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Tulipa ‘Kaufmanniana’, the waterlily tulip is an exceptional tulip hybrid developed from species native to Turkey. They were named after K. von Kaufmann, the governor of Tashkent.
Kaufmannianas are called "waterlily tulip" because when fully opened on a very sunny day, they are flat and star-shaped, similar to that of water lilies. However, they do not live in water or require much watering.
Water-lily tulips prefer to be planted in the sun but will thrive in partial shade; however, the flowering display may not be as showy. Kaufmanniana likes to have its bulbs planted relatively deep in autumn, 4-6 inches. The bulbs should be planted in well-drained, humus-rich soil—preferring moist, well-drained soil during active growth and a somewhat dry soil while in dormancy.
This is an early spring-flowering bulb, blooming in March, and is one of the very first tulips to bloom as a result. Kaufmannianas are just the flower to cheer up the early spring garden.
The waterlily tulips are low to the ground (6-8 inches) with short stems that hold flowers with magnificent color. The petals of these colorful flowers open wide in the sunshine with shades that vary from white to yellow, orange, red, and bicolored. When the flowers are closed, they show the darkening outer colors.
Kaufmannianas form a dense groundcover of fat leaves and for some kaufmannianas, the leaves provide additional interest, producing characteristic foliage patterns that can be mottled or striped, wavy or both wavy and striped.
Waterlily tulips differ widely and there are many species. The T. kaufmanniana 'Heart's Delight' is the most common of the Waterlily tulips. It has faintly fragrant and creamy yellow flowers with a rosy blush to the outer edges of its petals.
Other notable species of Waterlily tulips include T. kaufmanniana ‘Concerto’ (cream colored), T. kaufmanniana ‘Fashion’ (orange-red colored), T. kaufmanniana ‘Gaiety’ (rose-violet and white), T. kaufmanniana ‘Giuseppe Verdi’ (red and creamy yellow), T. kaufmanniana ‘Scarlet Baby’ (red), T. kaufmanniana ‘Shakespeare’ (red and orange), T. kaufmanniana T. kaufmanniana ‘Stresa’ (red and yellow), T. kaufmanniana ‘Sweet Lady’ (cream base and red), and T. kaufmanniana ‘Tarafa’ (red and white).
Once established, kaufmannianas do not like to be disturbed. All kaufmanniana varieties reproduce each year with ease, slowly colonizing and spreading out over a small area. Kaufmanniana tulips are generally very low growing (average 6 inches), which makes them ideal for placing in rock gardens and containers. Use water-lily tulips to naturalize the edges of mixed beds and borders as well.