HO-81
YARD AND GARDEN
Horticulture Department Cooperative Extension Service Purdue University West Lafayette, IN 47907
TULIPS
John A. Wott, Extension home environment horticulturist

The most popular spring-flowering bulb is the tulip. It offers an extended flowering season and a wide variety of colors and forms. By proper selection, some types of tulips can be flowering in your yard for two months each spring.

Planning
For maximum enjoyment from your bulbs, planning is very important. It shouldn't be a matter of deciding you want a few bulbs and then rushing out and buying the first ones you see.
Tulips "show off" best when bulbs of the same variety and color are planted in large informal groups or drifts. In large beds where more than one variety is used, plant so that low-growing varieties are in front and taller ones are toward the back.
When bloom has finished, don't remove the leaves if you are planning to allow the bulbs to flower in the same planting again next year. Instead, set annuals in the area and they will cover the browning stems and leaves.
For best quality bulbs and to be sure of your choice, order bulbs early. Purchase large bulbs from a reputable garden center or from a company specializing in flowering bulbs.
Ideally, tulip bulbs should be planted in drifts or in groups of 3-5 bulbs per hole. Such groups may be scattered throughout the landscape, wherever you might want a show of spring color. Also for best color contrast, plant bright colors such as yellow or white in front of dark backgrounds.

Bulb size and quality
Select bulbs which are firm, unbruised, not pitted and show no signs of shriveling. If the brown outer skin in missing, don't worry about it. The inner bulb scales are the important part.
The top bulb size of cottage, breeder, Darwin, and most other popular tulips must measure 12 cm. (4 3/4 in.) and up in circumference. Large bulbs must measure 3 5/8 inches in circumference. The bulbs of most botanical type tulips will usually be much smaller.

Site
Most bulbs do well the first year after planting but, unless cultural conditions are good, the flower show in succeeding years will be diminished. Competition from dense shade and with tree roots makes planting beneath trees seldom worthwhile. When planting near shrubs, be sure to stay out from the spread of the plant, since the resulting stems of the tulips will be twisted or distorted.