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Bulbs

Tulipa orphanidea (Whittallii Group) 'Major' (15)

tulip 'Major'

'Major' is a dwarf bulbous perennial, to 30cm tall, with lance-shaped grey-green leaves. Flowers are orange-red and yellow, with a black blotch, appearing in mid spring

Synonyms

Tulipa whittallii 'Major'

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0–0.1 metre

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

West–facing or South–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Liliaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten, skin allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten, skin allergen - for further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Tulipa are bulbous perennials with characteristic flowers, in a wide range of colours, in spring
Name status: Unresolved
Horticultural Group: Miscellaneous tulips include all species and hybrids not otherwise classified

How to grow

Cultivation

Plant 10 to 15cm deep in fertile, well-drained soil. Protect from excessive wet and shelter from strong winds. See tulip cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by lifting and separating offsets; see bulb propagation

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Rock garden
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Deadhead after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, aphids and stem and bulb eelworm; squirrels may eat the bulbs

Diseases

May be susceptible to tulip fire, tulip viruses and tulip grey bulb rot; bulbs in storage may be susceptible to blue mould

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