Tulip Lilac Wonder, a species

A trusted nursery owner tells me these WILL come back on z9a. We shall see. I planted 20 little bulbs, but I think they are too close.

another view

I planted these bulbs of Tulip bakerii 'Lilac Wonder' in 2000. They have bloomed every year since. Here's a photo taken today. I live in zone 9a(California). They are planted on a terrace edge at the top of west facing stone wall. These tulips are kept bone dry during the summer and bake in the afternoon sun. Every spring I tell myself that I should order some more, but somehow I never have.

very lovely, Chris. Have they multiplied for you?

From the groups of clumps of flowers and sprouts I thought that they might have split and multiplied, but from the total count there are 22 where I originally planted 25--so not an obvious multiplier.

I do sprinkle some bulb food around them every Jan-Feb when I see the first tips emerge. The ground where they are planted is very poor and rocky, but with good drainage.

I think I may try these next fall.

When I bought them, I was told to buy 50 bulbs (10 cents ea) for a showy display. Being that they were tulips, I was skeptical enough that I only invested $2 in Lilac Wonder. I'm sorry now. I bought them locally, but I think B&B carries them also. I will buy more in the future.

I found it interesting that in the PF, Sannannie has a pic of her lilac wonders, and hers are so tall! I was thinking that maybe mine were stunted.

Well I will definetly put them on my fall want list.

Those are beautiful. My list of new flowers to plant grow everyday that I'm on DG!

I planted these last year and they were delightful. I love how they open to greet the sun then fold up was it light fades. I'm still waiting to see if they survives the gopher and vole rush. I'm hoping since they were interplanted with daffs, maybe the critters wouldn't find them.

They are delightful little plants!

I planted lots of species tulips this year.They do indeed come back for me in 8b.The ones I started with 3 years ago have spread and I even have some in places I didn't plant them.I think that after the squirrels finished their meal they left a few in the place where they had their meal.

I will take some pictures today and post them.

Here is a picture from this morning.They will be opened later in the day

those are lovely. got names?

Beautiful little species tulips, everyone! I did plant some "Lilac Wonder" a few years ago and they did return for me as well.

Vossner, I read recently that tulips often have short stems in the south due to the shorter growing season (cool temps for rooting). Wish I could remember where I read that.
I often have that problem with forced hyacinths.

Pretty species tulips, everyone.

Reminds me to go look more closely for mine--they are so interesting to find in the nooks and crannies early in the spring. Your pics remind me to go out and look for mine--I hope the voles didn't get those, too!