Late Tulip is a diminutive species tulip native to the rocky subalpine meadows of central Asia, where it thrives in harsh, well-drained conditions that most ornamental tulips cannot tolerate. Each stem produces a cluster of 3 to 6 upward-facing flowers, roughly 2.5 inches across, with pristine white petals surrounding a golden yellow eye that creates a striking star-like appearance when fully open. Growing just 3 to 6 inches tall, it blooms in March and April and is hardy from zones 3 to 8, making it accessible to gardeners across most of North America. The glossy green foliage persists after flowering and eventually yellows naturally, a sign that the bulb is preparing to rest. Once planted in proper conditions, it perennializes reliably year after year, asking for little beyond well-drained soil and sunlight.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-8
6in H x 6in W
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Moderate
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This compact species tulip produces several flowers per stem rather than the single bloom typical of larger tulips, creating a delicate, multi-flowered effect that belies its diminutive stature. The white-and-gold coloring opens into a broad star shape, a distinctive habit that sets it apart from the cup-shaped hybrids that dominate most gardens. Its resilience in rocky, humusy soils mirrors its native subalpine habitat, and once established, it requires minimal intervention, making it a particularly rewarding choice for gardeners who want natural-looking spring color without the fussiness that many tulips demand.
Late Tulip is grown primarily as an ornamental bulb for spring gardens, where its low stature and multiple flowers per stem suit it to rock gardens, alpine troughs, and the front edges of beds where taller tulips would overwhelm the composition. Its reliable perennialization in appropriate conditions makes it a favorite among gardeners seeking long-lived spring bulbs that return year after year without requiring annual replacement.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Plant bulbs in fall, 4 to 5 inches deep in full sun and well-drained soil. Space bulbs a few inches apart to allow room for their modest mature width of 3 to 6 inches.
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“Tulipa tarda originates from the rocky subalpine meadows of central Asia, where it evolved to thrive in demanding alpine conditions. The genus name itself derives from the Latinized version of the Turkish word tulbend, meaning turban, a poetic reference to the flower's turban-like shape when it first opens. This species has been classified as Division 15 in the official tulip classification system, a designation reserved for species tulips and their direct hybrids, which preserves its distinct botanical character and growing behavior relative to the highly bred ornamental tulips that dominate the modern flower trade.”