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Tulipa clusiana

Lady Tulip

Family LiliaceaeGenus Tulipa

A white tulip opened flat, its six pointed petals around a yellow center with deep purple anthers, beside a bud backed in crimson.
FlowerPhoto by and (c)2007 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man). Location credit to the Chanticleer Garden.CC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Annual, Bulb, PerennialExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
bulbous geophytePlants of the World Online
Height
0.8-1 ft25-30 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
0.8-1 ft25-30 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Cream/Tan, Purple/Lavender, Red/Burgundy, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, West HimalayaGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
3-7Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1, in 42 days.

100% germination in 28–42 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Tulipa p. 226Public domain
Show the original text
Tulipa (Llllaceae). Germination takes place either at 40 or after a 3 m period at 40: Preliminary results indicate that the seedlings must grow at low temperatures as a quick shift to 70 generally led to rotting starting at the tip of the radicle. Outdoor treatment needs to be tried not only for the germination but also for the cotyledon development. GA-3 probably has no effect in this genus. T. stellata germ. 70-40(6/7 in 6-10 w) and 40(7/7 in 4-6 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Tulipa p. 226. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around October 28, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 27, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 70 days.

86% germination in 42–70 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Tulipa p. 226Public domain
Show the original text
Tulipa (Llllaceae). Germination takes place either at 40 or after a 3 m period at 40: Preliminary results indicate that the seedlings must grow at low temperatures as a quick shift to 70 generally led to rotting starting at the tip of the radicle. Outdoor treatment needs to be tried not only for the germination but also for the cotyledon development. GA-3 probably has no effect in this genus. T. stellata germ. 70-40(6/7 in 6-10 w) and 40(7/7 in 4-6 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Tulipa p. 226. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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