Tulipa Sylvestris

[Jez]

Would members who know anything about this plant care to tell what they know? I've only just come across it & never heard of it before! As it's a tulip I'm bewildered as to why I have not come across this in wildflower books, I mean it's a spring flower like daffodils but never listed!?! Any reasons as to why not or am I looking in the wrong books?

Cheers

Jez

[davidbr]

Tulipa sylvestris, although it's generally given the common name of "Wild" Tulip, isn't a native UK plant - it comes from the Mediterranean region, but it's been grown and naturalised in this country for hundreds of years and was, I guess, the original cultivated tulip.

It's gone out of fashion nowadays, though, since the flowers aren't as showy as the modern varieties you see everywhere (Garden Tulips, T. gesneriana, probably a whole mix of hybrids & cultivars derived from various Turkish species) and since the genuine Wild Tulip isn't grown in gardens so much, they're declining in the wild. According to Clement & Foster's Alien Plants of the British Isles, it's now found in less than 50 localities throughout the UK (some of those probably being no more than one or two plants) so isn't one you're likely to commonly come across in the same way as a lot of the alien daffodil species/hybrids.

I've never seen T. sylvestris naturalised and it's one of my main target species for this spring; I still haven't managed to find a reliable site for them, though, so whether I'll track any down I really don't know

[Jez]

Right thanks for the reply David, I wouldn't know where to even start looking for them EWN or south, but wishing you the best of luck with coming across them!!! The reason I asked is that I have seen these bulbs on sale and was considering whether to buy some to brighten up my spinney, but seeing as their not native I don't know if I should go ahead and purchase some sometime or not?!?

But at least I've learnt something interesting!

Cheers

[davidbr]

Personally I'd say go ahead - they've been part of the UK's plantlife for so long that they might as well be counted as native. Species like cornflower, corn-cockle (and probably most of the cornfield weeds that are now rare) aren't true natives either, but they're counted as such and conservation organisations make a big deal of trying to keep them going

I've never actually seen them on sale anywhere, though I'm sure they're available, so all I'd say is make sure they're actually T. sylvestris and not just a cultivar of T. gesneriana (of which there must be thousands) that looks a bit like it. Not that it'd do any particular harm; most of the garden Tulips these days are sterile, so there's no fear of them taking over the place

Personally I reckon we should do all we can to keep species like the Wild Tulip as a part of our flora, even if they aren't true natives. And, if you plant some in your spinney now, in 200 years time that might be one of the last remaining British colonies (or even worldwide ones; I've heard they're under threat in their homeland too)

[Tiggrx]

Jez, they are a species well worth having as it is very beautiful. However it can be a bit shy to flower. Bulbs planted will generally flower well the first year, but are a bit hit and miss the following years. Many of the naturalized populations are the same, some have hundreds of plants but few flowers.

David, I know a few sites for the tulip in Bucks & Oxfordshire. I will PM you the details if you are interested.

[ceterach]

Hi Jez

As Tiggrx says they can be shy to flower, mainly because like most Tulip species they require aestivation in the form of summer "baking" to induce flowers for the next year. If you are thinking of planting in a shady spinney expect poor flowering although of course it is the exception that proves the rule.

Our wet summers mean they are one alien that is never likely to become invasive.

All the best

John

[Jez]

I slept on it last night and decided to go ahead and buy some! Just catching up with regards to their unwillingness to flower I have the same thing happening with Gladwyn Iris in a shady spot of my garden, out of 16 plugs I bought 3 years back I've only ever seen 3 of them in flower, but maybe that's due to them starting life in the garden so weeny?!? But It's never bothered me all that much at all and I'll adopt the same attitude now I know better about these wild tulips, but I could have better luck as it's very dappled in the spinney esp in Spring!

Cheers Guys for the great information!

[MSpears]

Saw some Tulipa sylvestris in the grounds of Croome Court Worcestershire 7th May 2010

[Hedera]

This species tulip has a lovely scent and is worth persevering to grow. Your dappled shade would be good. It will take some time to establish. Likes to be in thin grass areas near trees.

[Jim Ford]

Here's one I saw a couple of weeks ago:





Jim