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Bulbs

Tulipa clusiana var. stellata (15)

star-flowered tulip

A compact perennial bulb, up to 25cm high, with linear, glaucous leaves. Flowers from mid-late spring. Buds are heavily flamed with red, and open to star-shaped flowers that are white on the insides, with conspicuous black anthers

Synonyms

Tulipa stellata

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1 year

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–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 the UK: 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: Correct
Horticultural Group: Miscellaneous tulips include all species and hybrids not otherwise classified

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Protect from strong winds and excess winter wet. Species tulips may be left in the ground for several years, they do not need to be lifted annually. See tulip cultivation for more details

Propagation

Propagate by division, separating offsets in summer. See bulb propagation for more details

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Rock garden
Flower borders and beds
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

Deadhead after flowering and remove fallen petals

Pests

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

Diseases

May be susceptible to tulip fire and bulb rot in poorly drained soil

Get involved

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