Tulipa clusiana (lady tulip)

Japanese name: ツリパ クルシアナ
Scientific name: Tulipa clusiana

[Overview]
A bulbous perennial.
It has an underground bulb and spreads by sending out stolons.
Two to five leaves emerge in a rosette; they are linear, up to 25 cm long, and tinged with gray-green.
A single flower is borne facing upward at the tip of a stem about 30 cm tall, of which only one rises from each bulb.
There are 6 tepals, about 5 cm long and 2 cm wide with pointed tips; the outer tepals are red to bright pinkish purple with a white margin.
The inner tepals are pure white, with a small reddish purple blotch at the base.
The flower opens in a star shape in the sun and closes in cloudy weather and at night.
The flowers are fragrant.
It does not set fruit.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by dividing the bulbs.
It prefers a sunny, airy, well-drained, fertile soil; in poorly drained, wet soil the bulbs and roots may rot.
It suits a hot, dry environment in summer and dislikes heat and humidity.
If the conditions suit it, it flowers well even when left planted for several years.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries during the growing period; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
If the bulbs are not dug up, keep them on the dry side during dormancy.
Fertilizing can be light; for plants in the ground, base fertilizer is enough and nothing more is needed, and for potted plants, place slow-release fertilizer on the soil while watching how the plant grows.
Cutting the flower stalk after flowering keeps the plant from tiring.
Leave the leaves until they turn yellow so that the plant builds up strength.
Pests and diseases include gray mold, virus diseases, aphids, slugs and snails.

View this page in Japanese (日本語)