Tulipa cretica Hilde

The 'Hilde' Tulip is a beautiful selection of the Crete tulip (Tulipa cretica), a delicate botanical species that blooms in April on the rocks of the Cretan mountains. It is a small bulbous plant that is quite charming, but also hardy in well-drained soil. It naturalises, forming lovely little clusters of flowers over time. In this tulip, each bulb produces up to 3 flowering stems of reddish-brown colour, each bearing a delicate small flower with white petals striped with dark pink and a yellow throat. A gem to admire up close, in a rock garden or even in a pot!

Tulipa cretica is endemic to Crete where it grows in large colonies. In the wild, it grows particularly on the slopes of Mount Ida, the highest peak on the island. It can be found between 500 and 2200 metres (1640 and 7218 feet) above sea level. The 'Hilde' selection is more colourful than the type. Its bulb is smaller compared to those of large-flowered hybrids. It develops long gutter-shaped leaves, more or less twisted, of dark green-gray colour with red-brown edges from late winter onwards. Flowering occurs in March-April, earlier or later depending on the climate, at the top of reddish-brown stems that rarely exceed 15-20 cm (6-8in) in height, depending on the soil fertility. Each bulb produces up to 3 flowering stems. At the top of each stem, a small flower blooms, opening up like a star to reveal a wide yellow centre and beautiful golden stamens. The petals are almost white on the inside, but their reverse side is finely striated and streaked with reddish-pink on a pastel pink background. Their base is tinged with bright yellow. The flowers, measuring 3 to 4 cm (1 to 2in) in diameter, consist of 6 pointed tepals. The foliage dries up and disappears in late spring or early summer, while the bulb enters a resting period, preferably in dry soil. This tulip spreads by producing bulblets.

The 'Hilde' cretica tulips naturalise easily in well-drained soil and form beautiful colonies over time. To achieve a homogeneous cluster, we recommend planting the bulbs in small groups of 5 to 10. They are delightful in a rock garden or along the edge of a gravel bed, and will precede the growth and flowering of small bushes or perennials that will fill the gap they leave from the beginning of summer. For example, you can combine them with spring crocuses and Greek anemones. To complete the scene, plant some thymes, small rock garden euphorbias, and houseleeks.