Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants

BulbsSynonym

Tulipa gesneriana

common garden tulip

A perennial bulb, with broadly lance shaped green leaves. This tulip was first described in the 1500s, and the species is of uncertain origin; many bulbs with this label are actually hybrids. Flowers are single, and may be red, orange, yellow or purplish red. All are tall and flower in late spring

Other common names

late tulip

Synonyms

Tulipa didieri Jord.
Tulipa gesneriana
see moreTulipa billietiana
Tulipa mauriana
Tulipa montisandrei
Tulipa rubidusa

Save to My plants

Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1 year

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Liliaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten, skin allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten, skin allergen - for further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Tulipa are bulbous perennials with characteristic flowers, in a wide range of colours, in spring
Name status: Correct
Horticultural Group: Miscellaneous tulips include all species and hybrids not otherwise classified

How to grow

Cultivation

Plant in autumn, at a depth of 10-15cm (4-6in) in fertile, well-drained soil. Choose a sunny position, with protection from strong winds and excess winter wet. See tulip cultivation for more details

Propagation

Propagate by division, separating offsets in summer. See bulb propagation for more details

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds
Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Wall side borders

Pruning

Deadhead after flowering and remove fallen petals

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, aphids and stem and bulb eelworm; squirrels may eat the bulbs

Diseases

May be susceptible to tulip fire and bulb rot in poorly drained soil

Love gardening

View our Privacy Policy

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.