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Tulipa

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
TOO-li-pa
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

The common tulip is a bulbous perennial herb in the lily family (Liliaceae) that is native from southern Europe to central Asia. Tulips grow from 4 to 28 inches in height and bloom in middle to late spring with flowers that come in all colors except true blue. 

Plant tulips three times the depth of the bulb in fertile, organically rich but well-drained, medium-moisture soil in full sun. Bulb and root rots may occur in wet, poorly drained soils. They grow best in areas with cool, moist winters and warm dry summers and are typically grown in mass plantings. The plant is intolerant of heat and loses floral vigor when soil temperatures reach 70 degrees F. 

Tulips may be grown as perennials or as annuals, although species tulips often perform better than hybrid plants as perennials. When growing tulips as perennials, promptly remove spent flower stems after bloom to prevent seeding, but do not remove foliage until it yellows. In most cases, tulip performance declines substantially starting with the second year. Many gardeners and horticulturists treat tulips, particularly hybrids, as annuals.

Tulips make wonderful container plants, indoors or outdoors. They are often grown in borders and cutting gardens, but their maximum impact is made in mass plantings when in bloom.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Tulip break virus, gray mold, and mosaic virus may occur. Pests include aphids, slugs, and snails. Mice and voles are attracted to the bulbs and will eat them. Squirrels may dig up newly planted bulbs. Deer will eat the flowers (but not the leaves). May cause contact dermatitis in some people.  

  

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.   

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscapes:
Cottage Garden Perennial Border Border Garden, Upcycled Davidson County Extension Demonstration Garden English Garden Boxwood Parterre Garden Pink and White Garden
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Peppermint Stick', T. fosteriana, T. greigii, 'Tinka', T. kaufmanniana, Tulip hybrids
Tags:
#bulb#showy flowers#houseplant#colorful#interiorscape#mass planting#tunicated bulb#spring flowering bulbs#HS302#problem for cats#ebh#problem for dogs#problem for horses#ebh-g#contact dermatitis#hsc#hsc-fl#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Peppermint Stick', T. fosteriana, T. greigii, 'Tinka', T. kaufmanniana, Tulip hybrids
Tags:
#bulb#showy flowers#houseplant#colorful#interiorscape#mass planting#tunicated bulb#spring flowering bulbs#HS302#problem for cats#ebh#problem for dogs#problem for horses#ebh-g#contact dermatitis#hsc#hsc-fl#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Tulipa
    Family:
    Liliaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Bulb
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Southern Europe to Central Asia
    Distribution:
    widely naturalized
    Edibility:
    The edible flowers have a vegetable flavor like lettuce, fresh peas or cucumber. The bulbs can be toxic, but were reported to be cooked and eaten during times of war and starvation.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 2 ft. 4 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 9 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Bulb
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Poisonous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    Fruits capsular, ellipsoid to subglobose, 3-angled, leathery, dehiscence loculicidal. Many seeds in 2 rows per locule, flat.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Black
    Cream/Tan
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Variegated
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Solitary
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Good Cut
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    6 petals/rays
    Colored Sepals
    Tepals
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are usually solitary, erect, campanulate to cup-shaped, color and shape (cup, bowl, star) vary with cultivar or species; tepals 6, free, in two whorls, often blotched. Anthers are most commonly black, though sometimes yellow.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Waxy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Linear
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Undulate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are widely straplike, clasping, and can be glabrous or glaucous, sometimes undulate or crispate.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Description:
    Geophyte with erect stems and clasping leaves.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Houseplants
    Landscape Theme:
    Children's Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Cutting Garden
    English Garden
    Fairy Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Black Walnut
    Problems:
    Contact Dermatitis
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Ingestion can cause stomach pain, salivation, depression, diarrhea, sweating, nausea, vomiting. Skin contact can cause an alergic reaction resulting in irritation with tingling, redness, blisters, and cracks, either immediately or after a delay from contact, and may spread away from the point of contact. Highest concentration of toxin in bulb.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Tulipalin, a phytoalexin; allergins; glycoprotein.
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    Yes
    Poison Part:
    Flowers
    Leaves
    Roots