Cultivation and maintenance sheet for tulipa clusiana

Or Lady Tulip, as the Anglo-Saxons call it, is undoubtedly the most refined and delicate tulip there is! It is also one of the tulips whose historical aspect proves to be the most fascinating, and it is undoubtedly one of the tulips of the flora of France among the most precious. But which tulip can I refer to you are probably asking? Look no further, it is Tulipa clusiana !

A trip to the past

The beginnings of the history of our plant go back to a very distant time! Indeed, it was at the beginning of the 17th century that Charles de l’Ecluse (1526-1609), alias Carolus Clusius, received the first few bulbs from Persia. He succeeded in making them bloom in April 1607. Note that this first flowering in cultivation enabled him to carry out the first detailed description of our tulip! 

Taking into account the region of origin of the bulbs in his possession, he naturally chooses to baptize it Tulipa persica, which explains why it appears under this name in the herbaria created at this time. We will have to wait until 1803 for Augustin Pyramus de Candolle (1778-1841) to provide a new description, definitive because it is much more convincing. He took the opportunity to name the species in memory of his predecessor, Charles de l’Ecluse.

The natural range of Tulipa clusianais so vast, it includes Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kashmir, but also the Himalayas and Tibet, that there spontaneously exist several different forms. These are distinguished in particular by colors, but also by slightly different dimensions. Subspontaneous, the species is also present in many regions of the south of France. Greatly threatened, it also benefits from total protection throughout the territory!

In the garden

Although medium in size and slender in appearance, Tulipa clusiana is particularly hardy. The success of its culture meets the same requirements as those required for Tulipa batalinii : a sunny location and a well-drained soil, dry in summer.
Because it is a very stoloniferous species, it is wise to offer it a quiet (unworked) and permanent location, so that it can colonize as it pleases all the available space. At best, it will end up building up a relatively large population there, which will further increase its appeal. 

I can guarantee you that I will never forget the spectacle of a population of several hundred flowering individuals that I was given to admire a few years ago. In short, this is the ideal species for those who wish to cultivate a natural garden…

Despite its status as a protected plant, the typical form of Tulipa clusiana, with the remarkable white and red flower housing an unexpected purple heart, has been in cultivation for decades, which allows it to be sometimes offered for sale. It is important to remember that the simple fact of introducing a few of these bulbs into a garden is a significant act, allowing everyone to make a concrete contribution to safeguarding biodiversity!

Of course, this does not mean to deprive oneself of other natural forms of the species and even less of the superb horticultural varieties obtained over the past few decades …

Other natural forms

• Tulipa clusiana var. chrysantha has a dark yellow flower touched on the outside with red. It is a very common plant, frequently offered in the traditional horticultural trade.
• Tulipa clusiana var. stellata . Identical to the typical shape. However, she does not have a purple heart. It is frequently biflorated, a true collector’s plant that should not be confused with ‘Lady Jane’ (see below).

Varieties obtained in cultivation

• Tulipa clusiana ‘Tinka’. We have here a variety with yellow and red flowers with a very clear design. To grow in a large group. Ideal for constituting original bouquets.
• Tulipa clusiana ‘Tubergen’s Gem’. With its remarkable dark yellow and red flower, here we have the variety whose flower displays the most intense colors. A must !
• Tulipa clusiana ‘Lady Jane’. Unparalleled elegance, it wears a white and pink flower, and deserves to be kept in isolated groups, even in clumps if these are composed of flowering plants of soft tones. In any way, his extreme delicacy could not rub shoulders with vulgarity.
• Tulipa clusiana ‘Peppermint’ looks very similar to the type form. However, its colors appear a little more contrasted, the plant stronger. As such, I would like to point out that the horticultural varieties are generally a little larger than the natural forms!

To finish, I strongly advise you to install Tulipa clusian a and its varieties in groups rather than in rows (this method of in-line planting, if it is ideal for leeks, is on the other hand unflattering for tulips. ). To do this, when planting, simply arrange them in a circular fashion in the bottom of the hole. In addition, the tuft thus obtained will grow larger each year.