Perennials That Work with Tulips

You can grow dozens of perennial plants among the tulips. Lorraine Calder recommends Bergenia,  perennial Geranium, Myosotis sylvatica, Ajuga. Phlox subulata or Sedum ‘Angelina’. An interesting trial was conducted by Cornell University Department of Horticulture in Ithaca, NY (Hardiness zone 5), in which spring blooming bulbs were combined with established perennials to determine whether the two would be compatible planting companions. The trials were planted fall of 2004 at the Bluegrass Lane Research Facility; flowering and timing data were collected in 2005-2007.

The Time to Order Tulips Is Now (spring)

Whether you choose the “one hit wonders” of the tulip world, or the species tulips that are likely to come back each year, planting a few or a few dozen tulip bulbs this fall is an easy enough exercise. But while the tulips are fresh in the ground and fresh in your mind, it’s a good idea to order them. As you visit botanical gardens to see the magnificent spring bulb displays, make notes and take photos so you will remember what captured your attention. The bulbs won’t arrive until fall, so you might want to make a note after you order as a reminder.

Analita Tulips / Parrot Tulips / White Tulips (l to r) – photos by Jean Starr 

Five Unusual Tulip Types: (courtesy of ibulb.org)

1. Fringed Tulips: These also go by ‘orchid tulips’. What makes flowers in this group exceptional are their serrated petals. They are 16 to 24 inches tall and bloom from the end of April until far into May. ‘Curley Sue’, ‘Lambada’ and ‘Bell Song’ are some of the well-known cultivars in this group.
2. Lily-flowered Tulips: Characteristic of all the lily-flowered tulips are their slender elegant flowers with pointed petals. Tulips in this group bloom in May and are 20 – 24 inches tall. The lily-flowered group is small. Its most familiar members are ‘Ballade’, ‘Ballerina’ and ‘White Triumphator’.
3. Parrot Tulips: Parrot tulips are single-flowering tulips. They are famous for their fascinating flowers with deeply incised petals. Exposed to hours of sunshine, the petals of these large flowers open all the way to look like saucers. They have a height of 16 to 24 inches and bloom in May. Cultivars included in this group are ‘Apricot Parrot’ and ‘Rococo’.
4. Rembrandt Tulips: The name given to this group tells something about their origin: they were all the rage in Rembrandt’s time. Back then, painters often included them in paintings and referred to them as ‘broken tulips’. In those days, a virus caused the unique feathered patterns on their petals. You can find the descendants of ‘virus-bearing’ Rembrandt tulips in historic collections, but are not commercially available. But for those who love the look of Rembrandt tulips, breeders have found a solution: bulbs with the same feathered patterns on their petals but without the virus. Good examples are ‘Rems Favourite’, ‘Zurel’, and ‘Sorbet’.
5. Viridiflora Tulips: ‘Virida’ is derived from Viridis, which is Latin for ‘green’. The outer petals of a viridiflora tulip are still entirely green when they begin to open. The longer they remain in flower, the more their second color is revealed. Viridiflora tulips start blooming in May and stay active for a surprisingly long time. They are 8 to 20 inches tall. The most familiar in this group are ‘China Town’, ‘Artist’ and ‘Spring Green’.