10 May 2011

Species tulips

I planted a few species tulips last fall. I'm just starting to explore the genus, but I'm quite taken with them. Compared to the standard hybrid tulips (which I also love) the forms are quite delicate and graceful. I'm going to have to try a lot more this year...
Tulipa tarda So cheerful! Also tough and spreads vigorous for me.
Tulipa 'Little Beauty' 
'Little Beauty' again... LOVE the blue at the base of the flower. I tried growing it as a teenager at my parent's house... where it became instant deer food. I'm hoping it lives long and well in my current (mostly deer-free) garden.

Tulipa clusiana A flower close-up.
Tulipa clusiana Bad picture of the whole plant. I don't think I've captured how delicate and graceful they are. I'm in love.

Tulipa batalinii Delicately amazing little flower.
Any species tulip fans out that? Recommendations for what I should try next?

9 comments:

Tom said...

Anything from Tulipa humilis is going to be great (there are lots of similar cultivars, I'm pretty sure Little Beauty is one of them). Clusiana is also a good species. I've never tried http://www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com/spring/productview/?sku=02-1440 but it looks so cool I think I'm going to have to order some. I love species tulips, I've got them all over my parents yard. They're great for really tough places, I've got patches of them all over my cactus and succulent garden. I can't remember the name of the company but one of the commonly available bulb brands sells a package called "Deer Resistant Mix" that is a mix of about 10 species and they're great. I can't speak for the deer resistance but they blooms are awesome! Sorry if this is kind of longwinded and poorly phrased... I lose my ability to write well when I get excited about something.

Alison said...

I love species tulips so much more than the regular ones. That 'Little Beauty' is well-named. I have one called Red Hunter, I'd like to have more.

Joseph said...

Tom,
Thanks for sharing your excitement! We plant nerds know what you're talking about...
I didn't know any tulips were deer resistant! Thankfully my current garden is nearly deer-free, so I don't have to find out.
I'm not sure on the origin of 'Little Beauty' I think it may be a hybrid of some kind. I should find out. But I'll certainly add humilis to my list for next year.

Joseph said...

Alison,
I'll be sure to check out 'Red Hunter'! And I think I'm going to add a lot more 'Little Beauty' next year. I'm kinda in love with it.

Diana said...

I am developing an obsession with tulips. Love the species tulips! humilis 'Odalisque' is the first in the spring and it returns very well - a nice early bloomer. I also love love love Tinka (not sure of the species). I have them all over the place. They are tall and graceful with a long bloom period. I also like Gavota. A nice, tall red and yellow. Yum.

The only species tulip I have not been happy with is a gregii (I think) called Formosa. It looked great the first year and this year it has one bloom. Disappointing. I notice it's not in this years B&B catalog.

And now I have my Brent and Becky's catalog open to the tulips - species and miscellaneous and I'm trying to decide what to order for next year.

Joseph said...

Thanks for the recommendations Diana! My list keeps getting longer and longer... :)

Karen Cohen said...

Ok, so where do I order species tulips? I live in zone 7 North Carolina. I heard about "lady jane" and Lilac Wonderland." Any suggestions or how about swapping some?
Karen
www.yankeetootles.bogspot.com

Joseph said...

Karen, I always order from McClure and Zimmerman. They've got a great selection and I've always been very happy with their quality.

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