Greigii Tulips are colorful spring bulb in the lily family. These tulips are shorter to about 1 foot tall with up to 3 blooming stems per plant. They bloom in early spring and the purple-maroon streaks on foliage are an important feature for this species. Plant bulbs in the fall for a spring display. Tulips generally decline yearly when exposed to temperatures above 70 degrees F. They work best when grouped and mass planted. Variegation is due to a viral infection so patterns vary greatly. Quick ID Foliage is streaked with purple or maroon Single cup-shaped flower with alternate, clasping leaves Pests, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The lady tulip has no serious insect or disease issues. Aphids, slugs, and snails may be seen. Gray squirrels, mice, voles, and deer are attracted and may eat the bulbs or plants. Diseases such as tulip fire, tulip gray bulb rot, and viruses can occur. Blue mold may develop on stored bulbs. In poorly drained soils, root or bulb rot may also occur. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Tulipa .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 10 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Brown/Copper; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, > 6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are simple, alternate, lanceolate-oblong to lanceolate, acute, entire, clasping, usually reflexed, glaucous streaked with brownish-maroon above, 12 x 6 inches.
Flowers come in many colors or are multicolored, cup-shaped, erect; tepals 6, to 7 inches, free, in 2 whorls, marked basally with black or red rhombic blotch; stigma 3-lobed, prominent.
Bloom time
Spring
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Green; Pink
Stem detail
Stem is green, often tinged pink or brown, densely pubescent, to 18 inches.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Turkistan
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Lawn; Naturalized Area
Landscape theme
Cutting Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Border; Mass Planting
Garden tags
#fantz #showy flowers #multicolored #mass planting #spring flowering bulbs #HS302 #problem for dogs #problem for horses #problem for cats #container plant #variegated #fpp #th-wildlife #th-smell
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Slugs and Snails Found on Flowers and Foliage; Bulb Mites; Narcissus Bulb Fly; Potato Aphid on Ornamental Plants
Problems
Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Propagation
Division
Poison severity
Low
Poison symptoms
Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, hypersalivation. Highest concentration of toxin in bulb.