Owens Corning

National Gardening Association The Tulip Family Tree

by Michael MacCaskey

Tulips are categorized according to the most pragmatic measure of all: when they bloom. All tulips are grouped as Early, Midseason and Late blooming. While these groupings denote relative blooming times that are constant, actual bloom time varies according to the climate where you live. After bloom season, tulips are grouped into 15 categories or subdivisions. Most of these are based on hybrid origin or lineage. For instance, all the hybrids of crosses between Single Early and Single Late varieties are the Triumphs, and all the hybrids of Tulipa kaufmanniana are the Kaufmannianas. Because parentage of a hybrid group is similar, many other features are similar and so the grouping is useful in practical ways. There are exceptions. One catch-all group is simply called "Other Species." It includes the many cultivated species of wild tulips. The Multiflowered group is not an officially sanctioned group, merely a collection of tulips of various types that produce branched flowering stems.

Early blooming tulips

Kaufmanniana. Among the first tulips to bloom in spring, all were developed from Tulipa kaufmanniana, a species native to Turkestan. Flowers are relatively large, and in sunlight open until nearly flat and star-like, something like a waterlily flower. The effect is heightened because the inside of the petals is usually more brightly colored than the outside: Flowers may appear red in the morning before they open, and white in the afternoon once exposed to sun. Open flowers present a contrasting yellow or black heart. Stems are short, four to 10 inches, and colors are limited to white, yellow, pink, red, and intermediate shades, and leaves are plain bluish green or chocolate brown striped. Bloom comes at approximately the same time as midseason daffodils; about 50 varieties are available. Among the best tulips for naturalizing, flowers are also showy massed in beds, or in smaller plantings in rock gardens or pots.

Fosteriana. These late March to April flowers are the first tulips that anyone would consider a real tulip. Flowers are big, among the biggest of all tulips, and they appear the same time as daffodils. Stems of some 30 varieties reach 20 inches -- plenty of room for a vase. All are excellent for naturalizing and forcing in pots. One of the most famous is fire-engine red 'Red Emperor'.

Wild, miniature or species tulips. There are three names here because all are commonly used and none are completely satisfactory. Also called "botanical" tulips, these are tulip species, and a few of their hybrids, that have garden merit but not the large, long-lasting flowers or most other tulips. Here you find the best naturalizers, such as the rapidly multiplying Tulipa urumiensis, as well as the Mediterranean species such as T. bakeri, T. clusiana, T. saxatilis and T. sylvestris that not only bloom reliable in Southern California without chilling, but multiply as well. Small, delicate flowers that don't last long, these are rarely planted in large quantities. But they excel in naturalistic gardens, in rock gardens, in containers and in similar situations where the flowers are obscured by larger plants.

Greigii. These are low growing tulips known primarily for their purple streaked or mottled leaves that are attractive even after flowers fade. Natives of Turkestan, all have brightly colored flowers, usually red, yellow or white, and with several intermediate shades; centers are black or nearly so. Stiff, 8- to 12-inch stems hold medium size flowers that open wide in the sun. All Greigii tulips naturally multiply and rebloom making them well suited to naturalistic gardens. They also grow well in containers and adapt well to forcing, or massed at border edges or around trees in a more traditional fashion. 'Red Riding Hood' with its solid black center and heavily striated leaves is typical and deserves some space in most any garden.

Single early. With warming temperatures, these tulips grow and bloom quickly. As a consequence, stem height is relatively low at 8 to 12 inches (though a few reach to 18 inches). Also, they respond well to forcing in pots, a situation where their modest height is often an advantage. In the garden, use Single Early tulips in borders or massed in beds. Their bloom comes at about the same time as most daffodils and hyacinths. Many are lightly scented.

Among the 30 or so varieties available, 'Apricot Beauty' is perhaps the most popular Single Early. Its salmon rose colored flower comes atop a 15- to 16-inch stem. Notably, two of the oldest tulip varieties in commerce are Single Early's: red and yellow 'Keizerskroon', introduced in 1750, and red 'Couleur Cardinal' introduced in the early 1800's. Stems on both are in the 12- to 13-inch range, and both are readily forced indoors.

Double Early. If you can imagine the flower of a peony, the other, unofficial name for this group "peony tulips", is more descriptive. Wide, 3- to 4-inch flowers look just like a peony attached to the soil on a foot-long stem. The number of varieties is limited, in part because most are natural mutations from the original, 'Murillo', a pink Double Early which was first registered in 1860.

Flowers are long lasting in the garden and in a vase. They are good in pots and forced, as with the Single Early tulips, they bloom with daffodils and hyacinths, and massed towards the front of borders. If you plant a bed with bulbs spaced 5 inches of so, it will show as a carpet of color. Among the 20 or so varieties available, the color range is limited. Pure white 'Schoonoord' is a favorite.

Midseason blooming tulips

Triumph. This group result from crosses of Single Early and various late flowering tulips, and their midseason flowers combine some of the best characteristics of both. Stems are 12 to 16 inches high and strong enough to take wind and rain without collapsing. Triumph tulips are among the best for forcing and as cut flowers. Plant them in front of the taller Darwin Hybrids tulips that bloom at same time in late April, and combine with perennials such as bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis).

Darwin Hybrids. Along with the Single Lates, these are the tallest tulips. Stems are tall, to 28 inches and more, and strong. Egg-shaped flowers are available in a wide range of colors. Most are crosses of Tulipa fosteriana 'Red Emperor' with varieties of the Darwin tulips (a class since incorporated into the Single Lates). Darwin Hybrids are grown commercially in huge numbers and sold as cut flowers, though they are not often forced for early bloom. Of course they are excellent grouped in beds. Classics of the group include 'Apeldoorn', 'Gudoshnik' and 'Pink Impression'.

Late blooming tulips

Lily-flowered. The narrow leaves and long, arched petals lend these tulips a unique grace and delicacy. But that delicacy is partly deceptive because they are among the longest lasting. In the garden, Lily-flowered tulips can last four to six weeks, depending upon the weather. As cut flowers, they make an show for at least a week. It's a small group. Currently, some 30 varieties are available. One to try -- and plant enough for cutting -- is 'Queen of Sheba'. It's petals are dark red but with golden edges.

Rembrandts. For most gardeners these are more interesting historically than in the garden. These tulips were first noted more than 400 years ago and they were featured often by the Dutch flower painters such as Rubens and Judith Leyster. All are have broken color markings, jargon for irregularly striped or feathered markings. Other words used to describe the subtly distinct color patterns are flaked and flamed. The markings, so desirable at first (gardeners paid outrageous prices for each bulb), it is now understood to be caused by a transmittable virus. Most are 16 to 20 inches tall, wildely colored of course, but otherwise less vigorous than most tulips. All arose spontaneously from seedlings of Breeder tulips, an obsolete group now incorporated into the Single Lates. If you'd like to experiment, try white with red 'Cordell Hull' or yellow with red 'Vlammenspel'.

Multiflowered. I'm stretching a bit here because this is not an "official" class of tulips. These are simply a collection of tulips of various types that regularly produce a three- to seven-branched main stem and as many flowers. Consider each bulb you plant a potential bouquet. Plant height and bloom season vary: 'Georgette' is about two feet tall and blooms late while 'Toronto' is about 10 inches high and blooms two or three weeks earlier.

Viridiflora. All Viridiflora tulips show a prominent green band or markings beginning at the base of the petal and reaching to the tip. While other petals show other colors such as pink or white, the dominant color of the flower is green. Atop 20- to 25-inch stems, the flowers are quite long lasting in the garden and cut. Except for flower color and shape (more like Lily-flowered types), Viridifloras share characteristics of Single Late tulips. 'Spring Green' is a good example of the type. Its petals are half snow white and half bright green.

Single Late. Created in 1981, this group incorporates former groups known as the Breeder, Darwin and Cottage tulips, which by virtue of ongoing hybridization, had become nearly indistinguishable. Their defining characteristics are late flowering atop long and strong stems. The color range is huge -- more than 100 varieties are currently available. Here you can find the darkest, 'Queen of Night', and the clearest white, 'Maureen'.

Fringed. These are a small group of about 15 varieties that all share a very specific feature: fringed, or cut, or incised petal tips. In some cases the effect is so unfamiliar and unreal looking that observers have to touch them to make sure. Most are natural mutations from the Single Late group so most other characteristics are similar to that group. Stems are about two feet tall. Only 15 or so varieties are available. 'Hamilton' is typical of the group.

Double late. Also called peony-flowered, this is a small group of tulips notable mostly for their large, 4-inch in diameter, many-petaled flowers. About 30 varieties are available. Most have stems about 20 inches tall that are barely adequate for the heavy flowers, so wind and rain are notable problems. Beds protected from prevailing winds make the best planting location. Indoors in a vase, where you can admire the complex petals close up, Double Lates make a lasting impression.

Light pink 'Anglique' is one of the best known of the group.

Parrot. These are all sports or natural mutations of other kinds of tulips, usually Triumphs and Single Lates, with unusual, feather-like flowers and an antique or Victorian look. Extravagant beauties, flowers are large, and petals are crinkled and cut, almost like lace. Most show some green at the petal bottoms, and several remain green until fully open. In full sun, they open until almost flat and show their bright yellow pistil surrounded by a black, star-shaped center. Flowers are very late and are usually the last tulips to bloom, lasting into June in some areas.

Flowers tend to be oversized compared to the 20-inch stems, meaning these are more subject than other tulips to wind and rain. Leaves are bluish green.

Of the approximate two dozen varieties available, ruby-red 'Black Parrot' is particularly dramatic in a vase. Pure white 'White Parrot' is unusual for showing none of the typical green markings.

Copyright NGA

Reprinted with permission HouseNet, Inc.

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