Tulipa neustruevae

The very early flowering Tulipa turkestanica gives a spectacular show. This specie makes up to twelve flowers per flower bulb and quickly makes a carpet of little star shaped flowers with a yellow heart. The outside of the flower is grey with a pink touch. On sunny days the flowers open up completely flat and form their stars. Tulipa turkestanica is growing for ages in the mountains of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and the Heavenly Mountains in China. Officially registered in 1875. Tulipa turkestanica received the Award of Garden Merit by the RHS in 1993.

The multi-flowered Tulipa tarda has star shaped white flowers with a large yellow heart. On the outside of the flower the inner petals are yellow, the outer petals have a dark marking. This specie is a great naturalizer and suitable for rock gardens. Between the green glossy leaves grow per bulb four up to six star shaped flowers. Because of the clustered flowers you will soon have quite an impressive part of the garden. Tulipa tarda originates from the mountains of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the Chinese autonomous region Sinkiang. The Chinese call these mountains "Heavenly Mountains". Tulipa tarda is a primitive specie of tulips and has been important in the development of the specie. Tulipa tarda was officially registered in 1933 and has won the Award of Garden Merit by the RHS in 1993.

Tulipa sylvestris is also known as the famous Woodland Tulip. It has naturalized in Northern Europe and the UK since the 16th century. Its exact origin is unknown, but stories go back Italy, the Balkan, North Africa and Iran. Although its common name suggests it grows in woodlands, Tulipa sylvestris is not very fond of forests and other shady places, It rather grows in meadows, fields and orchards where it gets plenty of sunlight. Probably there has been made a translation mistake in history, because sylvestris means wild and not woodland. Because naturalized bulbs tend to grow deeper, they had the chance to survive in fields because the ploughs didn't reach deep enough to lift the bulbs. Once settled in well drained, moist, clayish (not acidic), humus rich soil Tulipa sylvestris comes back for years. The deep yellow, lovely scented flowers knod a bit before they open. Once opened the petals open up completely and the frivolous flower stands upright. Note that the outer petals have a green marking on the outside. Described by Carl Linnaeus himself in 1753.