Spring wouldn’t be the same without tulips. The showy bulbs have lovely flowers in almost every color you can think of, from soft pastels to bright, hot colors. They are perfect for adding colour to borders in April and May and grow very well in pots.
Tulips are spring bulbs, planted in mid to late autumn. Tulips are perennial plants, but many varieties only flower reliably for one year because they have been bred for years to get the most beautiful blooms. Many gardeners plant new bulbs each autumn to ensure a good display. If you’re growing tulips in pots, you need to plant fresh bulbs each year.
There are different kinds of tulips that bloom at different times. Early-flowering types bloom in late March to April, mid-season bulbs bloom in April to May, and late-flowering types bloom in May. You can prolong your displays by growing a mix of different types. You can also mix flower shapes, heights and colours. It can be tricky to put tulips together, but you can buy bulb mixes that are already put together at the garden center or online.
Tulip bulbs produce some of the most beautiful flowers in spring, but what do the bulbs themselves actually look like? In this detailed guide, we’ll explore the unique structure and appearance of tulip bulbs.
The Anatomy of a Tulip Bulb
Tulips grow from bulbs, which are a type of modified underground stem called a corm The tulip bulb has several key structures
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Roots – Fibrous roots emerge from the flat bottom of the bulb to anchor it in the soil and take up water and nutrients
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Basal Plate – This is the flat, disk-shaped bottom of the bulb The roots grow from the basal plate
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Tunics – The papery, brown outer layers that enclose and protect the inner structures.
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Leaves – Bladed, green leaves emerge from the top of the bulb and gather sunlight.
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Flower Bud – Located deep inside the bulb, this bud will grow into the flower.
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Daughter Bulbs – Smaller bulbs that form on the mother bulb and can be separated to propagate new plants.
Tulip Bulb Shapes and Sizes
Tulip bulbs can vary quite a bit in size and shape depending on the variety. Here are some of the most common types:
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Lily-Flowered – Elongated, narrow bulbs around 5 cm wide. Produce slender, pointed petals.
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Triumph – Round bulbs around 5-8 cm wide with blunt tips. Cup or bowl-shaped flowers.
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Darwin Hybrids – The largest bulbs at 5-10 cm across. Yield big, vibrant blooms on tall stems.
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Species – Small, slender bulbs under 5 cm wide. Grow short, delicate flowers.
Larger bulbs tend to produce bigger, showier blooms because they have more stored nutrients to fuel growth. However, smaller bulbs can give nice flowers too.
Tulip Bulb Colors and Markings
Tulip bulbs display a range of outer colors and inner markings:
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Red – Rich ruby red. One of the most popular colors.
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Yellow – Sunny bright yellow. Another common shade.
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White – Crisp white tunics. Produce pure white flowers.
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Brown – Earthy light or dark brown. The most common color.
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Purple – Regal dark purple or violet. Less common for bulbs.
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Striped – Tunics streaked with red or purple on white. Very decorative.
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Feathered – Intricate red feather-like markings inside white bulbs.
Solid brown, yellow, or red bulbs yield flowers in the same hue. Multi-colored bulbs produce blooms that blend the colors. The inner markings don’t affect flower color.
Harvesting and Storing Tulip Bulbs
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Tulip bulbs are harvested in late summer when the leaves have died back. The bulbs can then be stored for planting in fall.
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Gently brush off any remaining soil but be careful not to damage the papery tunics.
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Discard any bulbs that are soft, moldy, or otherwise damaged. Healthy bulbs feel firm and heavy.
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Place bulbs in breathable mesh bags or open crates. Don’t seal in plastic which can trap moisture and cause rotting.
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Store bulbs in a cool, dry place around 65°F until planting. A basement or garage works well.
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Properly stored bulbs can remain viable for planting for several months.
With their intricate shapes, sizes, colors, and markings, tulip bulbs are beautiful even before they bloom. Understanding the anatomy and variability of these specialized underground structures can make choosing bulbs for your garden more informed and successful. When you know what to look for, you can pick bulbs poised to produce a gorgeous display.
Where to buy tulips online
There are more than a dozen main types of tulips. Their flowers are different sizes and shapes, and they bloom at different times in the spring. Flowering times depend on the weather conditions and can vary from year to year. Tulips in the north of the country can flower a few weeks later than those in the south. When you live in the country, they also change.
Where to buy tulip bulbs online
Tulips can be left in the ground all year to bloom again the next year, but they might not put on as much of a show and their flowers might be shorter and smaller than before. To keep this from happening, it’s important to make sure that the bulbs get as much energy back from the leaves as possible. If you don’t want plants to waste energy making seeds after they flower, cut off their stems and leaves. The only plants that should be left alone to make seeds and spread naturally in your garden are species tulips. Don’t cut back foliage until it has turned yellow, which will be about six weeks after flowering. If you cut back the foliage too early the bulbs will be weaker the following year.
Daniel Haynes shows how to get species tulips to bloom again in this video: Green Video Post Element Video ID: “1afd30b8a66caaf5f57c8cdf3527e70cbca07843” Mix ID: “” Player ID: “qAUyOzk5” If the player doesn’t show up in a few seconds, the Player ID or License Key (set in IM Green Video settings) might not work.
I’m NEVER growing tulips again (and here’s why)!
FAQ
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