Bulb
Tulip
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowers | Flowers in April | Flowers in May | ||||||||||
| Plant | Plant in October | Plant in November | ||||||||||
| Looks good | Looks good in April | Looks good in May |
Overview
Tulips bring the boldest colour of spring, from near-black 'Queen of Night' to the fringed, apricot 'Apricot Parrot'. Many large-flowered hybrids are at their best in their first year and dwindle afterwards, so gardeners often treat them as annual bedding. If you want plants that persist, try Darwin hybrids such as 'Apeldoorn', or small species tulips like Tulipa sylvestris and Tulipa 'Little Beauty', which can spread over time in hot, gritty spots.
Where to grow tulip
Give tulips full sun and soil that drains freely, especially in winter. They come from places with cold winters and baking summers, so a sunny gravel garden or raised bed suits them better than a damp, shady border. Pots are a good choice on heavy clay.
Planting
Wait until the soil has cooled, from mid-October into November, or even December. Set bulbs 15–20cm deep, which helps them return and keeps stems steady. In containers you can layer them closely, almost touching, with smaller bulbs above.
Care through the year
Spring
Water pots in dry spells as buds form. Pull off faded petals and seed pods, leaving the stem and leaves.
Summer
Let foliage die back. In pots or wet soil, lift bulbs and store them dry, or treat them as annuals.
Autumn
Plant new bulbs late, once the first chills arrive. Never replant in a bed where tulip fire struck.
Winter
Protect pots from waterlogging. Keep netting or chicken wire over bulbs if squirrels dig.
Pruning
Deadhead after flowering and cut away yellowed leaves only when they come away with a gentle tug.
Propagation
Mature bulbs produce small offsets that you can grow on in a nursery row, but they take years to flower. Most gardeners simply buy fresh bulbs for displays.
Common problems
Tulip fire is a fungus causing distorted, scorched-looking leaves and spotted petals; remove affected plants and rotate where you grow tulips. Squirrels and mice eat bulbs, so plant deep and cover with mesh. Slugs nibble emerging shoots.
Guides to the problems most likely to affect tulip:
Something else wrong? Diagnose it by symptom.
Month-by-month reminders
Jobs for this plant come round in October and November. Each month page lists everything else worth doing in the garden at the same time.
Related plants
Sources
Botanical names follow Kew's Plants of the World Online; growing attributes were checked against the references below. Text is our own. See our editorial policy.