Colorful spring bulbs native to Asia. They have short stems and large flowers. They pair well with daffodils and look great naturalizing in a landscape or in mass planting in borders or along walkways. Plant in fall for spring blooms. It is generally a shorter plant and flowers have a yellow 'eye' and pointed tepals for identification. Tulips generally decline yearly when exposed to temperatures above 70 degrees F. They do well when grouped and mass planted. Variegation is due to a viral infection so patterns vary greatly. Quick ID Single cup-shaped flower with alternate, clasping leaves Flower has yellow eyespot, yellow anthers Outer tepals are pointed Leaves sometimes mottled 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
Coastal
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green; Variegated
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Oblanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, > 6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are 2-5, simple, alternate, lanceolate to oblanceolate, acute, clasping, slightly undulate, pale gray-green, sometimes mottled, 12 x 6 inches.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Gold/Yellow; Red/Burgundy; Variegated; White
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
Flowers are white, cream, yellow or red and variegated, cup-shaped, erect, often fragrant; tepals 6, to 11 cm, free, in 2 whorls, apex acute, marked basally with yellow blotch; anthers yellow; stigma 3-lobed, prominent.
Bloom time
Spring
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Stem is green, often tinged red, to 20 inches.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Turkistan
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Naturalized Area; Small Space; Walkways
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Border; Mass Planting; Small groups
Garden tags
#mass planting #border planting #naturalized area #fantz #showy flowers #showy leaves #multicolored #spring flowering bulbs #HS302 #problem for dogs #problem for horses #problem for cats #walkway #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
Poison severity
Low
Poison symptoms
Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, hypersalivation. Highest concentration of toxin in bulb.