added by
sbert to
garden (3 months ago)
Tulip
(Tulipa)
USDA zones: 3 to 9, depending on species
Bloom period: Early to late spring
Height: 3 inches to 3 feet
How to plant: Three times as deep as they are wide, 4 to 8 inches apart
Light requirement: Full sun or light shade in hot climates, though they will grow toward the light
Water requirement: Regular water while growing and blooming; less when foliage dies
Tulips, along with daffodils, are one of the most recognized signs of spring in the garden. They’re a bit more formal than daffodils and probably a bit less versatile in the landscape, as they aren’t as effective when naturalized. But they still can fit into any number of garden styles, and their colors and interesting shapes mean there’s truly a tulip for everyone.
Tulips may be everywhere in spring, but they’re not really all that easy to keep going year after year. They want specific conditions: cold winters, short springs and hot summers, and even with those conditions they may not rebloom the following year. In warm-winter climates, it’s almost impossible to get them to rebloom. For that reason, treating them as annuals, including using them in containers, is often the best choice.