Tulipa humilis Lilliput

Botanical tulip humilis 'Lilliput' is a very small variety, with an early and radiant flowering, which seems pressed to the ground. Each short stem unfolds very early in spring with several rounded flowers that bloom star-shaped and scarlet red, in contrast with a black or midnight blue throat. They emit a particular fragrance. The linear and shiny green leaves, sometimes appear after flowering. Originally from Turkey and Iran, it is a very robust plant, adapted to poor soils and arid conditions that easily naturalises in the garden.

Tulipa humilis 'Lilliput' belongs to the lily family. It is an ancient selection which is red with a marked black heart, originating from Tulipa humilis whose origins are lost between the Caucasus, Turkey, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and up to the north of Russia. Tulipa humilis has an extremely variable appearance depending on its origin. The 'Lilliput' selection bears several rounded flowers at the end of a short floral stem, not exceeding 10 cm (4in), with 3 pointed sepals identical to the 3 petals. The corolla opens widely in the sun, into a star shape, exhaling a subtle, somewhat indefinable fragrance, at the same time sweet and peppery. The bulbs are small, from 3 to 4 cm (1 to 2in) in diameter. This plant has dark blue-green, relatively narrow leaves, sometimes almost curled, 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6in) long.

Tulipa humilis 'Lilliput' is a small gem and a reliable and faithful plant, which will naturally find its place in a rockery, along a path or on a slightly wild slope. Far from the large calyxes of its Dutch relatives, its stars are close to the ground and animate flower beds early in spring, with crocuses (with which they are sometimes confused). It adapts well to growing in pots or containers, allowing you to enjoy its radiant flowers up close.

 Botanical tulips, and very similar tulips like this selection, do not degenerate over time, they naturalise and can remain in place for several years without special care and thrive in borders and rockeries. To create colourful compositions, they can be associated with various small bulbs: Ipheion uniflorum, Anemone blanda, Cyclamen coum, Erythronium pagoda, Leucojum vernum…