Family: Liliaceae
Botanical name: Tulipa greigii

Flowering period: early

Average plant height: 20 – 30 cm

Spacing between bulbs: 10 cm

Type of bulb: bulb

Landscape uses: park beds, borders and rock gardens

Just like so many other tulips, T. greigii also comes from Turkistan. Since its introduction in 1872, great numbers of cultivated forms have been developed. This process is still under way and will no doubt continue long into the future. This group is currently the largest group of tulips closely related to (derived from) botanical species. The principle colours are red, yellow and white. Combined with their stunning spotted and striped leaves, these flower colours create an unforgettable visual impact. The flowers, large in proportion to the plant’s total height, open wide in the full sun. These qualities make Greigii tulips unsurpassed for use in borders, rock gardens, and in pots. ‘Red Riding Hood’ is the most commonly cultivated and therefore the easiest to find in garden centres, etc. The fact that this little tulip naturalises so easily is certainly another big advantage.

Most significant cultivars

• ‘Ali Baba’: deep pink flower with spotted foliage
• ‘Cape Cod’: apricot, yellow-edged flower with spotted foliage
• ‘Compostella’: oriental red
• ‘Orange Toronto’: orange, edged in red
• ‘Oratorio’: magenta-pink flower with spotted foliage
• ‘Oriental Beauty’: carmine red flowers with spotted foliage
• ‘Oriental Splendour’*: carmine red, yellow-edged, spotted foliage
• ‘Pinocchio’: scarlet, edged in ivory-white
• ‘Plaisir’: carmine red, white edged flower with spotted foliage
• ‘Sweet Lady’: salmon-pink flower with spotted foliage
• ‘Toronto’: red
• ‘United States’: red

The best-known varieties are often sold in a mixture called ‘Peacock’.