Tulipa gesneriana
Common name: Garden tulip · Didier's tulip
Tulipa gesneriana is a bulbous, spring-flowering perennial in the lily family, believed to be native to Asia Minor and long naturalized in parts of Europe. It produces a single cup-shaped flower atop an upright stem, with broad, glaucous leaves. Though a true wild population has never been firmly identified, it is the primary ancestor of the thousands of hybrid garden tulips grown worldwide. It is one of the most widely cultivated ornamental plants in the world.
Care summary
Sun
Full sun to light shade
Water
Moderate in spring; keep dry in summer dormancy
Soil
Well-drained, fertile, neutral to slightly alkaline
Hardiness
Zones 3–7
Mature height
About 35–60 cm (1–2 ft)
Pet safe
No — toxic to cats and dogs, especially the bulb
Difficulty
Moderate
Propagation
Propagate from bulb offsets, as most garden tulips are hybrids that do not come true from seed. Lift bulbs once the foliage has withered, detach the daughter bulbs, dry and store them over summer, and replant in autumn.
Fun facts
- Tulips were at the center of "tulip mania" in the 1630s Netherlands, when single rare bulbs sold for more than a house.
- The name "tulip" derives from the Turkish word for turban, referring to the flower's shape.
- No confirmed wild population of Tulipa gesneriana is known; it is considered a cultivated species of ancient garden origin.
- The Netherlands is by far the largest tulip producer, exporting billions of bulbs each year.