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Late Tulip
Tulipa tarda
Easy · Beginner friendlyAbout Late Tulip
Tarda Tulip is a diminutive Central Asian species tulip producing clusters of 3-6 star-shaped flowers per bulb, each golden yellow with a pure white tip. Growing just 4-6 inches tall with narrow glossy leaves, it multiplies freely to form small colonies. One of the most reliable naturalizing species tulips for American rock gardens and front-of-border spots in USDA zones 3-8.
- Cold-hardy
- Drought-tolerant
- Compact
How to care for Late 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.
- Nitrogen · Leaves
- Phosphorus · Roots + Blooms
- Potassium · Strength
- Springevery 30 days
- Fallevery 60 days
At a Glance
- NativeWestern Asia
- Height0.3–0.5 ft (0.1–0.2 m)
- Spread0.3–0.5 ft (0.1–0.2 m)
- Flower colorYellow, White
- Foliage colorGreen
- SoilLoamy, Well-drained, Sandy
- LocationsYard
Bloom time
BLOOM CYCLE
Peak bloom
Apr–May
Yellow-and-white star flowers April to May
Fragrance
LIGHT FRAGRANCE
The flowers have a mild sweet scent.
Toxicity
Humans Moderate · Pets Moderate
tulipalin A and tulipalin B
Moderate
- Bulb
- Contact
- Ingestion
EXPOSURE Touching bulbs. Eating bulbs.
EFFECT Dermatitis and gI upset.
NOTE Documented concern for humans: Dermatitis and gI upset.
Moderate
- Bulb
- Ingestion
EXPOSURE Eating bulbs.
EFFECT Vomiting, diarrhea, and depression.
NOTE ASPCA lists all tulips as toxic; bulbs most concentrated.
Moderate
- Bulb
- Ingestion
EXPOSURE Eating bulbs.
EFFECT Vomiting, diarrhea, and depression.
NOTE ASPCA lists all tulips as toxic; bulbs most concentrated.
Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.
DISTRIBUTION
- Native
- Western Asia
History
Tulipa tarda grows wild in rocky montane slopes of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and adjacent Central Asia. Russian botanist Alexei Stapf described it in 1933 based on collections from Central Asian expeditions. The Dutch bulb firm Van Tubergen brought it to Western commercial cultivation in the mid-20th century.
Unlike tall hybrid tulips, it grows only 4-6 inches with up to six bright yellow star-shaped flowers per bulb, each tipped white. Its unique multi-flowered habit, early bloom, and reliable perennial persistence in well-drained soils—unlike most modern hybrids—made it a favorite for rock gardens, naturalized drifts, and alpine containers. It received the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
The specific epithet tarda (late) refers to its bloom emerging slightly after earliest species tulips. Extremely long-lived in the garden for a tulip, often persisting and multiplying for 10-15 years. Widely offered in the American bulb trade and frequently recommended by naturalistic gardeners and landscape designers.
Symbolism & meaning
What It Symbolizes
Late Tulip is cheerful greeting at its smallest scale — bright star-like yellow-and-white blooms welcoming spring just above the soil, a friendly low chorus of tulips for rock gardens. Its abundance is genuine: each bulb produces multiple flowers, doubling the visual greeting from one planting. It is the species tulip that says hello at ankle height, with more enthusiasm per stem than its tall hybrid cousins.
- Cheerful Greeting — bright star-like blooms welcome spring
- Abundance — produces multiple flowers per bulb
Where the Name Comes From
'Tarda' means 'late' in Latin, though the reason for the name is unclear—the plant is actually an early bloomer.
Uses & Fun Facts
- Diminutive yellow-and-white star tulip naturalizes in rock gardens
- Free-multiplying clumps form bulb colonies under deciduous shrubs
Related plants
More Tulipa plants
Queen of Night TulipTulipa 'Queen of Night'
Lady TulipTulipa clusiana
Garden TulipTulipa gesneriana
Greig's TulipTulipa greigii
Plants with similar care
Chinese AbeliaAbelia chinensis
Fragrant AbeliaAbelia mosanensis
Large-Flowered AbeliaAbelia uniflora
Glossy AbeliaAbelia x grandiflora
Frequently asked questions
How often should I water Late Tulip?
Water about every 7 days during the growing season, and always let excess water drain away.
How much light does Late Tulip need?
Full sun: 6+ hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.
Is Late 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 Late Tulip easy to grow?
Yes — it is considered an easy, beginner-friendly plant.
When does Late Tulip bloom?
It typically blooms Apr–May in the Northern Hemisphere.
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