This guide contains all you need to know to grow and care for tulips, as well as an introduction to the many varieties from which to choose. Here's how to grow tulips in Australia, in both garden beds and in pots.
Fosteriana tulips.
It’s best suited to growing in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 7.. Different flower forms add to this variety, with lily-, fringed-, parrot- and peony-flowered forms. Parrot tulips. Photo: Claire Takacs / bauersyndication.com.au.
Triumph tulips. While parrot tulips may need extra care, they’re worth the trouble. The blooms open to almost 5 inches across, and the stems grow 14 to 20 inches tall, making them great for cutting. Ruffled Tulips, also known as Parrot Tulips are beautiful tulips that are mutations of other tall-growing tulips and has its name from its ruffled tulip petals. In the fall, plant the bulbs in a sheltered area, avoiding extreme winds, rain and cold temperatures. Tulips grow best in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun, sheltered from strong winds. The tulip, Tulipa spp., is a colorful perennial flower in the Liliaceae, or lily family. Plant bulbs about 3 inches apart.
Tulips actually will continue to grow another few centimetres when placed in a vase!
Yes, really! Even beginner and urban gardeners can confidently try their hand at growing tulips, as they make great pot plants and will brighten up any garden bed. Exceptions include Tulipa sprengeri, T. sylvestris and T. tarda which prefer a more moisture-retentive soil with partial shade.
True botanical species as well as cultivated hybrid varieties are available. Tulips provide a splash of spring colour in dazzling shades. It’s a good idea to plant the bulbs deep for added stability and to deter hungry animals. They are incredibly easy to grow and are perfect for raised garden beds, edges, and containers.
Most are unscented, but some, like ‘Orange Favorite’, ‘Blue Parrot’ and ‘Blumex Favorite’ have sweet perfumes. To have the best results you should plant 15 at a time. All dislike excessively wet conditions; this is particularly true with alpine species which require excellent drainage. They come in a huge variety of colors and have a cup-like shape. These tulips are a cross between single early tulips and Darwin Hybrid tulips. They are ideal for filling borders, growing in rock gardens and for bedding schemes. They're thirsty drinkers so be sure top up their water regularly. They are easy to grow and drought tolerant. A few smaller specialist tulips are best grown in a cool greenhouse. They’re quite extravagant-looking. Another interesting species, these tulips have petals with edges that look like parrot feathers. Tulips are so foolproof you can even get them to grow without soil in a vase of water.
Parrot tulips would look amazing in any garden, especially in as a border plant.