Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
1–2 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
Spring | Purple | Green | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Summer | ||||
Autumn | ||||
Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H6Botanical details
- Family
- Liliaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming
- 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
Accepted
- Horticultural Group
- Double Early Group tulips flower in mid-spring, with double, bowl-shaped flowers, sometimes flecked with a contrasting colour
How to grow
Cultivation
Plant in mid to late autumn, at a depth of 10-15cm in fertile, well-drained soil. Choose a sunny position, with protection from strong winds and excess winter wet. See tulip cultivation for more details
Propagation
Propagate by lifting and separating offsets
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Patio and container plants
- Bedding
- Cut flowers
- Flower borders and beds
- Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Pruning
Deadhead after flowering, and allow flower stem and foliage to die down naturally
Pests
May be susceptible to slugs, aphids and stem and bulb eelworm; squirrels may eat the bulbs
Diseases
May be susceptible to tulip fire, grey mould (botrytis), grey bulb rot, and tulip virus
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.