ORNAMENTAL PLANTS OF HORTICULTURE VALUE

Selection of perennials

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