ORNAMENTAL PLANTS OF HORTICULTURE VALUE
Selection of perennials
Tulipa L.
Tulip |
Liliaceae |
About 100 species, in Europe, Asia and North Africa. There are 80
species in the FSU. Most are distributed in Central Asia. Only a
few occur in the Caucasus. Among them are: T. biebersteniana
Schult. et Schult. fil., T. biflora Pall. (=T. polychroma
Stapf),
T. eichleri Regel,
T. florenskyi Woronow,
T. gesneriana L. (T. schrenki Regel), T. humilis
Herb., T. confusa Gabrielian, T. julia C. Koch (=T.
montana auct.), T. lipskyi Grossh., T. schmidtii
Fomin and newly recorded T. kaghyzmanica Fomin. All species
are ornamental and some of them deserve special attention. For
example, T. confusa has aromatic flowers more than 6 cm long;
also lilac pink flowers of T. lipskyi are of an unusual color;
T. eichleri has large red flowers, and the species is resistant
to virus diseases. These plant species can be used in horticulture,
in private gardening and they are of extremely importance for
hybridization. The true Kingdom of tulips is Central Asia and
Kazakhstan, where 70 species can be seen. In the wild all species
are very attractive. They grow in different habitat, but avoid acid
soil. However, in cultivation many tulips require special conditions,
and some of them are short-lived. The size of flowers increases under
cultivation, sometimes flowers are two times or more larger. Many
species have been tested in St. Petersburg, only those that are easy
in cultivation are recommended below.
T. biebersteiniana Schult. et Schult. fil. (subgenus
Eriostemones)
European part of Russia (central regions), Crimea, the Caucasus,
Aralo-Caspian region, western Siberia, Balkan Peninsula and Anatolia.
In steppes, semideserts, foothills, plains and other dry habitats.
Plant 20-40 cm, stem glabrous, brown-green. Leaves 3-4, long,
grey green. Flowers brown-greenish externally, yellowish along
margin, yellow inside, with green blotch. Filaments yellow,
tomentose at the base. Anthers yellow, 1/3-1/2 as long as stamens.
V - early spring to late spring. Fl - April. Fr - May (in St.
Petersburg). Freely produces daughter bulbs. Does well in dry
locations. Z 4 (3). New.
T. bifloriformis Vved. (subgenus Eriostemones)
Central Asia (Pamiro Alay, western Tien Shan, and Syr-Darya River
basin). Clay and stony slopes from foothills up to 2,400 m.
Plants 15-20 cm. Stem densely pubescent, anthocyanin-brown leaves
in pairs, linear-lanceolate, sulcate. Flowers 1-5, stellate, white,
outside brown-violet with cream margins, yellowish at the base.
Filaments and anthers yellow. V - early spring to late spring. Fl -
March. (in St. Petersburg April). Fr - June. Easily propagated by
division. Does well in sunny places. Z 4 (3). New.
T. orthopoda Vved. is closely related to this species.
Kazakstan.
Dwarf plants, only 5-7 cm. Good for rock garden and spring decoration.
Z 5 (4). New.
T. carinata Vved. (subgenus Tulipa)
Central Asia (Pamiro Alay). On rocky slopes in open forests.
Stem soft-pubescent, 30-50 cm. Leaves 4, almost erect, carinate,
grey green. Flowers cup-shaped, elongated, 5-8 cm long, scarlet-red
with yellow or black blotch with yellow border. Anthers dark violet.
Closely related and similar to T. fosteriana, differing in form,
size and position of leaves. V - early spring to beginning of summer,
in St. Petersburg from April to June. Fl - April, May. Fr - June.
P - by daughter bulbs and seed. Does well on any soil, if well-drained.
Good for spring decoration and for cut flowers. Z 4. New.
T. fosteriana W. Irving (subgenus Tulipa)
Central Asia (Pamiro Alay, southwestern part of Zeravshanskiy Range,
Samarcandskiye Mts.). On stony slopes at 1,500 m.
Plants 40-45 cm. Stem thick, pubescent. Leaves 3-5, broadly ovate,
glaucous. Flower buds acute, flowers fiery red, opening flat or
cup-like in form. Blotch at the base varies from round to multiangular
and in colour from black to yellow, with margin or without. Anthers
dark violet, 2-2.5 times as long as stamens. V - early spring to
summer. Fl - March-April (in St. Petersburg May). Fr - June. P -
vegetatively and by seed. Full sun. Any soil. A well-known species
which has given birth to many cultivars. Z 4.
T. ingens T.M. Hoog and T. eichleri Regel
(both subgenus Tulipa) are closely related to T. fosteriana,
both with red flowers, T. eichleri can easily be propagated
vegetatively, by daughter bulbs. Good for any spring decoration. Z 4.
T. iliensis Regel (subgenus Tulipa)
Central Asia (Tien Shan, Dzungaria) and northern China. Among
shrubs on grassy slopes, in rocky places.
Plant 10-25 cm. Leaves 3-4, linear-lanceolate. Flowers solitary
or sometimes up to 5, opening almost flat, stellate, 2-4 cm diam.,
bright yellow, violet-tinged outside. Filaments and anthers yellow.
V - early spring to summer. Fl - March-April (in St. Petersburg May).
Fr - June. P - by daughter bulbs and by seed. Prefers a sunny place,
tolerates partial shade. Does very well in the rock garden. Z 4 (3).
New.
T. kaufmanniana Regel (subgenus Tulipa)
Central Asia (western Tien Shan). In low and middle mountain zones
among grasses and shrubs, on stony slopes, in sandy places, frequently
on clay slopes.
Plant 30-40 cm, stem glaucous green, violet-tinged, pubescent above.
Leaves 2-5, oblong or lanceolate, brown-striped. Flowers solitary (in
cultivation sometimes with 2-5 flowers), 2-7 cm, cup-shaped opening
almost flat. One of the most polychromatic species, flowers can be
white, yellow or red. Often dichromatic, exterior segments carmine
with light cream margin, interior cream or yellow. Filaments yellow,
spirally twisting by the end of flowering. V - early spring to
beginning of summer. Fl - March-April (in St. Petersburg May). Fr -
June. P - by daughter bulbs and seed. A well-known species, source
of many cultivars. Z 4 (3). Good for group planting and the rock
garden.
T. dubia Vved. (subgenus Tulipa) is closely
related to this species.
Plant smaller, 10-15 cm, leaves 2, flowers solitary, cream inside
and reddish violet outside. Recommended for the rock garden and group
planting, for spring decoration. Z 4. New.
T. maximowiczii Regel (subgenus Tulipa)
Central Asia (Pamiro Alay). Clay and rocky slopes of hoothills and
in mid-mountain zone.
Plant 15-30 cm. Leaves 5-8, narrow linear, grey-green. Flowers
single, scarlet-red, almost star-shaped when open, basal blotch
blue-black. Filaments black, anthers violet. V - early spring to
beginning of summer. F - April (in St. Petersburg May). Fr - June.
P - by daughter bulbs. Very closely related to T. linifolia
Regel, but differs in some characters: leaves not wavy, the first
leave 4-5 cm above ground, comes to flower 2-3 weeks earlier.
Requires a sunny position, well-drained soil. Does well in the
rock garden. Z. 4.
T. micheliana T.M. Hoog (sungenus Tulipa)
Central Asia (northwestern Pamiro Alay, Kopet-Dag) and Iran.
Clay and stony slopes in foothills.
Plant 20-40 cm. Leaves 3-4, grey green with brown-violet stripes.
Flower 5-8 cm long, cup-shaped or elongated, raspberry red, grey
tinged outside with bright margin. Filaments and anthers short,
black. Basal blotch elongated, yellow-bordered. V - early spring
to beginning of summer. F - March-April (in St. Petersburg May).
Fr - June. P - by daughter bulbs and seed. Good for group planting
and for cut flowers. Z 4.
T. praestans Hoog (subgenus Tulipa)
Central Asia (southeastern Pamiro Alay). In low and middle
mountain zones, on gravelly soil, rocky slopes.
Plants 20-30 cm. Leaves 3-4 (-6), erect, crescent-shaped.
Stem and leaves hairy. Flowers 1-3 (5), cup-shaped, 4-6 cm long,
brick-red, without a blotch. Filaments and anthers red (rare
violet or yellow). V - early spring to midsummer. F - March,
April (in St. Petersburg April, May). Fr - June. P - by daughter
bulbs. Requires a sunny position, well-drained soil. Good for
group planting, the rock garden and for cut flowers. Z 4.
T. tarda Stapf (subgenus Eriostemones)
Central Asia (northern Tien Shan). Stony and debris slopes.
Plant 5-15 cm, stem dark green. Leaves in rosette, 3-7,
sulcate, light green, linear-lanceolate. Flowers 1-7, 3-5 cm in
diam., stellate, white with yellow base. Outer segments green,
creamy-margined outside. Filaments and anthers yellow. V -
early spring to mid-spring. Fl - March (in St. Petersburg April).
Fr - June. P - freely vegetatively, also self-sowing. Does well
on any soil, very persistant. Can live for many years in the
same place, once established. Full sun, also partial shade.
Good for any spring decoration. Many years in cultivation.
Z 4 (3).
T. vvedenskyi Botschantz. (subgenus Tulipa)
Central Asia (western Tien Shan, Angren River basin). Debris
slopes, rocky soil, talus.
Plant 15-20 (-40) cm, stem hairy, glaucous green. Leaves 4-5,
glaucous, variable in size, crisp or slightly wavy. Flowers
solitary, large, 2-7 cm in diam., cup-shaped, red, with yellow
base, sometimes dark-bordered. Filaments and anthers yellow. V -
early spring to beginning of summer. Fl - April (in St. Petersburg
mid May). P - freely vegetatively and also by seed. Hardy, can
grow in northern regions. Prefers full sun, but tolerates partial
shade. Z 4 (3). New.
Some other species (mostly from Central Asia) have been studied
in St. Petersburg, and can be recommended for cultivation. Species
marked * are new to cultivation. The short descriptions give stem
height (in cm), colour of the flower and flowering period. The
flowering period is given as it is in the wild (sometimes in the
alpine zone), and it can be otherwise under other environmental
conditions. The appropriate climatic zone and special requirements
to soil are also indicated.
Name |
Height |
Flower colour |
& time |
USDA zone, soil |
Subgenus Tulipa: |
|
|
|
|
*T. affinis Botschantz. |
15-30 |
scarlet-red |
May |
Z 5 (4), dry |
*T. albertii Regel |
12-20 |
red, yellow |
May |
Z 5 (4), rocky |
*T. altaica Pall. ex Spreng |
30-50 |
bright yellow |
May |
Z 4, rocky |
*T. anadroma Botschantz. |
30 |
yellow |
May |
Z 5 (4), indiff. |
*T. borszczowii Regel |
15-25 |
yellow, orange, red |
May |
Z 6, sandy |
*T. brachystemon Regel |
10-35 |
yellow, orange |
April |
Z 5, gravelly |
*T. butkovii Botschantz. |
15 |
carmine, red |
April |
Z 5, gravelly |
*T. hissarica Popov et Vved. |
7-10 |
yellow-green |
April |
Z 5 (4), dry |
*T. korolkowii Regel |
7-20 |
orange-red |
March |
Z 6, gravelly |
T. kuschkensis B. Fedtsch. |
15-50 |
red |
March |
Z 6, clay |
*T. lehmanniana Merckl. |
60-40 |
orange-red, lemon |
March |
Z 6, dry |
*T. mogoltavica Popov. et Vved. |
15 |
red with black |
April |
Z 5 (4), clay |
*T. ostrovskiana Regel |
15-25 |
red, orange-red |
April |
Z 5, clay |
*T. platystemon Vved. |
10-20 |
pale yellow |
June |
Z 5, rocky |
*T. rosea Vved. |
10-15 |
lilac pink |
March |
Z 6, gravelly |
*T. subpraestans Vved. |
15-35 |
red |
May |
Z 6, gravelly |
*T. subquiquefolia Vved. |
30-50 |
red |
April |
Z 6 (5), dry |
*T. tetraphylla Regel |
15-25 |
white-yellow |
June |
Z 6 (5), dry |
*T. tianschanica Regel |
5-15 |
yellow |
June |
Z 6, sandy |
*T. zenaidae Vved. |
10-15 |
yellow |
May |
Z 6, rocky |
Subgenus Eriostemones: |
|
|
|
|
*T. buhseana Boiss. |
7-10 |
cream |
March |
Z 6, sandy |
T. dasystemon (Regel) Regel |
10-15 |
yellow |
May |
Z 5, indiff. |
*T. dasystemonoides Vved. |
5-15 |
yellow |
July |
Z 4, moist |
*T. lipskyi Grossh. |
6-10 |
lilac pink |
May |
Z 6 (5), rocks |
*T. orithyoides Vved. |
7-10 |
white |
June |
Z 5, gravelly |
*T. patens Agardh ex Schult. f. |
10-20 |
pale lilac |
April |
Z 5, dry place |
*T. regelii Krasn. |
5-10 |
white-yellow |
April |
Z 6, gravelly |
*T. sogdiana Bunge |
7-15 |
white |
March |
Z 6, gravelly |
*T. turcomanica B. Fedtsch. |
15-25 |
white |
May |
Z 6 (5), rocky |
*T. turkestanica (Regel) Regel |
10-20 |
white |
March |
Z 5, gravelly |
|