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For those of you who have deer, squirrels, bunnies, chipmunks and other critters that like to decimate the spring garden before it even sprouts, there are actually many bulbs that are critter resistant, in fact, there are tulips that are critter resistant. These tulips are known as Species Tulips. These are the original wild tulips collected from Persia, the Caucasus, Africa, Southern Europe, etc. Even today, wild species are still being discovered and cultivated for commercial sale. Understand, that after these wild species are collected and nurtured through professional cultivation, they often change dramatically. They can become taller, their blossoms can become larger, and their colors may be more vivid. That is OK, because even if you found them in the wild and brought them to your own gardens, these changes would take place. Loving care does that to most wild things.
Species Tulips originated in the mountains of Central Asia, like the Tien Shan mountains of Kazakhstan. In these rugged regions they populated hillsides and meadows in vast drifts often growing in elevations above 10,000 feet. From these regions, they were collected and carried west by enterprising travelers along the trade routes to the westernmost parts of the Ottoman Empire.
In the 16th century, these tulips made their way into Europe, smuggled out of Constantinople in the diplomatic pack of the Flemish ambassador, Ogier de Busbecq. Clusters of these tulips began showing up on the terraced vineyards and in the olive groves of France and Italy where they flourished in the much more hospitable environments.
Last week we introduced you to 4 species tulips (Check out the 9-8-2018 newsletter). This week we are going to introduce you to 4 of the most flamboyant Species Tulips currently in commercial cultivation. Their colors/size/shape make them real standouts in any garden. |
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Of all the tulips in the Harvesting History Species Tulip Collection, my favorite is Tulipa Saxatilis. The photo above is from my own garden taken many years ago. Saxatilis is one of the taller Species Tulips. In my garden it reaches a height of 8 inches, but it is the blossoms that are truly unforgettable. About half of each petal is lilac which then melts to a sparkling white which in turn melts to a sunshine yellow at the base. The gentle progression of colors makes each blossom stunning. I can hardly wait each spring for this one to bloom.
Saxatilis is actually native to the islands of Greece, specifically the high, flat Omalos Plain where it can be found growing in old vineyards, olive groves and on rocky cliffs. It was introduced into commercial cultivation in 1825, but grew in popularity in 1895 when it was shown at The Royal Horticultural Society’s London Exhibition.
I have been growing it in true Zone 4 conditions for many years, but most who know this tulip will tell you that it does best in Zones 5-8. Saxatilis shows best when planted in drifts of at least 10 bulbs. Bulbs should be planted 4 inches deep and no more than 3 inches apart. |
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This ancient tulip was collected sometime during the 1500s and introduced to the European and British public in the 1800s. It was also known as The Fire Flame and The Turkish Tulip. It is not often offered to the public.
This tulip is very tall for a Species Tulip, often reaching a height of 14-16 inches, but the truly extraordinary aspect of this tulip is its uniquely narrow, long, gracefully curving, yellow petals that are trimmed in scarlet. The visual impact is substantial and memorable.
Anna Pavord in her treatise on tulips titled, The Tulip, provides this historical description:
“This was one of several newly introduced species that the Rev. Henry Harpur Crewe had growing in his garden at Drayton Beauchamp Rectory, Tring, Herts, where he was Rector from 1860-1883. Writing in The Garden on 20 May 1876 he described T. acuminata as ‘so quaint and curious that no one who has once grown it likes to be without it.’”
Acuminata shows best when planted in drifts of at least 10 bulbs. Bulbs should be planted 6 inches deep and 3-4 inches apart. |
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For such a tiny tulip (5 inches) this little guy makes a huge statement in your garden. The striking purple base can be easily seen as the blossom’s pure white petals unfold. The contrast of the purple against the white is simply stunning.
Tulipa humilis is actually a group of tiny wild tulips whose colors range from the deepest burgundy to the dazzling white of Alba Coerulea Oculata. They are known to inhabit the areas above 10,000 feet in the Hamadan Province of Iran.
Alba Coerulea Oculata is an early bloomer. Bulbs are difficult to source so we are only able to offer a bag of 5 bulbs. No larger quantities are available. Bulbs should be planted 4-6 inches deep and 2-3 inches apart. This tulip will return each year and will multiply – doubling in number about every 3 years.
It is a treasure from the tulip kingdom’s ancient past. |
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The ‘Praestans’ family of tulips was unknown to Europeans and Americans until the latter part of the 19th century when Russian travelers began to explore the regions of Central Asia. The plants are primarily native to Tadjikistan where they grow on steep hillsides at an elevation of 6000 feet.
Most ‘Praestans’ are white with deep purple blotches at their base, but ‘Fuselier’ is much different. It is much shorter, growing to a height of 10-12 inches. Its blossoms are a truly brilliant scarlet and are the largest of the ‘Praestans’. Each stem may produce multiple blossoms.
It is the showiest of the Species Tulips. It produces a definitive presence in the garden with as little as 5 tulips. A drift containing 10-25 bulbs will be a dominant spectacle in any size garden. Bulbs should be planted 6 inches deep and 3-4 inches apart.
If you miss seeing the tulips in the spring, try the Species Tulips. They are smaller than the grand tulips that the deer love so much, but their colors are becoming as vivid and the ones described in this newsletter, when planted in sufficient numbers, will produce a springtime garden as showy as any tulip garden.
A Thought About Hurricane Florence
Isn’t it interesting how weather disasters force us to pause and take stock of the people and things we love and appreciate. In last week’s Hurricane Florence, Wilmington, NC sustained a direct hit. Our website designer, Sue Rachunok and her company, Design Interventions, are located in Wilmington.
Together we rushed to get enough newsletters finished to take us into this week, but we never dreamed that the storm would wreak so much havoc and that Wilmington would be without power for so long. That is why we were unable to publish a Tuesday/Wednesday newsletter.
As soon as she had a reliable update for us I received this text and it brought a huge smile to my face:
“Should have internet back tomorrow so Saturday’s blast will make it. We got power last night. I’ve done 8 loads of laundry so far – we have a lot of trees down and there’s tons of yard work left to do. Boy, I’m looking forward to getting back to work!”
Sue, her family, colleagues and friends and her company survived the storm and are fine, but it is times like this that make us appreciate how fortunate we are to have such trusted friends and reliable, loyal and committed colleagues. We could not produce these newsletters and maintain our website without Sue and Design Interventions. She and they are a real pleasure to work with. |
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| The first of our garlic bulbs have arrived and we will begin shipping this week. We expect to have most of the orders shipped by the end of next week. Please open your orders as soon as you receive them, but in most areas it is too soon to plant. The bulbs need good air circulation, but should not be in the ground until the end of October. If you haven’t ordered, please place your orders soon because we are nearly out of some varieties. |
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