I These flowers are sources of nectar and pollen. For that reason, I recommend them for pollinator gardens. Tulips are one of the most widely grown bulbs. The original tulips were wild and were originally native to Asia.

There are reportedly over a hundred species of tulips world wide. Very few of those are in cultivation. For the most part, many of the cultivated tulips are named varieties or hybrid.

New kinds of tulips are being discovered each year because these plants naturally produce new sports all the time. So, when that happens some new tulip varieties can sometimes result.

Tulips are considered heirloom plants because they have been in cultivation for many centuries. The origins of many of the old heirloom varieties are unknown. These bulbs were among the plants grown by American colonists.

The plants can vary greatly in height according to the type being grown. The taller ones can be 2 ½ to four feet tall. The flower colors can vary as well.

Some of the most popular types of tulips are among the following kinds: the single early ones, the double early ones, the Darwin hybrids, the Triumph group, the single late tulips, the fringed tulips, the lily-flowered ones, the parrot tulips, the double late ones, the Kaufmannia group, the Fosteriana group, and the Greigii group.

Many of the cultivated tulips are named for the flower shape or the bloom time, for example, the single early ones.

General Description of the Tulip Plant

There are literally hundreds of kinds of tulips available. They can vary according to the bloom time, the shape of the blooms, and the plant height.

Specific heights for tulips will vary slight, according to the type being grown. Parrot tulips are 14 to 20 inches tall. So are the double late tulips. The Fosteriana ones are 12 to 16 inches tall. On the other hand, Clusiana tulips can range from 8 to 18 inches tall. Pride tulips are 20 to 24 inches tall, slightly taller than the average.

The Triumph tulips are 12 to 18 inches in height. The Darwin hybrids are 16 to 18 inches in height. The single late tulips are 18 to 28 inches tall, somewhat taller than some. The lily flowered tulips can range from 12 to 24 inches tall. The fringed tulips are 12 to 20 inches in height.

Tulips will generally have a single stem, and in some cases this can be branched.

The tulip foliage is mostly blue-green and up to a foot in length. It is pretty much basal for the most part with the exception being the taller ones that have some stem leaves.

Depending on the variety, the bloom time can vary slightly, but is typically in the spring and often in April or so. However, there are early blooming tulips as well as late blooming ones. Tulip blossoms are typically showy, erect, and solitary.

These blossoms can be saucer shaped or cup-like. Single tulips have a total of six sepals and petals, which are generally alike, except in the case of those with double blooms. The plants bloom for about two weeks or so.

Most tulips will have a single cup-like blossom. However, there are a few tulip species that can bear two to five flowers.