Mar 15
Terrell	Nov 4 to Dec 9	Mar 11
Manor	Nov 10 to Dec 15	Mar 4
Watauga	Nov 6 to Dec 11	Mar 10
Big Spring	Oct 30 to Dec 4	Mar 20
Dickinson	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 31
Stephenville	Oct 25 to Nov 29	Mar 29
Angleton	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 29
Seagoville	Nov 5 to Dec 10	Mar 12
Murphy	Nov 5 to Dec 10	Mar 10
Crowley	Oct 31 to Dec 5	Mar 21
Brushy Creek	Nov 6 to Dec 11	Mar 11
Portland	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 31
Manvel	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 31
Alamo	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 9
Iowa Colony	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 31
Universal City	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Feb 21
Red Oak	Nov 2 to Dec 7	Mar 16
Glenn Heights	Nov 2 to Dec 7	Mar 16
La Marque	Dec 15 to Jan 15	Jan 31

Questions

When should I plant tulip bulbs in Texas?

In Houston, fall planting from December 15 to January 15. Across Texas the window opens between October 15 and December 15, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Plant from 2 weeks before to 3 weeks after the first fall frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.