Dwarf Botanical Tulips – Benefits and Best Varieties-Care

Tulips are one of the most beloved spring flowers, and you can hardly find a garden in which they do not grow. But no matter how rich the variety of varieties is, we always want something new. I recently discovered dwarf botanical tulips. These adorable babies, despite their tiny size, are not only no worse than their tall counterparts, but also surpass them in some parameters. In this article, I would like to introduce florists to my favorite varieties of botanical tulips.

Dwarf botanical tulips – benefits and best varieties. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Lyudmila Svetlitskaya
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Features of botanical tulips

Botanical tulips are a special class of tulips that unite natural species that still grow in the wild in Central Asia, Iran, Turkey, northern India and Eastern Europe. In addition, these are varieties and hybrids created on the basis of these wild-growing varieties.

The class “botanical tulips” mainly represents low cultivars, whose growth usually does not exceed 15-30 cm, their flower size is also small, and the height of the “glass” is only 3-5 centimeters.

The appearance of a botanical tulip successfully combines the features of a cultivated plant and a wild plant, so they look perfect in natural-type gardens, and especially organically – in rock gardens and rockeries among stones.

Biologically, tulips of the botanical class are not much different from other types, therefore they have a similar agricultural technique. First of all, for the successful cultivation of representatives of this class, loose, permeable soils are needed, as well as good drainage, which allows excess water to be removed from the bulbs.

The place can be sunny or slightly shady. The planting time for botanical tulips, as for classic ones, is from mid-September to mid-October, the distance between the bulbs is from 5 to 15 centimeters, the depth of the bulb is 3 heights.

The class "botanical tulips" mainly represents short cultivars, which usually do not exceed 15-30 cm in height.The class “botanical tulips” mainly represents low cultivars, whose height usually does not exceed 15-30 cm. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

Benefits of botanical tulips

The bulbs of these species almost always retain the whole outer shell, and spotting does not appear on it. In general, botanical tulips are highly resistant to various diseases typical of bulbous plants.

Most species of tulips do not need to be dug up annually. They can grow in one place for 5 or more years and continue to delight with flowering annually. But still, about once every 3-4 years, it is better to dig up the bulbs and divide the nests. But, depending on the state, some species may not be dug out at all.

Unlike crocuses, which need a lot of sunshine to flower, botanical tulips need very little sun. They show their bright middle even on not the sunniest day.

Due to their short stature, botanical tulips are ideal for forcing. With sufficient light, they do not require a garter and look charming in small pots, like living bouquets. They will not take up much space in the interior and on the windowsill.

Specific tulips and hybrids created on their basis, as a rule, bloom very early (in late March-early April) and outstrip their large-flowered relatives. Also, these tulips will fit into any garden style. Beautiful foliage makes botanical tulips attractive before and during flowering.

Read also our article Tulips. Growing from A to Z.

The best varieties of botanical tulips

Tulip “Shogun”

Tulip “Shogun”, or “Shogun” (Tulipa Shogun) is my favorite among baby tulips. Firstly, it has very bright flowers of a juicy bright orange color, which are especially pleasing to the eye after winter. This is one of the largest flowering botanical tulips. His “glass” can reach 5 centimeters, and in full dissolution as much as 10 centimeters! Dark maroon stamens surround the pistil of the same color. The scent of the flowers is very weak, reminiscent of the scent of a classic red tulip.

Tulip "Shogun" or "Shogun"Tulip “Shogun”, or “Shogun” (Tulipa Shogun). Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Lyudmila Svetlitskaya
Dwarf Botanical Tulips - Benefits and Best Varieties-Care“Shogun” is one of the largest-flowered botanical tulips. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

Tulip “Shogun” has absolutely amazing foliage. When emerging from the ground, it is reddish in color with a violet tint and is covered with a well-visible downy. In the future, the foliage turns green, but it remains slightly fluffy. This distinguishes this tulip from most other tulips with smooth leaves.

“Shogun” – one of the best for distillation for the spring holidays. In the presence of additional lighting, the plants are obtained of miniature growth of 10-15 cm. How impressively large five-centimeter flowers look on such “gnomes”! Later, as flowering proceeds, the stems can grow up to 25 centimeters in height.

Another advantage noted by flower growers is that this tulip grows especially well, also without requiring a dig. So with age, bright curtains become more and more magnificent.

Tulip “Tet-a-Tet”

Tulip “Tet-a-Tet” (Tulipa Tete-a-Tete) – one of the few botanical tulips belonging to the “peony” group. Tulip “Tet-a-Tet” has dense double flowers, consisting of many burgundy-red petals, on which in some places there are flashes of green. Even with full dissolution in the bright sun, tulips do not lose their glass shape and only slightly expose the brownish center.

Tulip "Tete-a-Tete" (Humilis Tete-a-Tete)Tulip “Tete-a-Tete” (Tulipa Tete-a-Tete). Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Lyudmila Svetlitskaya
The tulip "Tet-a-Tet" has dense double flowers, consisting of many burgundy-red petals, on which in some places there are flashes of greenTulip “Tet-a-Tet” has dense double flowers, consisting of many burgundy-red petals, on which in some places there are flashes of green. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

These amazing tulips are real crumbs and do not exceed ten centimeters in height. At the same time, the flowers of the tulip are quite large for such babies (3-4 centimeters). So it may seem that the tulips will not support the weight of such powerful pom-poms. However, the short stalks are quite sturdy and do not tilt to the ground. Although the flower stalks are about half the length of the leaves, the flowers do not hide in the foliage – these tulips have a very narrow leaf blade, reminiscent of a green onion on a feather.

The smell of the tulip “Tet-a-tete” is very pleasant and deep, has a spice aroma, slightly bitter, a bit like cinnamon. The intensity of the aroma is average, the smell is felt only if you deliberately smell the tulip. After flowering, the petals do not crumble, the flowers dry up in the form of miniature peonies.

This variety is charm itself. It can be the perfect gift if you also plant it in a suitable pot. And, probably, it is no coincidence that the botanical name of this variety sounds like “pretty tulip”. From afar, it can be difficult to believe that this is a real living flower, and not an artificial bouquet. The variety blooms very early – in April.

Read more about caring for botanical tulips in the article Dwarf tulip.

Tulip multicolor

Tulip multicolor (Tulipa polychroma), or Two-flowered tulip (Tulip biflora) is an original tulip that you want to look at for hours! Its coloring is truly unique and looks like sputtering rather than strokes, as if the artist painted it with pastel crayons.

Multicolor tulip (Tulipa polychroma), or two-flowered tulip (Tulipa biflora)Multicolor tulip (Tulipa polychroma), or two-flowered tulip (Tulipa biflora). Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Lyudmila Svetlitskaya
The main tone of the multicolor Tulip flower is white, and on the outside of the petals you can see several shades of blue and purple.The main tone of the multicolor tulip flower is white, and on the outside of the petals, you can see several shades of blue and purple. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

The main tone of the flower is white, and on the outside of the petals, you can see several shades of blue and purple. There is a yellow spot at the base of the glass, which becomes especially bright when the flower is fully blooming. There are no bluish tones on the inner side of the petals. The pistil is white, the anthers are bright yellow, the petals are pointed, which makes the flowers very similar to crocuses and lilies of the valley.

When this tulip first bloomed for me, for a long time I could not understand what its wondrous scent looks like? He seemed to absorb the smell of all spring flowers and a blossoming orchard. And yet, the most noticeable in this bouquet are the notes of lily of the valley. The aroma of the two-flowered tulip is quite strong, but unobtrusive. The smell is most felt when the flowers are in half-release.

The diameter of the flower is small – 2-3 centimeters, but from one onion 4 or more flowers are obtained, two of which bloom almost simultaneously. This peculiarity of the arrangement of flowers further enhances the similarity of the tulip with lilies of the valley, because it seems that the light bell flowers are collected in a brush. This tulip is an early flowering tulip that blooms in April.

Tulip “Persian Pearl”

Tulip “Persian Pearl” (Tulip Persian pearl) – another variety beautiful tulip (Tulipa pulchella), which grows wild mainly in Iran. Perhaps, also due to its origin, this cultivar received the name “Persian Pearl”.

Tulip "Persian Pearl" (Persian Pearl)Tulip “Persian Pearl” (Tulipa Persian Pearl). Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Lyudmila Svetlitskaya
For a botanical tulip, the Persian Pearl bloom lasts quite a long timeFor the botanical tulip “Persian Pearl” flowering takes quite a long time. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

Outside, the color of the petals is slightly dull with a gray-green tint, but at the same time it is also quite attractive, and it can be called “pearl”. However, its true beauty is revealed in the sun when the flowers are fully exposed. Fully open flowers have a deep purple-crimson color. The yellow center of the flower makes it brighter and more saturated. Flower diameter up to 4 centimeters.

For a botanical tulip of this variety, flowering takes quite a long time. The flowers also have a very pleasant aroma. It is most similar to the scent of an apple, but it also has hints of exotic fruits. When forcing, in case of a lack of light, the plant may need a garter. This little tulip is a real gem for forcing and rock gardens. Flowers rise slightly above the foliage.

Tulip of Coerulea Alba Okulata

Tulip “Coerulea Alba Okulata” (White Tulip Coerulea Oculata) Is probably the most unusual and exotic botanical tulip. From Latin its name (oculata) is translated as “big-eyed” and this is no accident. Like many other tulips, it has a contrasting spot in the center of the flower. But this tulip has a very rare color for a tulip – dark purple. Its anthers and pistil are painted in the same color.

Tulip "Coerulea Alba Oculata" (Tulipa Alba Coerulea Oculata)Tulip “Coerulea Alba Oculata” (Tulipa Alba Coerulea Oculata). Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Lyudmila Svetlitskaya
Dwarf Botanical Tulips - Benefits and Best Varieties-Care“Coerulea Alba Okulat”, like many other tulips, has a contrasting spot in the center of the flower, but a very rare color for a tulip – dark purple. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

The basic tone of the petals is pure white and they look shining like porcelain. Against the background of snow-white petals, the purple centers seem to be dark irises and pupils of the eyes. This gives the impression that tiny tulips are looking at us with expressive eyes. The height of the “glass” is up to 3 centimeters. The petals are dense, pointed.

The smell is very weak, it is felt only if the flower is brought close to the face. The aroma has notes of rose and lily of the valley. While this is still a rather rare collection variety, but recently it has been increasingly found on sale. And I strongly advise you to have such a miracle in your garden. High winter hardiness: frost hardiness zone 3. Flowering time – from early to mid-spring (late March-April).

Tulip Batalina “Bright Jam”

Tulip Batalina “Bright Jam” (Tulipa batalinii Bright Gem) Is an interesting cultivar created on the basis of a tulip named after the botanist A.F. Batalina. In the wild, it is widely distributed in Europe. The variety has a prestigious British Horticultural Society award.

Tulipa batalinii Bright GemTulipa batalinii Bright Gem. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Lyudmila Svetlitskaya
The color of the Bright Jam petals can change as it dissolves, as well as depending on the light intensity.The color of the Bright Jam petals can change as they bloom, and also depending on the intensity of the light. Farmer Burea-Uinsurance.com Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

This tulip has a warm orange color with a slight crimson tan. However, the color of the petals of this tulip can change as it blooms, and also depending on the intensity of the light. For example, when distilled without additional lighting, my tulips turned out to be a very interesting lime-yellow color. When grown outdoors in a garden, Bright Gem may appear more peachy or toffee-colored.

Plant height from 12 to 30 centimeters, peduncles grow just above the leaves. It grows easily and forms more and more lush clumps every year. Blooms in May.

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Anna Evans

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