Information about Turkish Tulip

INFORMATION ABOUT TURKISH TULIP...

By: Nikki Phipps

While you may not guess that it’s a tulip simply by looking at it, the narrow-pointed, spidery-like red and yellow bicolored blooms of the Turkish tulip (Tulipa acuminata) can only be described as stunning. Growing up to 20 inches amid strap-like, gray-green leaves, this unusual looking tulip is a native of Turkey that is sure to keep you intrigued while capturing everyone’s attention.

The Turkish tulip comes from a genus with around 100 or more species, divided into 15 distinguishing divisions. Tulips offer more sizes, shapes and colors than you can imagine easily suiting nearly any type of garden design.

The Turkish tulip is also referred to as the Fire Flame tulip. Although, this bulb is now considered rare in gardens, the Turkish tulip dates back to the early 1800s.

The Turkish tulip will grow happily in either full sun or light shade, but it does prefer well-drained, humus-rich, sandy soil. Generally, the bulbs of the Turkish tulip are planted about four inches in the fall at anytime prior to freezing. Unless the soil is very dry, there is no need to water your Turkish tulips when planting. Like most tulips, the Turkish Tulip is hardy into zone 3.

Once spring arrives, you will instantly be delighted by its wavy-like foliage as the Turkish tulip prepares for blooming in mid-spring.

To get the most from your Turkish tulips, they are best planted in large drifts. Turkish tulips can also be used in rock gardens, containers, and mixed perennial beds. Show off these unusual tulips by growing them among other plants to create eye-catching combinations. For instance, combine them with daffodils, ferns and hostas. As with other types of tulips, the Turkish tulip can be forced indoors as well and even used as a cut flower.

Turkish tulips are prone to developing a soil-borne disease called tulip fire. To guard against tulip fire, try to avoid planting these tulips in the same location year after year or replace the top 6 inches of dirt with fresh soil. Turkish tulips may also be eaten by rabbits and deer.

Many people treat tulips like annuals and purchase new bulbs each year. However, Turkish tulips, like other tulips, can be easily propagated through divisions of their offsets. To acquire more bulbs from offsets, dig up the mature bulbs after their foliage turns brown in the summer. Carefully shake the soil off their roots, and air dry them in a shady spot for a couple of days. Separate the offsets from the parent bulbs and replant them.