UK plant library · bulb

Tulip

Tulipa · Liliaceae

Spring colour in pots and borders

Photo: John O'Neill, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sun: Full sun (some tolerate light shade)
Soil: Nutrient-rich, free-draining
Soil pH: Acid to neutral suits tulips; also tolerates alkaline soil. Free-draining soil matters more than pH
Water: Water after planting; keep bulbs from waterlogging
Hardiness: Fully hardy, RHS H6
Height and spread: 10-70cm tall (about 50cm typical), 10-20cm spread

Guv's tipPlant tulip bulbs in November, ideally. Planting late reduces the risk of tulip fire. Patience pays, as my old dad used to say.

Through the year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sow or plant

In flower

Timings are for the UK as a whole. Northern and exposed gardens often run a couple of weeks later.

When to plant

Plant bulbs mid Oct-Nov (Nov is ideal to reduce tulip fire); can plant until Dec/early Jan

Flowering

Late Mar-May depending on type (main display Apr-May)

Pruning

Deadhead; remove foliage after it yellows

Making more plants

Offsets (bulblets), seed (3-4 years to flower)

Watch out for

Pest

Aphids

Look for: Colonies of small green/black insects on shoot tips, sticky honeydew, distorted leaves

What to do: Squash or wash off, encourage ladybirds and other predators; insecticidal soap if severe

Pest

Slugs and snails

Look for: Irregular holes in leaves, slime trails, seedlings eaten

What to do: Hand-pick at night, barriers, beer traps, encourage predators; ferric phosphate pellets sparingly

Disease

Tulip fire

Botrytis tulipae

Look for: Distorted, scorched leaves and spotted flowers

What to do: Destroy infected bulbs, plant late (Nov), rotate site

Disease

Grey mould

Botrytis cinerea

Look for: Fuzzy grey mould on flowers, fruit or stems, rotting

What to do: Remove affected parts, improve ventilation, avoid overcrowding

Disease

Tulip viruses

Tulip breaking virus

Look for: Streaked (broken) flowers

What to do: Destroy affected bulbs, control aphids

Always read and follow the label on any treatment, and check it is approved for use where you live.

Safety and spread

Pets and people: Toxic if eaten (tulipalin A and B). Toxic to dogs, cats and horses, with bulbs most concentrated, according to the ASPCA. Skin allergen ('tulip fingers')

Weed risk: Not listed as an invasive plant in Great Britain

Checked against two or more reputable gardening sources. How we check our facts

Growing somewhere else? See this plant for the USA.

Keep it by the back door

The Plant Doctor and the Guv's book

Printable pest and disease charts with real photographs, and all 50 UK plants in one book.

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