Introducing...
Tulip
Botanical name: Tulipa
Common name: Tulip
Tulips provide a splash of spring colour in dazzling shades. Different flower forms add to this variety, with lily-, fringed-, parrot- and peony-flowered forms. They are ideal for filling borders, growing in rock gardens and for bedding schemes. A few smaller specialist tulips are best grown in a cool greenhouse.
Looks
In mid- to late spring, cup-shaped flowers rise on single stems above wide strap-like green or green-grey leaves. Flowers stalks emerge from cream-white bulbs covered by a papery brown skin.
Likes
Tulips grow well in soil rich in organic matter. They like a cool moist conditions in spring, with a dry warm summer conditions for their summer 'rest' (dormancy). Most grow in an open position full sun, although some tolerate part-shade.
Dislikes
Tulips like good drainage, so don't do well on very heavy clay soils where bulbs may rot if ground becomes waterlogged.
Did you know?
Species tulip, Tulipa sprengeri, was first introduced to cultvation from Turkey in the nineteenth century. Sadly, it is now extinct in the wild, but still thrives in gardens, naturalising in part-shade on moisture-retentive soils.
Growing guide
How to grow tulips
All the information you’ll need to grow & care for tulips in your garden.
Tulips we recommend
Tulipa 'Red Riding Hood' (14)
tulip 'Red Riding Hood'
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0–0.1 metre
Tulipa 'Carnaval de Nice' (11/v)
tulip 'Carnaval de Nice'
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0–0.1 metre
Tulipa 'Olympic Flame' (4)
tulip 'Olympic Flame'
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0–0.1 metre
Tulipa 'Red Riding Hood' (14)
tulip 'Red Riding Hood'
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0–0.1 metre
Tulipa 'Carnaval de Nice' (11/v)
tulip 'Carnaval de Nice'
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0–0.1 metre
Tulipa 'Olympic Flame' (4)
tulip 'Olympic Flame'
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- 0–0.1 metre
Useful advice
Bulbs: planting
Bulbs: propagation
Tulip fire
Tulip viruses
Get involved
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