That is the question–sorry, Hamlet. And White Flower Farm has some help with the answer: an article on Plants Slow to Break Dormancy. They have a lot of other articles in the Newsletter section of their Garden Help.
Did my plant die over the winter?
March 20, 2007 – Posted in: FAQ, Recommended LinksAbout the Author
What differentiates a bulb from a perennial plant is that the nourishment for the flower is stored within the bulb itself.…There is something miraculous about the way that a little grenade of dried up tissue can explode into a complete flower.
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Go to Botanical Interests website for details.
I have had many a pleasant surprise by leaving my itchy fingers from digging out a plant that I was certain had not over-wintered successfully.
What I try and do is remember which plants are late in coming up and mark them!
Kathy: This comment has no bearing whatsoever on your post, but I wasn’t sure where else to comment. Imagine my surprise when I finally got around to reading my March Northern Gardener magazine and saw you and your blog featured. Very cool!