Spring-flowering bulb with cup-shaped flowers in almost every colour. Needs winter chill to flower reliably.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 3–8 | −40 °C to −6.7 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H7 | down to −20 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 3–7 | −34 °C to −7 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 1–4 | −15 °C to 5 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
About Tulip
Tulips are native to Central Asia and reached western Europe by way of the Ottoman Empire, where they were already highly developed as garden flowers. Their arrival in the Dutch Republic produced the speculative episode of the 1630s in which contract prices for rare bulbs reached extraordinary levels before collapsing — the standard textbook example of a financial bubble, though modern historians consider the economic damage to have been narrower than the legend suggests. The most prized broken-colour tulips of that period owed their flamed patterning to a virus.
Growing notes
- Treat as annuals in mild climates without winter chill
- Plant deeply (15 cm) in autumn
Pet caution: Tulip is listed as potentially harmful to cats and/or dogs. Keep pets from grazing on it, and contact a vet if you suspect your animal has eaten some.
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Related plants
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