Tulips – planting and growing

Tulips are one of the most popular late spring flowers. They look great both in garden flowerbeds and in a vase as cut flowers. Some varieties of tulips are even suitable for rockeries, as well as for growing in containers on the terrace or balcony.

Read on to find out how to prepare the position and planting tulips, as well as how to further care and cultivate tulips in the garden. Here are the secrets for tulips to grow healthily and bloom beautifully!

Where to plant tulips?

Tulips have six-petaled, cup-shaped flowers (some are star-shaped). The stems are erect and usually end with one flower. However, there are also varieties with 2 or 3 flowers per stem. The leaves are green, lanceolate, as a rule, two or more.

Their popularity is undoubtedly due to the huge variety of these flowers, available in various colors. There are about 100 species of tulips (they come mainly from Asia) and thousands of garden hybrids.

They differ in color, size and shape of flowers, flowering time and suitability for specific applications. Thanks to this, the cultivation of tulips is possible in a variety of gardens, regardless of their nature.

How many tulip groups exist?

Due to the large variety of tulips, they were divided into 15 groups. These are the following groups: single early, full early, Triumph tulips, Darwin hybrids, single late, lily-shaped, jagged, Viridiflora tulips, Rembrandt tulips, parrots, full late (peony), Kaufmanniana, Fosteriana, Greigii. The last, fifteenth group contains botanical species.

Low species of tulips can be planted in clumps at the front of the bed or create colorful accents on the rockery. Large-flowered hybrids of tulips can be used to create bedding compositions with other plants.

When to plant tulips?

The correct planting date for tulips is extremely important to the success of these plants. Place the tulip bulbs in the soil in the second half of September or the beginning of October.

Only healthy bulbs, without visible signs of disease or damage, should be selected for planting. If you want to protect tulip bulbs from diseases change the place of growing every year. This will make it difficult for pathogens attacking tulips to survive.

Before planting tulip bulbs, the soil at the planting site should also be properly prepared. It should be well-drained, fertile and humus-rich. It can be garden soil mixed with sand and compost.

You should also remember that tulips feel best on slightly acidic to neutral soils. Avoid planting tulips in heavy, clay, waterlogged or very acidic soils.

How deep to plant tulip bulbs?

You should plant Tulip bulbs 10 to 15 cm deep in the soil. The larger the bulbs, the deeper you should plant them. Remember that you need to plant them deeper when soil is lighter or more sandy.

Important! Plant tulip bulbs at a depth equal to three times the height of the onion, measured from the heel to the top.

Before the onset of winter, you should mulch soil. A sufficiently thick layer of mulch will protect the tulip bulbs from winter frosts.

Growing tulips in spring

If you have carefully prepared the growing site and planted the bulbs in the right way, the further cultivation of tulips should not be too difficult. When spring comes, you will be able to enjoy tulip stems coming out of the soil, and then beautiful flowers. Don’t forget to water the plants regularly.

Watering should be started when green parts of the plants are visible above the ground and continue until approx. 5 weeks after flowering. If the cultivation site has been properly fertilized before planting tulip bulbs in the fall, additional fertilization is not necessary.

What to do after flowering?

When the tulip flowers have faded, a procedure called topping is performed. It means removing faded flower states. Thanks to this, the plants will produce more new bulbs, which in turn will allow you to expand the tulip collection.

Digging up and storage

When the tulip leaves also die, the bulbs should be dug up. This is best done on a clear, rainless day, when the soil is dry. The dug out tulip bulbs should be cleaned of lumps of earth, slightly dried and placed in an airy, cool room, e.g. a ventilated cellar.

It is important to ventilate the room where the tulips are kept so that the bulbs do not get wet and are not affected by fungal infections.

Of course, bulbs with signs of disease should be discarded as they are not suitable for further cultivation. They will never grow and flower and will only contribute to the infection of the remaining bulbs.

Tulips – the most interesting varieties

Just as the rose is the queen of flowers, the tulips are the undisputed kings of spring. The abundance of tulip varieties clearly proves that it is one of the most popular flowers in the world.

The varieties of tulips are so numerous that for ease of use, they have been divided into as many as 15 groups. The average person, however, finds it difficult to remember.

• 1: Single Early – cup-shaped, single flowers, bloom in the first half of spring

• 2: Double Early – durable, full flowers, opening in the first half of spring

• 3: Triumph – single flowers in the shape of wide cups

• 4: Darwin Hybrid – large single flowers appear in the second half of spring

• 5: Single Late Group – single flowers with pointed petals appear in late spring and early summer

• 6: Lily-flowered – flowers narrowed inside, with long, pointed, often narrowed petals, bloom in late spring

• 7: Fringed – Flowers belonging to this group are distinguished by jagged petals

• 8: Viridiflora – flowers in this group are green

• 9: Rembrandt – flowers similar to lily-shaped, but with streaky petals, bloom in late spring

• 10: Parrot – large, variable, single flowers with jagged or fringed petals, bloom in late spring

• 11: Double Late – usually spherical, full flowers, appearing in late spring

• 12: Kaufmanninana – botanical species , single flowers, usually bicolour, bloom in early spring, open flat in the sun, leaves usually mottled or striped

• 13: Fosteriana – botanical species, single flowers, bloom in the first half of spring, open wide in the sun, leaves usually mottled or striped

• 14: Greigii – botanical species, single flowers, bloom in the second half of spring, blotchy or striped leaves with a wavy edge

• 15: Miscellaneous – other species and their varieties bloom in spring and early summer

How did the varieties of tulips arise

Tulip varieties grown in Europe and their later hybrids probably originate from the tulips brought from Turkey to Europe in the 16th century. The tulip has long been an extremely valued ornamental plant, and had its glory days in Europe at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, when huge sums were paid for some varieties (e.g., the equivalent of houses or estates).

Coincidence and ignorance caused the highest prices to be achieved by sick tulips. Specifically infected with tulip mottle virus, which causes the original streak-like discoloration of the petals. However, as a result of this disease, the plants weakened and died over time.

Therefore, the short-lived but dizzying price boom for tulips had to end quickly. However, the tulips themselves have not lost their popularity, but their prices have dropped significantly, and the plants have become available to a larger group of their lovers.

Tulip origin

The European cradle of most tulip varieties is the Netherlands. It is the Dutch breeders who have specialized in creating, cultivating and introducing them to the world markets. In individual years, the fashion for specific colors and varieties of flowers has changed, depending on global trends.

Not only the classic and simple in form single tulips are in the center of interest for lovers of these flowers, although undoubtedly these are the best cut flowers. Lilac-shaped tulips have also gained popularity due to their pure and intense colors and the original and elegant flower shape, as well as the classic Triumph variety with stiff stems that delight with a multitude of color varieties.

On this occasion, it is impossible to ignore the incredibly spectacular flowers of parrot varieties, with full flowers and large, folded, often multi-colored petals. Interesting are also varieties from the group of friezes, with strongly ragged edges.

In fact, most of the tulips grown today are hybrids of old tulip varieties, created as a result of various crosses. Breeding a new variety is a tedious, long-term selection process, and the goal is to obtain plants with the most interesting colors and shapes of flowers and resistant to diseases and pests. Several new products appear in individual groups each year, but not all of them deserve equal attention.

Tulips – varieties from the Triumph group

Undoubtedly, the group of Triumph tulip varieties takes the lead in the popularity ranking, the flowers are tall, large and, above all, delight with the multitude of colors.

The more interesting varieties include:

• ‘Flaming Kiss’ (with beautiful, multi-colored petals in shades of dark pink, red and creamy white),
• ‘Debutante’ (cherry-red petals, white edging),
• ‘Kees Nelis’ (classic red petals with a wide, yellow edge),
• ‘Strong Gold’ (yellow, classic tulip, resistant to diseases and pests),
• ‘Gavota’ (a beautiful burgundy tulip with a wide, yellow border of petals),
• ‘New Design’ (pale pink petals, turning into dark pink at the top, the inside of the calyx is dark pink, the leaves are green with a white border),
• ‘Helmar’ (wonderful, motley, yellow-red variety)
• ‘Arabian Mystery’ (purple petals with a white border and a light cup bottom inside the flower)
• ‘Princess Irene ‘(orange petals, tinted darker gray-violet from below).

Tulips – lily-shaped varieties

The next group owes its popularity to the interesting shape of the petals, which are slender and pointed at the top.

The most interesting varieties of lily-shaped tulips include:

• ‘Pretty Woman’ (classic, slender red beauty),
• ‘Marilyn’ (white, pointed petals, decorated with red-pink streaks, from this variety comes e.g. ‘White Wings’),
• ‘Aladdin’ (red petals adorn a yellow border, the variety gave rise to several other hybrids),
• ‘Maytime’ (a beautiful lilac-purple flower, with a white border and a yellow flower bottom inside the cup),
• ‘Queen of Sheba’ (beautiful slender flower shape, petals red in color with a very delicate yellow border),
• ‘Sapporo ‘(slender flower shape with snow-white petals),
• ‘West Point’ (pure yellow, sunny flowers, very slender shape),
• ‘Yellow Spider’ (unusual, very original full flower, intensely yellow)
• ‘Claudia’ (extremely interesting color of the flower: maroon outside petals, topped with a white border, inside white-maroon with a yellow flower bottom).

Tulips – jagged varieties

Gardeners also like to reach for tulips with petals jagged and sometimes lace edges. Jagged tulips, also known as Crispi, look beautiful in flower beds.

Tulips with jagged fringed edges

Interesting varieties include:

• ‘Fancy Frills’ (an unusually beautiful flower in several shades of pink and white, decorated with cream streaks),
• ‘Canasta’ (red petals with white shredding at the border),
• ‘Hamilton’ (classic yellow tulip with yellow anthers inside calyx),
• ‘Burgundy Lace’ (delicately ruffled edges of petals, yellow flower bottom, petals in a beautiful red color),
• ‘Estafette’ (extremely elegant, snow-white variety),
• ‘Davenport’ (contrasting colors of petals – vivid red with intensely yellow, frayed rim),
• ‘Lambada’ (intensely orange-red petals, topped with a strong yellow jagged edge)
• ‘Swan Wings’ (snow-white flower with highly jagged petals, yellow pistil and anthers inside the calyx).

Tulips – varieties from the group of Darwin hybrids

Darwin hybrids are a fairly young group of tulip varieties, formed from Darwin and Fosterian tulips. Their attractiveness for our gardens is evidenced by their high resistance to diseases and large flowers, usually of a uniform color.

Among the more interesting varieties it is worth to mention:

• ‘Apeldoorn’ (classic red petals with darker edges),
• ‘Apeldoorn Elite’ (dark pink petals with a wide, yellow border),
• ‘Golden Apeldoorn’ (classic yellow petals with a black calyx bottom and anthers),
• ‘Oxford’ (classic red petals with yellow flower bottom and black stamens),
• ‘Banja Luka’ (intense yellow petals with lots of red streaks).

Tulips – single late varieties

Tulip varieties from the single late group also have many beautiful varieties such as:

• ‘Color Spectacle’ (yellow, with wide streaks of red, as the name suggests extremely spectacular flowering),
• ‘World Expression’ (a wonderful variety with creamy-white petals decorated with distinctive bottom streaks of red, a large flower and probably one of the most beautiful in this group),
• ‘Sorbet’ (a wonderful white-cream flower with delicate carmine-colored streaks),
• ‘Queen of Night’ (with a very dark, almost black color of petals).

Tulips – parrot varieties

And here we come to the most magnificent garden tulips – a group of varieties of parrot tulips, which quite deservedly bears their name. Their fantastic shapes and colors are breathtaking and resemble the wonderful, colorful birds from which the group borrowed its name.

I will give you some interesting varieties, but virtually all flowers of this group are really wonderful:

• ‘Estella Rijnveld’ (red and white, variegated, with notched petals),
• ‘Weber’s Parrot’ (white with pink streaks),
• ‘Rococo’ (red, ribbed petals with green accents on the edges),
• ‘Flaming Parrot’ (yellow, ribbed with red streaks),
• ‘Black Parrot’ (dark burgundy, strongly ragged at the edges),
• ‘Apricot Parrot’ (an amazing colorful spectacle of folded, yellow-red-orange petals)
• ‘Orange Favorite’ (orange, shaded petals with strongly wavy and jagged edges)
• ‘Irene Parrot’ (derived from ‘Princess Irene’, orange with a fantastically frayed edge),
• ‘Blumex’ (wavy petals captivate with an unusual riot of orange-pink-red-yellow colors, large and fleshy flowers ),
• ‘Air’ (petals with an interesting, lilac color, interspersed with green streaks), ‘Top Parrot’ (red, strongly jagged petals),
• ‘Rai’ (an extremely beautiful flower, jagged, dark purple petals, with many accents of green and yellow)
• ‘Super Parrot’ (white, jagged petals with strong green accents).

Tulips – full varieties

The full varieties of tulips, often reminiscent of peony flowers, multicolored, are also fantastic. Full early ones bloom already in mid-April, while late ones even in the second half of May. Of the full early beautiful varieties are:

• ‘Monte Carlo’ (gorgeous, pure yellow and not tall),
• ‘Peach Blossom’ (pink petals with a yellow interior),
• ‘Orange Princes’ (flaming orange petals, shaded from the bottom with darker streaks).

Of the full late:

• ‘Angelique’ (pink white petals, almost ethereal, flower filled with lots of petals),
• ‘Carnaval de Nice’ (an extremely beautiful pure white flower with distinct red streaks),
• ‘Ice Cream’ (a very unusual flower shape , outer petals are dark pink in color, inner petals are snow-white and piled up at the top, like scoops of fluffy ice cream),
• ‘Wirosa’ (red petals turning into pure white at the top, very low),
• ‘Casablanca’ (elegant, creamy-white petals with yellow streaks) ,
• ‘Lilac Perfection’ (purple-lilac flowers with darker streaks),
• ‘Horizon’ (petals half white and half dark red).

Tulips – varieties from the Viridiflora group

It is also worth mentioning the young but very interesting group of Viridiflora tulip varieties, in which there are plants with an interesting color of flowers. A characteristic feature of the group is the presence of a green belt on the petals.

Here, for example:

• ‘Spring Green’ (white with a green stripe),
• ‘Groenland’ (pink with a wide green stripe on the petals),
• ‘Esperanto’ (pink-red, with a green-yellow stripe), green leaves adorned with a white edge and white streaks)
• ‘Golden Artist’ (a wonderful combination of intense yellow petals with the green of the middle belt).

Tulips – varieties from the Rembrandt group

Unfortunately, virus-infected flowers, known as Rembrandt tulips, still have their followers. It is hardly surprising, because the virus causes discoloration on the petals so original and interesting that they are difficult to resist. However, there are not many varieties of this type available on the market, although today you can already find ones that are free of the virus, e.g. ‘Cordell Hull’ (white with red streaks).

In this article, I have compiled most common questions regarding Tulips. I hope it will be valuable resource.

1. Can you eat a tulip?
2. Can you leave tulip bulbs in the ground all year?
3. Do tulips bloom only once?
4. What to do with tulips after they bloom?
5. How long can tulips go without water?
6. Are tulips poisonous to touch?
7. What month is the best time to plant tulips?
8. Should I dig up my tulip bulbs after they bloom?
9. How do you store tulip bulbs after digging?
10. Do tulips need sun or shade?

Can you eat tulip?

Tulips contain alkaloids and glycosidic compounds that are toxic and can be dangerous to your health and even life. Only tulip petals are free from poisonous compounds, their consumption (except in cases of allergic reactions) is safe.

Can you leave tulip bulbs in the ground all year?

As a rule, you should dig up tulips bulbs every year for the summer rest. Otherwise, the bulbs will become smaller and flowering will be weaker.

The exceptions are groups of tulips:

• botanical (i.e. miniature and from the group of Kaufmann, Foster and Greig),
• and the Darwin group – which can stay in the ground for 3-4 years.

Do tulips bloom only once?

Tulips only bloom for a dozen or so days a year (usually in March or April), but leaves and shoots die in June.

What to do with tulips after they bloom?

Cut the flowers, but leave the leaves. This will prevent the seeds from forming, but the bulbs will continue to develop. Only if you do not care about acquiring new bulbs, you can cut the stem of the tulip with the leaves close to the ground.

When you cut the tulip flowers after they bloom, it is still worth to water them. This is the time when the bulbs develop strongly, while the leaves will turn yellow and wither in the next few weeks. This is a sign that the tulip is going into a period of summer dormancy.

How long can tulips go without water?

Usually, tulips in the garden do not need watering. Of course, in times of drought, when rainfall is insufficient, you should water tulips especially in spring.

If the fall is dry, make sure you water freshly planted bulbs so that they can take root well before the winter comes.

Also water Tulips in pots systematically, but not too abundantly, while making sure that excess water does not remain on the base, as this could lead to rot of the bulbs.

Are tulips poisonous to touch?

The allergens in tulips can cause a skin rash. The reaction to allergens may also be tingling in the tips of the fingers, and even increased nail brittleness. Some people may also show allergic symptoms in the nasal passages, eye irritation, conjunctivitis and eyelid edema.

What month is the best time to plant tulips?

Plant Tulips in the second half of September and October, giving the bulbs time to root well before winter arrives.

The bulbs should be planted on a properly prepared substrate, i.e. loosened, weeded and supplemented with compost. The planting depth of the bulbs is about 10-15 cm with similar spacing between the bulbs.

Should I dig up my tulip bulbs after they bloom?

Tulips – like all plants – need to go through a period of dormancy. That is why it is worth letting them rest for some time.

Dig up bulbs after flowering and planted back into the ground in autumn. Such action makes tulips bloom profusely every season, they get sick less often and are more resistant to pests.

How do you store tulip bulbs after digging?

Tulip bulbs are stored loose or in boxes with a uniform substrate (e.g. sand or peat).

It is worth using openwork baskets to protect plants from pests and mold.

Do tulips need sun or shade?

Tulips like sunny or semi-sunny positions – they thrive best in warm afternoon sun.

Before planting, it is also worth checking the condition of the soil. It should be neutral or acidic, and the soil itself – fertile, moist with good water drainage.