Tulipa 'The First' (12)
tulip 'The First'
A compact perennial bulb with broadly lance-shaped leaves, grey-green and streaked with purple. Flowers are pale creamy yellow with crimson flaming on the outside, opening to white with a central halo of yellow at the base. Flowers in mid spring, and stands approximately 20cm high
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
1 yearUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Yellow Red White | Green Grey Silver Purple | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H6Botanical details
- Family
- Liliaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- 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
Accepted
- Horticultural Group
- Kaufmanniana Group tulips are small, often with purple-marked foliage, and have single, often bicoloured flowers in early spring
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Protect from strong winds and excess winter wet. Kaufmanniana Group tulips may be left in the ground for several years, they do not need to be lifted annually. 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
- Gravel garden
- Patio and container plants
- Rock garden
- Flower borders and beds
- Underplanting of roses and shrubs
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
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.