Species tulips
By: Garden Gate staff
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Species tulips
Whoever said good things come in small packages must have had species tulips in mind. Most bloom early in spring, opening with daffodils and grape hyacinths, and some will even naturalize, spreading into small colonies. Besides that, these tough little bulbs are disease-resistant, quite cold-hardy and come back year after year.
They do best in a spot with full sun and well-drained soil and like cold winters and dry summers. But that’s not to say they don’t need any water. If it’s a dry spring, water regularly as soon as the foliage breaks through the soil then stop as the foliage fades. Find four of the most colorful blooms just ahead!
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Kolpakowski’s tulip
Each of these bulbs produces a single flower per stem, and since this tulip likes very hot, dry soil while dormant in summer, containers are a great place to grow and keep them.
Blooms Yellow flowers in early spring
Size 6 to 12 in. tall, 3 to 5 in. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 3 to 8
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 8 to 1
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Turkestan tulip
If you have clay soil, this is the species tulip for you — it tolerates the troublesome situation much better than others. Plus, Turkestan tulip is extremely vigorous, producing up to 12 flowers from one bulb.
Blooms Clusters of creamy white flowers with yellow centers bloom in early spring
Size 6 to 12 in. tall, 3 to 5 in. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 3 to 8
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 8 to 1
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Crocus tulip
This is a big group of wild tulips. The one here has a yellow center, or base, but there’s another one you might come across with a black center.
Blooms Pink with a yellow or black center in early spring
Size 4 to 6 in. tall, 3 to 5 in. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 4 to 8
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 8 to 1
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Lady tulip
This tulip has soft yellow flowers brushed with red, but there’s also a white form with a pink blotch that’s very popular.
Blooms Yellow flowers with a splash of red in midspring
Size 6 to 12 in. tall, 3 to 5 in. wide
Cold-hardy USDA zones 3 to 8
Heat-tolerant AHS zones 8 to 1
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