Many years ago, I'm unsure of the exact timing, I purchased an unfamiliar blue-flowered bulb from Brent and Becky's. I don't remember much about why I did it, and I probably wouldn't have bought any had I known their origin. Triteleia laxa, or Triplet lily is a west coast native (California and Oregon) and is rarely seen in southern gardens.
Now I normally don't purchase anything that is native to the west coast because I've learned through others, and some direct experience, that west coast natives don't like our humid hot summers and sultry nights. However, despite this reality, I've had tremendous success growing Triteleia in a dry semi-shady part of my yard. I probably purchase around 10 bulbs, and I don't think I've lost any- it even seems to be multiplying!
Perhaps the secret lies in where you site this bulb. I planted mine in a particularly sandy loam underneath an old dogwood on the south side of my mom's house in Hillsboro. This particular bed is "wild", meaning it is chock-full with a lot of plants, including Asarum arifolium (wild ginger), bellwort, columbine, epimedium, weedy violets, and a dense mat of roots from a nearby native azalea. This is the kind of flower bed that come summer always seems powder dry!
I suspect this intense competition for moisture has contributed greatly to its success. I particularly love the combination of the bright red Spigelia marilandica with the cobalt blue of the Triplet lily. This paring was completely accidental as the Spigelia just kinda seeded itself everywhere in this area. Btw, I hardly ever consciously combine plants based on some kind of color scheme... I just plant them where I think they might look "good" and grow well- whatever that means. There isn't much of a "grand" plan.
So the only reason I can talk about this plant today is because I took a risk. Whether it was because I was naive or simply defiant, I went outside my gardening experience and planted something I knew nothing about simply because I liked the photo. I'm not suggesting we don't do our research or reject accepted wisdom, but I do hope to inspire you, and myself, to continue to take some risks even as we become more "enlightened" and experienced. This example reminds me that as I grow older, I need to continue to make some unexpected decisions and think outside my information bubble. Surprises abound if we just remain open to risk and discovery!