Fundamental Facts
HARDINESS: Zones 3 to 8
PREFERRED SOIL pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline
PREFERRED SOIL TYPE: Average, well-drained
PREFERRED LIGHT: Sun
ATTRIBUTES: Bold blooms in many colors, shapes, and sizes, for beds, pots, cutting
SEASON OF INTEREST: Spring
FAVORITES: Darwin, Triumph, Parrot, Double Late, Fosteriana, Greigii, Kaufmanniana
QUIRKS: Needs 8 weeks minimum winter chilling; blooms decrease after 2-3 years
GOOD NEIGHBORS: Candytuft, daylily, forget-me-not, primrose
WHERE IT GROWS BEST: Sunny, well-drained sites with long, cool springs
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Bulb rot in wet soil or humid areas
RENEWING PLANTS: Most live 3 years; replenish with new bulbs; grow long-lived species tulips
CRITTER RESISTANCE: Poor; vulnerable to deer, woodchucks, rabbits, chipmunks, mice, voles
PLANTING DEPTH: Small bulbs 5 (12.7 cm); large bulbs 8 in (20.3 cm)
SOURCE: Bulbs
DIMENSIONS: 4-24 in (10.1-61 cm) tall, depending on type
Tulip in the Landscape
Tulips are the quintessential spring bulb, available in a range of sizes, shapes, and colors to suit any landscape. And by selecting varieties with different flowering times, you can guarantee a steady display of color from early to late spring. The low-growing, early-flowering tulips look lovely planted in clusters beside walkways or at the front of a flower garden. Taller, mid- to late-season tulips are excellent massed in beds, with pansies planted at their bases. They can also be grown for long-lasting cut flowers.
All in the Family
There are hundreds of hybrid tulips, grouped by size and flower shape. Darwin and Triumph tulips have cup-shaped flowers on 15-24 in (38-61 cm) tall stems in mid to late spring. They are best for cutting and bringing strong color to the garden, although the bulbs last only a few years. For fancy flowers, try Parrot tulips, whose petals are fringed, and Double Late tulips, with peonylike flowers. Both bloom in mid to late spring on 18—24 in (45.7-61 cm) stems.
Smaller tulips that bloom from early to mid spring usually live the longest, and in cold Zones can reproduce and grow into clumps. At 12—18 in (30.5-45.7 cm) tall, Fosteriana tulips are gold, orange, or red. The 10 in (25.4 cm) Greigii tulips have chocolate-striped green leaves and red or yellow pointed flowers. Even smaller, at 4-8 in (10.1-20.3 cm) tall, are the Kaufmanniana tulips, with flowers that resemble water lilies in red-streaked with white or yellow.
Growing Tulips
Plant tulips in mid to late fall. Bulbs need 8 weeks of soil temperatures below 40°F (4°C) to induce flowering. In Zone 8 and warmer areas, chill bulbs in the refrigerator for a month before planting them in late fall. Choose a sunny site, as tulips will turn toward the sun if they don't get enough light. Plant small tulips 5 in (12.7 cm) deep and larger types 8 in (20.3 cm) deep. Space bulbs 3 in (7.6 cm) apart with the pointed ends up.
After the spring show is over, clip off spent flower stems and fertilize the bulbs by sprinkling bone meal or commercial bulb food, as directed, on the soil around the bases of the plants to encourage leaf growth. But even with the best care, many varieties will not flower well 2 or 3 years after planting. In hot-summer areas, high humidity can cause bulbs to rot. While insect and disease problems are few, tulips are a delicacy for chipmunks, voles, and mice. For protection, enclose bulbs loosely in chicken wire when planting. To discourage deer, rabbits, and woodchucks, either fence the plants in or grow them in containers near the house.
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