Who has species tulips to show off?

I've always been a fan of tulips, but in the last few years have been concentrating on those that will return reliably for me. That led me to the wonderful world of wild tulips! There is a grace to them that is unmatched by the showy hybrids, and I love them more every year.

I'd love to see pics of species tulips any of you have growing, and would appreciate sharing your experiences with them!

At this point in my journey into the species, various forms of T.clusiana are among my favorites. This is 'Tinka'

This clusiana is 'Honky Tonk'. It really glows in the sun!

'Lady Jane', one of my favorites!

Inside the bloom:

I purchased these as Lady Jane, but am very pleased with the mix up!

Little Princess is putting on a show!

Little fiestas in the garden!

And Little Beauty is doing her thing too!

T.saxatilis, I think. They look a lot like T bakeri 'Lilac Wonder', but I don't recall getting those.

This one showed up with these 'Hawera' daffodils, and must have been with the bulbs moved from my old garden. I do recall that they were T.saxatilis, and the petals are more rounded at the tips.

T.tarda show off when the sun is shining!

Does having had them bloom in February (when they do bloom down here) this year count? ;)

T cluisiana does well and will persist this far south if just the right conditions are met--a bone dry summer slope--lol

I've definitely got just the right area picked out for a major expansion on these this fall, was just waiting for a fence project to be completed this spring. These are T clusiana var chrysantha Feb 22 this year. I have some Fiesta also, but stuck them on the east side of the house and don't think they are going to like it there enough to persist, but I was swamped with bulb planting last fall. Not near as impressive as yours--not enough sun over there I suspect.

humuilis "Alba Coerulea Oculata'

I have a bunch of T.tarda just coming up- I cant wait till they bloom!

Oh yes, jmorth, or even last years! LOL T.clusiana var. chrysanthus is gorgeous, and on my 'gotta get' list. How much direct sun do they get where you have them? I've got some in spots I'm unsure about. I know it will be plenty dry there in summer, just hope they get enough sun.

T.humuilis "Alba Coerulea Oculata' is a high holy on my want list! That steely white and blue are beautiful.

lilmac, love to see pics when they open!

They got a good 6 hrs of sun when it was sunny all day--our weather is kind of iffy in Feb. Sometimes gray and cloudy for 3 or 4 days straight--I remember it took them forever to open up a bit because we had a one week it was cloudy every day. I was also impressed by how long they looked nice, about 3 full weeks.

Oh good, you realized I meant to address you dmj, LOL. We're getting warm, sunny weather, and could actually use some rain. I think these get about that much sun too. If they have diminished bloom next year, they'll surely get moved. I'm hoping I don't need to because I'm really liking the color combination. Its a clump of Little Beauty in the sunnier spot on one side of the path, across from clumps of pulmonaria. The blue in the center of the tulips is emphasized in the lung wort, and the newly opened blooms on it are the same color as the tulips. I got pics today but haven't got them on the puter yet.

I was hoping you meant me and I wasn't just assuming gemini--lol

Well done on all those species, I like them much better than the hybrids. =)

Thanks! I think I like them better than the hybrids too. Still keep a few of the various fun hybrids around, but the grace and persistence of these little beauties has won me over.

Here's the pic of Little Beauty across the path from the pulmonaria. You can see how the sun hits the tulips, but not the other side of the path. When you're walking up the path, the blue centers of the tulips show brilliantly, but at the angle I took this pic it doesn't show much.

Good idea Neal! Little Beauty goes well near Pulmonaria, gosh you must be making work for yourself! As if I don't :~))

I seem to think I have read that T. saxatalis was the same as T. bakeri Lilac Wonder, just checked in my RHS Plant Finder and 'Bakeri Group' as well as 'Lilac Wonder' come under saxatalis. I have lots of leaves, haven't seen buds yet.

I discovered my T. clusiana Tinka in a pot, lol, I must have got Lady Jane too but forgot.

The 'Rosea' form of T. humilis alba coerulea occulata, why so many names, lol!

T. clusiana Lady Jane

ya'll are making me drool here guys! I guess I will have to be happy and that I can at least do the T cluisiana and its variations--the others are definitely impossible here beyond first year for me. But I am looking forward to next winter!
=)

Some is better than none Deb!

T. praestans Unicum

T. iliensis

yep Wallaby--esp when there are several pretty variations! I'm loving this thread guys even as my foliage has melted away here!
=)

Wallaby I'm glad to see that Tinka after all. Definitely redder than Lady Jane, very nice.

Gemini, how tall are your Lady Janes? The ones here in full sun weren't as tall as the ones in part sun, but maybe it's some other reason. These were about 15" tall (the daffs are huge)

Lady Jane tulips behind Jack Snipe daffs and muscari. This was taken last week

claypa, my Lady Janes in part shade were much later to open and taller too, I have two facing south but the others are facing north on a bank. Nice combination!

Thanks, Janet! I just love it when a plant comes together, its still such a surprise when it does, LOL. Love that T. iliensis, it reminds me a bit of T.sylvestris.

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claypa, I think my Lady Janes are about 24" tall. That is a beautiful combo you have there with them!