The whole purpose of a tulip bulb is to flower. In fact, in the middle of each lamp, small leaves a baby button. The white, onion-like bulb that surrounds the bud stores all the nutrients that the button should sprout and grow. The only real help the tulip must cultivate a generous sip of water and some soil to keep it moist.
Selecting Cultivars
When selecting bulbs, a simple rule of thumb is that the larger the sphere, the greater the flower. Choose plump bulbs that are firm and heavy for their size. Although the tunic (outer papery skin) need not be intact, avoid bulbs that are withered, overly dry, scars, and have traces of mold, soft spots, or other blemishes. There is more difficult than selecting bulbs first choose from the more than 100 species of tulips which are divided into 15 departments. Careful selection from different divisions can help planning a tulip garden in early spring and dancing begins until the end of May!
1. Single early
Short stem tulips (usually about 8 cm high) which bloom in late March and early April.
2. Double early
An abundance of petals on 12-15 inch stems makes an attractive display when these bulbs are forced indoors. Although they usually bloom from early to mid-April, they are more sensitive than other cultivars and need protection from cold and inclement weather.
3. Triumph
A standard since 1923 when they were named by Dutch breeder, N. Zandbergen, these tulips take the throne at the end of April as they tower to 18 inches high.
4. Darwin Hybrids
One of the greatest tulips (usually more than 2 meters long) this red and yellow beauties are perfect for naturalizing and that you generally see returning in established gardens May after May
5. Single Late
Originally known as Cottage tulips, these hybrids are inter-mingled and successfully merged with Darwin hybrids. Just like the Darwins, they grow more than 2 meters tall and bloom in May.
6. Lilyflowering
Another May-flowering tulip, this group was originally grouped with Cottage tulips but was reclassified in 1958. On stems that grow from 1 ½ to 2-feet tall, long, shapely flowers have pointed petals that most native Turkish tulips and the first scented tulip, the Ballerina, in their company.
7. Fringed
A short (12 to 18 centimeters), but showy group of tulips that brightens the garden in May with ruffles that either mirror or a contrasting color to add to the rest of the bloom.
8. Viridiflora
May blooms with a flash of green streaked through their petals, this group of tulips varies from one to two meters high.
9. Rembrandt
Once highly prized by gardeners, today these tulips almost obsolete. Although striped with nice breaks and stripes of artistic color, it was discovered that this palette is created by a virus that could spread to other tulip cultivars. Although some vendors still offer the Rembrandt, these tulips are no longer commercially grown and advertised types are generally not related to the true Rembrandt cultivars.
10. Parrot
A riot of petals that curl in all directions, these blooms look like they could use some preening. They are not named for their resemblance to feathers, but rather for the button that looks like a parrot beak. A few of these May-blooming cultivars are scented. They generally grow 16 to 24 inches long.
11. Double late (Peony Flowered)
Although less resistant to bad weather, peony cultivars are an excellent choice for container growing. From mid to late May, this large (1 ½ to 2 feet) flowers have a profusion of petals in close resemblance to their namesake.
12. Kaufmanniana
If you have difficulty in pronouncing the name of this group, you can also call its cultivars 'lily tulips'. Flat opening under the mid-March sun, the foliage of these flowers characterized by dark purple or brown spots. Shorter than other cultivars, the Kaufmanniana only 6-12 inches high.
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