PlantFiles: Florentine Tulip, Wild Tulip
Tulipa sylvestris

These "came with the house," and it's fortunate that I like them because they are impossible to remove. The bulbs are very very deep. I've had to dig nearly 2 feet just to unearth some to transplant. (the don't spread as quickly as other naturalizing bulbs). They seem to spread out fairly evenly.

Each bulb puts up only a 2 or 3 leggy leaves and the leaves disappear quickly. The flowers bloom mid spring and in warm weather have a wonderful fragrance. Bees love them.

I think these would be disappointing unless there were lots of them, or lots of other flowers surrounding them.

Dated to 1597.

These are my very first ever tulip blossoms! I am so excited as I have never grown tulips before, as they don't do well in the South. I was told these do and so I am anxious to see if they return next year. I have several kinds of tulips planted but these are the first to bloom. Cheery bright yellow and they smell good, too!

Will update next year and change my rating to pos. if they return!

This tulip is a very early bloomer, and it does well in shade.

I can't yet speak for their perserverance, as 2004 was the first year that I grew this particular tulip, but they were lovely, and sweet scented. They made a wonderfully bright spot in the garden and the blooms lasted a very long time.