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Kaufmanniana Tulips Tulipa kaufmanniana

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Tulipa berkariensis
Phonetic Spelling
TOO-li-pa kof-man-ee-AY-nuh
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Colorful spring bulbs native to Asia.  They have short stems and large flowers.  They pair well with daffodils and look great naturalizing in a landscape or in mass planting in borders or along walkways. Plant in fall for spring blooms. It is generally a shorter plant and flowers have a yellow 'eye' and pointed tepals for identification. Tulips generally decline yearly when exposed to temperatures above 70 degrees F. They do well when grouped and mass planted. Variegation is due to a viral infection so patterns vary greatly.

Quick ID

  • Single cup-shaped flower with alternate, clasping leaves
  • Flower has yellow eyespot, yellow anthers
  • Outer tepals are pointed
  • Leaves sometimes mottled

Pests, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The lady tulip has no serious insect or disease issues. Aphids, slugs, and snails may be seen. Gray squirrels, mice, voles, and deer are attracted and may eat the bulbs or plants. Diseases such as tulip fire, tulip gray bulb rot, and viruses can occur. Blue mold may develop on stored bulbs. In poorly drained soils, root or bulb rot may also occur.

  

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.   

More information on Tulipa.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Ancilla'
    Creamy white with an inside circle of red
  • 'Early Harvest'
    Apricot flowers
  • 'Giuseppe Verdi'
    Red and yellow flowers
  • 'Heart's Delight'
    Red and cream flowers
  • 'Scarlet Baby'
  • 'Showwinner'
    Bright red flowers
  • 'Stresa'
    Red and yellow flowers
'Ancilla', 'Early Harvest', 'Giuseppe Verdi', 'Heart's Delight', 'Scarlet Baby', 'Showwinner', 'Stresa'
Tags:
#showy flowers#showy leaves#mass planting#multicolored#border planting#naturalized area#fantz#walkway planting#spring flowering bulbs#HS302#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Ancilla'
    Creamy white with an inside circle of red
  • 'Early Harvest'
    Apricot flowers
  • 'Giuseppe Verdi'
    Red and yellow flowers
  • 'Heart's Delight'
    Red and cream flowers
  • 'Scarlet Baby'
  • 'Showwinner'
    Bright red flowers
  • 'Stresa'
    Red and yellow flowers
'Ancilla', 'Early Harvest', 'Giuseppe Verdi', 'Heart's Delight', 'Scarlet Baby', 'Showwinner', 'Stresa'
Tags:
#showy flowers#showy leaves#mass planting#multicolored#border planting#naturalized area#fantz#walkway planting#spring flowering bulbs#HS302#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Tulipa
    Species:
    kaufmanniana
    Family:
    Liliaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Bulb
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Turkistan
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Bulb
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Gold/Yellow
    Red/Burgundy
    Variegated
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    7 - 20 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    3-6 inches
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are white, cream, yellow or red and variegated, cup-shaped, erect, often fragrant; tepals 6, to 11 cm, free, in 2 whorls, apex acute, marked basally with yellow blotch; anthers yellow; stigma 3-lobed, prominent.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Variegated
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Oblanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are 2-5, simple, alternate, lanceolate to oblanceolate, acute, clasping, slightly undulate, pale gray-green, sometimes mottled, 12 x 6 inches.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Description:
    Stem is green, often tinged red, to 20 inches.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Naturalized Area
    Small Space
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    Cutting Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Problems:
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, hypersalivation. Highest concentration of toxin in bulb.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Tulipalin A and B
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No