Content
Discovered at the end of the 19th century by the German explorer of northeastern Europe and breeder A.I. Schrenk, the dwarf tulip serves as a natural and priceless decoration of mountain, steppe and desert spaces. A wild plant named after its discoverer, the Schrenck tulip (Tulipa Gesneriana) is one of the most exquisite members of the genus Eriostemones.
Today, low-growing border tulips decorate rakalia, rock gardens, lawns, flower beds and terraces, indoor spaces (compositions, bouquets and individual plants in pots). On the territory of Russia, the plant is called “crooked”, “low tulip”, and it is actually listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. Therefore, digging and forcibly removing crops from their natural habitat is prohibited by law.
A delicate aroma and fragile appearance are the distinctive features of the first spring primroses, which include dwarf tulips
Description of dwarf tulips
Among the numerous plants listed in the Red Book, the dwarf tulip is distinguished by its widest palette of bright colors and shades. The bulbous perennial grows in natural reserves at an altitude of up to 3 thousand m. The compact size of the plant is ideally combined with the exquisite tenderness, fragility and noble grace of the flower:
- plant height - up to 10 cm;
- bulb diameter - 20 mm;
- bulb shape - ovoid;
- bulb covering - golden-brown scales with textured fringe;
- leaves are earthy, linear in shape, slightly wavy at the edges;
- leaf color - bright or silvery green;
- number of leaves - 3 pcs.;
- leaf length up to 12 cm;
- leaf width up to 1 cm;
- number of peduncles - 1 pc.;
- the shape of the bud is bell-shaped during the opening process;
- flower shape - convex towards the top and narrowed towards the base, star-shaped with pointed petals;
- the texture of the petals is velvety;
- the color of the stamens is from purple to light beige;
- flowering period - late May or early June;
- Flowering period: 2 weeks.
A unique feature of low-growing dwarf tulips is that the color and surface of the inner part of the petals can be radically opposite to their outer part. This allows the human eye to perceive the multifaceted color palette of one miniature flower from different angles.
In the morning, a plant with closed petals can be bright scarlet in color, but by noon the blossoming bud pleases the eye with sunny tints of orange and yellow.
The miniature size of dwarf tulips makes them the most popular and sought-after elements of landscape design for framing beds with blooming spring primroses
Are there dwarf tulips in the Red Book of Russia?
The wild miniature Schrenk tulip is a rare representative of the Russian flora, which is on the verge of complete extinction for a number of reasons:
- uncontrolled plowing of land;
- natural fires;
- forced digging of bulbs by humans for medicinal purposes;
- grazing livestock in protected areas;
- environmental disasters (contamination of water, air and soil with industrial waste);
- commercial destruction of plants for the purpose of sale.
To preserve the endangered population of early, low-growing tulips, a list of measures has been developed on a state scale:
- monitoring and patrolling of protected areas during flowering;
- visual propaganda about endangered dwarf tulips;
- an actual ban on collecting flowers, seeds, and bulbs;
- administrative penalties (fine) for violation of environmental protection measures.
Today, graceful dwarf tulips are artificially cultivated in arboretums, botanical gardens, natural conservation areas and parks.
The bright color of a dwarf tulip is like a signal of help and the need for protection
Varieties of dwarf tulips
In its natural habitat, the dwarf tulip displays a riot of bright colors. In May, steppe, desert and mountain expanses are painted in white, orange, yellow, burgundy, scarlet, and violet colors.
Recently, low-growing border tulips have become very popular in various stylistic directions of landscape design, thanks to the large number of unique varieties and varieties.
Variety Blue Baby (Baby Blue)
The parade of dwarf tulips opens with the delicate and extraordinary variety Blue Baby, which amazes with the dark purple, even color of the buds. Purple-sky Baby Blue bashfully hides its petals under the foliage, since the buds are located literally near the ground.
The blooming of the Blue Baby tulip is a mesmerizing sight that amazes with the rich glow of purple buds
Variety Yellow Baby
The sunny yellow dwarf tulip Yellow Baby, bred in 1971, still pleases gardeners with its unusually bright colors. But at the same time it does not lose its relevance.
The miniature tulip variety Yellow Baby is great for growing in indoor pots; it, like a little sun, illuminates the room with a bright yellow color.
Variety Alba Coerulea Oculata (Alba Coerulea Oculata)
The unique variety Alba Coerulea Oculata is translated from Italian as “blue-eyed baby.” The central inner part of the petals is colored dark blue, which is further outlined by the purple pistil and six bluish-blue stamens with yellow pollen. The white color of the main part of the petals evokes memories of snow-white mountain peaks - the homeland of classic dwarf tulips.
The graceful and touching variety of tulips Alba Coerulea Oculata is associated with the inaccessible and exotic edelweiss from the high mountain peaks
Variety Tet a tet (Tet-a-tet)
Dwarf terry tulips of bright scarlet color with the romantic name Tet a tet are an ideal gift for the first declaration of love. As if made of the most delicate red velvet, fragile petals in the shape of “kisses” invite you to touch and enjoy the incomparable aroma of spring, purity and freshness.
Tet a tet is one of the most solemn and mysterious varieties of small tulips, which is used with great success in landscape design to decorate low spring borders and lawns.
Variety Persian Pearl (Persian Pearl)
The secret of the magical Persian pearl is hidden in the delicate and fragile petals of the dwarf tulip Persian Pearl. Alternating combinations of lilac and lilac-pearl petals look incredibly beautiful and sublime. The natural magic doesn't end there. If you look at the inner surface of the petals, the central part of the flower is illuminated like a solar disk, accentuated by the same yellow stamens with honey-colored pollen.
Persian Pearl has a characteristic inflorescence shape, which, with its graceful lines, evokes associations with the sophisticated East
Eastern Star variety
Eastern Star is an amazing star-shaped flower of rich lilac-pink color with delicately pointed and curved petals that will not leave anyone in love with flowers indifferent. The subtle and fresh aroma of spring captivates and beckons, as do the bright yellow cores of fully open inflorescences towards the sun's rays.
When opened, Eastern Star resembles a bright star not only because of the bright yellow color of the inner central part of the petals, but also due to the extraordinary shape and curves of the six individual petals of the inflorescence
Planting and caring for dwarf tulips
Experienced gardeners recommend cultivating and planting low-growing border tulips in open ground in the fall. The optimal time is at the end of September or early October.
Selection and preparation of a landing site
For miniature tulips, you should select a permanent “place of residence” with the following characteristics:
- sufficient natural light;
- the presence of drainage to remove excess moisture from the soil;
- sufficient level of acidity, looseness and soil fertility;
- the most preferable is loamy and sandy loam soil;
- It is desirable to have sand, caustobiolite, and clay in the ground.
When planting flowers in pots, containers or other containers, a prerequisite is the presence of high drainage and a universal substrate for bulbous crops.
Miniature flowers are light-loving plants that should be planted in open areas.
Landing rules
To get healthy and beautifully flowering mini-tulip plants, you should follow the basic rules for planting crops:
- to place the bulb, a small hole with a diameter of up to 6 cm is enough;
- the step (distance) between the holes should be up to 10 cm;
- before planting, the bulb should be treated with a weak (0.5-1%) solution of potassium permanganate (processing time - up to 40 minutes);
- When placing the bulb in the ground, you do not need to press down the planting material too much.
To get a beautiful or spectacular lawn or a contrasting spring border, you need to plant the bulbs in groups (from 10 pieces). The bulbs are planted in open ground in mid-autumn, and with the arrival of the first frosts, the planting site is mulched with peat, branches, fallen leaves, and other available materials.
Bulbs should be planted before the onset of the first frost to ensure a comfortable winter for the plant and high-quality flowering in the spring.
Watering and fertilizing
Feeding plants with mineral fertilizers is one of the main rules for caring for dwarf varieties of tulips. The soil should be fertilized immediately during the melting of the snow cover and during the formation of the color (bud). During flowering, phosphorus fertilizers are ideal.
Regular watering in symbiosis with loosening and timely removal of weeds will ensure a sufficient level of oxygen supply to the root system, which has a positive effect on the quality and time of flowering.
Timely watering of mini-tulips is especially important during the period of bud formation
Propagation of low-growing tulips
Dwarf tulips can be propagated using seeds and bulbs. Gardeners need to be aware that during seed propagation, varietal distinctive features may not be preserved or may not be preserved to the full extent.
Reproduction using bulbs is the most optimal and common option for planting lily crops. In mid-autumn they are dug up, carefully inspected, sorted, sorted and planted.
Low-growing varieties of tulips should be propagated using daughter bulbs to ensure the preservation of the quality characteristics of the variety
Diseases and pests of dwarf tulips
Dwarf varieties of tulips are considered the most persistent representatives of the lily family, for which only gray or white rot can pose a danger if the soil is excessively waterlogged. Infected bulbs must be destroyed when detected so as not to infect healthy plants with a dangerous disease.
In the cold season, small rodents can “feast” on tulip bulbs. To protect the plant from death, planting material is planted in special nets.
“Sick” plants can be dangerous, so if rot is detected on individual plants, they should be destroyed immediately
Photo of dwarf tulips
Low-growing border tulips are one of nature's most amazing creations. With the arrival of the first warmth of spring, they color flower beds and rock gardens, beds, or delight with their flowering in indoor pots. By planting plants from the Red Book - dwarf tulips in your garden or at home, you can enjoy the riot of natural colors and the delicate aroma of the freshness of real spring.
In beds and in separate containers, dwarf varieties of tulips look trendy in combination with other primroses
With the help of simple compositions and installations from low-growing varieties of tulips, you can create amazing and peaceful corners for rest and relaxation
Low-growing tulips - colorful and bright stars
Miniature varieties - elegant and gentle inspiration from nature itself
Conclusion
The dwarf tulip is a popular primrose that is widely used as a focal point in landscaping between March and May. To make your home area a source of inspiration on spring days, you can set a bright and joyful mood with the help of beds with miniature tulips. Touching lawns with plants of one variety, which contrast with spectacular borders or hedges of a different variety and color, will always raise the tone and give joyful moments of communication with wildlife.
