Obviously a native of Iran (formerly Persia), this beauty has been cultivated in Europe since the early 1800s, according to The Genus Tulip by expert Sir Alfred Daniel Hall. Like other species tulips, it is very small, with jewel-toned colors. Like the others, it is dependably perennial and very useful for early color in a rock garden, in the front of a border, meadow, or any spot where its brilliant beauty can be appreciated. The bulbs are small, so planting takes just minutes. And you'll enjoy these little beauties during early spring every year from the day you plant them.
The Wild Tulips: There are about 150 species of tulips that occur in the wild from Central Asia all the way to Spain and Portugal. Most are native to rocky, arid regions east of Europe. It is hard to believe that these little flowers, more the size of crocus, are the original forms of the big flashy hybridized tulips we all know and love. But to any wildflower gardener who looks close, the brilliant colors and even the petal shapes and other characteristics are there. (By the way, all the species bulbs we sell are produced in Holland, so they are never gathered in the wild in their native lands.) They are all really botanical heirlooms in the truest sense, and deserve a place in every wild garden.
