Collection: Tuliips

The genus Tulipa is centred across Central Asia, where many of the wild species grow on rocky hillsides, mountain slopes and open steppe, extending westwards into the eastern Mediterranean and parts of North Africa. These species are the ancestors of the countless cultivated tulips seen in gardens today, though many retain a delicacy and natural charm that sets them apart from their larger hybrid descendants.

One of the great virtues of species tulips is their refined scale and enduring garden value. Unlike many of the larger modern hybrids, which are often treated as short-lived seasonal performers, species tulips tend to be more resilient and perennial in suitable conditions, returning reliably year after year. Their smaller flowers sit more naturally amongst alpine planting, gravel gardens, containers and the front of borders, where they make a subtle rather than theatrical contribution.

Species tulips are particularly well suited to well-drained soils in sunny positions, where many will gradually establish and increase over time. Flowering from early spring onwards, they offer an extraordinary range of form and colour, from starry open blooms to elegant pointed petals, often with striking markings or contrasting centres.