Tulipa bakeri Lilac Wonder

Tulipa Little Beauty is one of the few bright coloured botanical tulips. With a height of only 10 cm these sweeties love to show their fabulous pink flowers with a true cobalt blue heart. Because they naturalize well, you can enjoy them for years. Small, but always the center of attention. Introduced in 1991 and winner of the Award of Garden Merit by the RHS in 1997.

Tulipa saxatilis is a lilac bowl shaped botanical tulip from the Greek islands and Western Turkey. On very sunny days the flowers open completely flat. The golden yellow heart is shown to the world with pride. Tulipa saxatilis is often confused with the subspecies Tulipa bakeri. The difference between these two species is in the colour of the anthers. Tulipa saxatilis has brown anthers, while Tulipa bakeri has yellow anthers. Also does Tulipa saxatilis not grow above 900 meters, but in gorges, on rockery slopes and on field margins. Tulipa bakeri is often found on higher plateaus. Registered since 1825, but is growing on his finding place Crete for ages.

Tulipa sylvestris is also known as the famous Woodland Tulip. It has naturalized in Northern Europe and the UK since the 16th century. Its exact origin is unknown, but stories go back Italy, the Balkan, North Africa and Iran. Although its common name suggests it grows in woodlands, Tulipa sylvestris is not very fond of forests and other shady places, It rather grows in meadows, fields and orchards where it gets plenty of sunlight. Probably there has been made a translation mistake in history, because sylvestris means wild and not woodland. Because naturalized bulbs tend to grow deeper, they had the chance to survive in fields because the ploughs didn't reach deep enough to lift the bulbs. Once settled in well drained, moist, clayish (not acidic), humus rich soil Tulipa sylvestris comes back for years. The deep yellow, lovely scented flowers knod a bit before they open. Once opened the petals open up completely and the frivolous flower stands upright. Note that the outer petals have a green marking on the outside. Described by Carl Linnaeus himself in 1753.

The very early flowering Tulipa turkestanica gives a spectacular show. This specie makes up to twelve flowers per flower bulb and quickly makes a carpet of little star shaped flowers with a yellow heart. The outside of the flower is grey with a pink touch. On sunny days the flowers open up completely flat and form their stars. Tulipa turkestanica is growing for ages in the mountains of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and the Heavenly Mountains in China. Officially registered in 1875. Tulipa turkestanica received the Award of Garden Merit by the RHS in 1993.

The bronze variety under clusiana tulips is Tulipa clusiana Sheila. This beauty was found in 1992 and is since then an unique addition to the clusiana serie. Nevertheless lovely to combine with the others. For lovely warm colours we recommend Tulipa clusiana Sheila.