"Planting Tulip Bulbs"   

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Height: to 30 in (75 cm)

Spacing: 6 in (15 cm)

Type: hardy bulb

Flowers: Nearly all colors .

Growing the Tulip Bulb

The many varieties of Tulip provide a long season of bloom if cultivars are carefully selected. When planting tulip bulbs put in at least 12 bulbs of each variety for best effect. The Tulip bulb bruises easily but tolerates most well-drained soils. It is more susceptible to rots if you grow the tulip bulb in wet soil. Mid- to late season flowers last longer in partial shade,otherwise plant in full sun. Plant tulip bulbs in October at a depth of 6 inches (15 cm), smaller bulbs are planted 4 inches (10 cm) deep.

Propagation

Division is done when the foliage of the tulip bulb matures. After digging they can be stored until the time for planting tulip bulbs in October.

Cultivars

There are many species and strains of tulips. Some of the more common are listed below.

Tulipa clusiana - Fragrant red or white flowers are produced on 8-inch (20 cm) stems . Prefers hot weather.

T. fosterana - Emperor Tulips - These large flowers are produced on 12 inch (30 cm) stems and can be orange, pink, red, white, yellow. Some have mottled foliage.

T. greigii - Red and yellow flowers are combined with mottled foliage. The plants are 8 inches (20 cm) tall.

T. hybrids - There are many strains of hybrids including Triumph, Cottage, Darwin and Lily-flowered tulips. Flowers are produced in nearly all colors.

T. kaufmanniana - The flower colors are red, white and yellow. The earliest flowering tulip. The foliage is variegated .

T. praestans - These tulips produce several flowers per stem. The flowers are red .

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This information kindly supplied by Michigan State University Extension, Ornamental Plants.

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