Short stems that open their flowers almost before they clear the bulb, colours bright enough to catch the eye across the garden, and leaves often marked with a stripe: botanical tulips are the closest thing to a tulip growing wild. They brave spring freezes, flower earlier than any other tulip, and stay handsome once the petals drop.
Botanical tulip is a family of flowers that is closest to what can be found in nature. Stems are short and flowers open even as they’re emerging from the bulb. At the very beginning of spring, their bright colors definitely catch the eye. Many varieties have a stripe along their leaves, which makes them even more remarkable. More importantly, this type of “wild tulip” resists storms and bad weather without batting an eye.
Early Spring is a time where not much can yet be done in the garden. Luckily, botanical tulips immediately display lively colors, even potted on a terrace or balcony. These fighters can brave Spring freezing and nonetheless bloom earlier than other tulips. Two things set them apart from regular tulips: they bloom earlier and with very bright colors. On top of this, leaves are also ornamental and appealing even after the blooming is over. Botanical tulips are indeed worthy of high esteem!
Botanical tulips ask for very little, but what little they do ask falls at set moments of the year. Here is the whole cycle, from bulb to brown leaf.
| Stage | Season | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Planting the bulbs | mid-autumn to late autumn | Pointy tip upwards, covered with 3 to 4 inches (7 to 8 cm) of soil |
| Flowering | early spring | Nothing: they brave the freezes and bloom before other tulips |
| After the flowers fade | mid-spring to late spring | Leave the foliage in place, it stays ornamental |
| Lifting the bulbs (optional only) | early summer | Wait until the leaves have turned brown, or simply leave them in the ground |
Skip the last line altogether and most botanical tulips will multiply on their own.
Most varieties of botanical tulips can propagate completely naturally, such as the Greigii, Turkestanica, Sylvestris, Batalinii and Pulchella. You won’t need to dig them out every year. If you do prefer to remove them, wait for leaves to have turned brown in June.
Botanical tulips love sun. Plant the tulips in October/November with the pointy tip facing upwards, and cover them with 3 to 4 inches of soil (7 to 8 cm). Compared to cultured tulips, botanical tulips are often cheaper. Usually 4 or 5 dollars or euros for 10 bulbs.
There are too many to name them all! A quick overview:
