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Waterlily Tulip (Tulipa kaufmanniana), whole plant
  • Waterlily Tulip — close-up of leaves and flowers
  • Waterlily Tulip — seasonal appearance
  • Waterlily Tulip in a garden setting

Waterlily Tulip

Tulipa kaufmanniana

Easy · Beginner friendly

About Waterlily Tulip

Waterlily Tulip is a species tulip from the Tien Shan mountains of Central Asia, cherished for its early spring blooms that open wide to reveal creamy interiors streaked with red, yellow, or pink. Growing just 6-10 inches tall with mottled leaves, it is one of the earliest tulips to flower and naturalizes well in American gardens. Excellent for rock gardens and front-of-border plantings where its short stature suits the scale.

  • Cold-hardy
  • Drought-tolerant
WATER
Regular
Top inch dry
LIGHT
Full sun
6+ hrs direct
HARDY
Hardy to -40°F (-40°C)
USDA hardiness zones 3–8

How to care for Waterlily Tulip

Watering

  • Springevery 7 days
  • Summerpause watering
  • Fallevery 14 days
  • Winterpause watering

Soil · Well-draining

  • Main mixLoam + coarse sand 3:175%
  • DrainageGravel25%

Sharp drainage matters most — bulbs rot in wet soil while dormant.

FERTILIZER

Bulb Feed 3-5-3

With bulbs, when matters more than what. One dose goes in the hole at planting, the second when shoots break ground.

N27%P45%K27%
  • Nitrogen · Leaves
  • Phosphorus · Roots + Blooms
  • Potassium · Strength
  • Springevery 30 days
  • Fallevery 60 days
Get watering reminders for Waterlily Tulip — free on iPhoneDownload on the App Store

At a Glance

  • NativeWestern Asia
  • Height0.5–1 ft (0.2–0.3 m)
  • Spread0.3–0.5 ft (0.1–0.2 m)
  • Flower colorCream, Red, Pink, Yellow
  • Foliage colorGreen
  • SoilWell-drained, Loamy
  • LocationsYard

Bloom time

BLOOM CYCLE

Peak bloom

Mar–Apr

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Cream-and-red waterlily-form flowers March to April

Fragrance

LIGHT FRAGRANCE

The flowers have a mild scent.

Toxicity

Humans Moderate · Pets Moderate

tulipalin A and tulipalin B

Moderate

  • Bulb
  • Contact
  • Ingestion

EXPOSURE Touching bulbs. Eating bulbs.

EFFECT Skin dermatitis, nausea, and vomiting.

NOTE Documented concern for humans: Skin dermatitis, nausea, and vomiting.

Moderate

  • Bulb
  • Ingestion

EXPOSURE Eating bulbs.

EFFECT Vomiting, diarrhea, and depression.

NOTE ASPCA lists all tulips as toxic; bulbs contain highest concentration of tuliposides.

Moderate

  • Bulb
  • Ingestion

EXPOSURE Eating bulbs.

EFFECT Vomiting, diarrhea, and depression.

NOTE ASPCA lists all tulips as toxic; bulbs contain highest concentration of tuliposides.

Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

DISTRIBUTION

Waterlily Tulip · Native
  • Native
  • Western Asia

History

Illustrated historical scene for Waterlily Tulip

Tulipa kaufmanniana grows wild on rocky slopes of the Tien Shan mountains in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Russian botanist Eduard Regel described it in 1877, naming it for General Konstantin Petrovich von Kaufmann, Russian governor-general of Turkestan and sponsor of botanical exploration in the region. Its early March-April bloom, star-shaped flowers opening flat like waterlilies, and low 6-8 inch stature made it prized for rock gardens.

Dutch breeders including De Mol and Van Tubergen used it extensively from the 1920s to create the Kaufmanniana Group—dozens of cultivars including 'Ancilla', 'Heart's Delight', and 'Stresa' featuring striking flamed and striped petals. The Group became standard early-season bedding tulips across Europe and North America.

Like many tulips it naturalizes in well-drained sunny sites. A key parent of modern Kaufmanniana Hybrid tulips. Unlike most garden tulips, it persists and naturalizes reliably in American gardens, often returning for a decade or more.

Symbolism & meaning

What It Symbolizes

The Waterlily Tulip carries the classic tulip meaning of Perfect Love, that ancient declaration of devotion offered in petal form. Renewal is its early promise — among the first tulips to herald spring, opening flat and starlike in cool weather while later cultivars are still asleep. Its meaning is love announced at exactly the right moment: warm enough to bloom, early enough to feel like a beginning.

  • Perfect Love — classic tulip meaning of declared affection
  • Renewal — among the earliest tulips to herald spring

Where the Name Comes From

The name Waterlily Tulip describes its lily-like flowers. Named for Konstantin von Kaufmann (1818–1882), Russian governor-general of Turkestan.

Uses & Fun Facts

  • Earliest waterlily-form tulips opening wide in rock gardens
  • Short species tulip ideal for trough and front-of-border pots

Related plants

More Tulipa plants

Plants with similar care

Frequently asked questions

How often should I water Waterlily Tulip?

Water about every 7 days during the growing season, and always let excess water drain away.

How much light does Waterlily Tulip need?

Full sun: 6+ hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.

Is Waterlily Tulip toxic to cats or dogs?

Pets Moderate (Dogs Moderate · Cats Moderate) Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

Is Waterlily Tulip easy to grow?

Yes — it is considered an easy, beginner-friendly plant.

When does Waterlily Tulip bloom?

It typically blooms Mar–Apr in the Northern Hemisphere.

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