Bulbs and bulblike plants, Perennials
Tulips vary considerably. Some are stately and formal, others dainty and whimsical; a few look decidedly bizarre. Bloom comes at some time from March to May, depending on the type.
Use larger tulips in colonies or masses, in company with low, spring-blooming plants. Use smaller, shorter types for close-up viewing—in rock gardens, near paths, in raised beds, or in patio insets.
Tulips are superb container plants; unusual kinds such as Rembrandt and Parrot are especially suited to this use.
Nearly all hybrid tulips and most species (wild) tulips need six weeks of temperatures below 45°F/7°C to initiate flower formation, and they aren’t bothered by summer drought. In mild climates, provide the necessary chill by refrigerating bulbs for 6 weeks (not near ripening fruit) before planting; then treat the plants as annuals.Tulipa bakeri
Similar to and often listed as T. saxatilis. Lilac to purple flowers with a yellow base open to a wide, flat star; they are borne in clusters of three or four on stems to 6–8 in. high. ‘Lilac Wonder’, to 6–7 in. high, has lilac-colored flowers with a large, circular lemon yellow base. Midseason. Good in mild-winter areas.
Native to southern Europe and the Caucasus. Compact, leafy, aggressive, spreading by volunteer seedlin...
Grows to 1 ft. tall and 6 ft. wide, with curved branches that radiate in all directions. Shorter needl...
Perennial in Zones 13, 21–24, H1, H2; grown as an annual elsewhere. Delicate, airy mounds to 12&...