Tulip Tulipa
- Phonetic Spelling
- TOO-li-pa
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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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. There are hundreds of named cultivars of tulips, and they are often grouped (by retailers) into informal groups based on bloom time (e.g. Early Tulips), parentage (e.g., Kaufmanniana Hybrids and Fosteriana Hybrids), or flower form (e.g., Peony-flowered Tulips and Lily-flowered Tulips). Tulips come in a dazzling array of sizes, colors and shapes. It is no wonder they engendered "Tulip mania" in Europe in the 17th century.
Tulips make wonderful outdoor container plants, and they can be forced in containers for indoor displays. 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:
- Paul J Ciener Botanical Garden Border Garden, Upcycled Davidson County Extension Demonstration Garden Reynolda Gardens
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Peppermint Stick'
- 'Tinka'
- Tulip hybrids
T. greigii
- 'Peppermint Stick'
- 'Peppermint Stick', T. fosteriana, T. greigii, 'Tinka', T. kaufmanniana, Tulip hybrids
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Peppermint Stick'
- 'Tinka'
- Tulip hybrids
T. greigii
- 'Peppermint Stick'
- 'Peppermint Stick', T. fosteriana, T. greigii, 'Tinka', T. kaufmanniana, Tulip hybrids
- Tags:
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-
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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Bulb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Poisonous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits capsular, ellipsoid to subglobose, 3-angled, leathery, dehiscence loculicidal. Many seeds in 2 rows per locule, flat.
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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.
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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.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Geophyte with erect stems and clasping leaves.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Woodland
- 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
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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