Species Tulips

Are you tired of replacing your hybrid tulips every few years? Would you like a tulip that naturalizes well? The answer lies in the selection of species tulips.

Species tulips are different than hybrid tulips. They perform best in rock garden-like locations. They require full sun and well-drained, almost gravelly soils that drain quickly between rains. When preparing the site, amend the area several inches wider and deeper than the bulbs will occupy with sand or gravel. Planting on a gentle slope or in a raised bed assures good drainage. Plant the bulbs 5 to 8 inches deep.

Species tulips are smaller in size than their hybrid relatives. Most grow just 4 to 12 inches in height and do not like the competition of other plants around them. Species tulips spread by self sown seed or stolons. Their foliage is attractive. Many have foliage which is mottled or gray to blue green in color. Species tulips offer more in the way of bloom. Many have multiple blooms per stem, some have up to 7.

Species tulips can be used with other spring blooming plants such as pasque flower or grape hyacinth. Siberian iris and crested iris also make excellent companions. Species tulips are also suitable for containers.

Some species to try include:

Tulipa batalinii has soft yellow, fragrant flowers appearing in early spring. It grows just 5 inches tall.

Tulipa clusiana grows 10 to 12 inches tall and blooms in early spring. The flowers have a white interior with crimson central star and a pink exterior. It naturalizes very well.

Tulipa greigii in pink, yellow, orange, red, buff, cream and apricot. It grows 8 to 12 inches tall and blooms in mid-spring. The blossoms are large, 4 to 5 inches when fully open.

Tulipa kaufmanniana grows 6 to 8 inches tall and is available in a wide variety of colors. It blooms in early spring.

Tulipa linifolia grows 4 to 6 inches tall with brilliant red flowers.

Tulipa pulchella is a tiny plant growing 3 to 5 inches tall. It has violet purple fragrant flowers in early spring.

Tulipa saxatillis naturalizes readily. The flowers, lavender-pink with a yellow base, appear mid-spring. Plants grow 6 to 8 inches tall.

Tulipa sylvestris grows 10 to 12 inches tall with fragrant yellow flowers. Flowers occur 3 to 7 per stem.

Tulipa tarda flowers are yellow with white tips. Plants grow 4 to 6 inches tall. This tulip is easy to grow.

Tulipa turkestanica has cream colored flowers occurring 3 to 5 per stem. Flowers appear in early spring. Plants grow 5 to 8 inches tall.

All the species tulips listed above are hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 7 with the exception of T. pulchella and T. turkestanica. They are hardy in zones 5 to 8. Many more species tulips are available just waiting for the opportunity to grow in your garden.

Source: Sherry Rindels, Dept. Of Horticulture, Iowa State University

New Varieties for 2000

Gardeners are looking for new plants every year. Here are new flowers and vegetables that will be featured in 2000 mail order seed catalogs, seed packets or as bedding plants at garden centers. The varieties are listed alphabetically by class, with the seed source listed in parentheses after the description. The designation "R" means a retail seed company that gardeners may purchase seed directly from by mail order or also in stores that carry the variety in seed packets. A "W" designation indicates a wholesale seed company that does not sell directly to home gardeners, but these varieties should be available in catalogs or as bedding plants at garden centers next spring.

Begonia F1 hybrid tuberous ‘Non-stop® Rose Petticoat
Eye catching bicolor Rose and White delight. ‘Nonstops' are basal branching with 3-1/2 - 4-1/2" fully double blooms. Perfect for partial shade in patio containers, hanging baskets, flowerbeds. (Benary) W

Celosia ‘Cramer's Amazon'
Discovered in Peru, this versatile tropical plant with its burgundy and bright green foliage, is used as a filler or landscaper. Produces a deep magenta flower (Johnny's Selected Seeds) R

Cleome serrulata ‘Solo'
‘Solo', the only thornless variety with very light pink to white flowers on top of a light green leafed plant. Suitable for direct sowing. Blooms about 8-10 weeks long. Seedpods give additional distinctive ornamental value to the plants. (Kieft) W

Impatiens F1 ‘Carnival'
Excellence pushed higher. Improved-White. New colors Metallic lilac and Salmon. Early flowering, extra compact vigorous uniform habitat. Resists stretching, proven heat tolerance and optimal cool climate performer. (Daehnfeldt) W

Impatiens ‘Impulse Pink Picotee'
‘Pink Picotee' flowers are shades of pink to rose, all with darker petal margins. Seed quality for ‘Pink Picotee' is excellent - matching the rest of the Impulse series with a standard of 90% plus germination. (Novartis) W

Marigold ‘Discovery Mix'
Hybrid, dwarf plants stay a neat 8-10" tall. Covered with double flowers in solid yellow and orange - each measuring nearly 3 inches across. (Garden Grow) R

Morning Glory ‘Celestial' Mixture
Brings dazzling beauty to the garden midsummer to frost. Exciting, unique mix contains old- fashioned Heavenly Blue, Pearly Gates and new variety Blue Star, which opens to reveal a stunning blue and white pattern. (NK Lawn & Garden) R

Pansy ‘Chalon Mix'
Unique ruffles Pansy series re-selected and restored to many of the colors "lost" over the years. Added yellow shades and bright white picotee types brighten this exclusive mixture. Flowering is early spring onwards. (Floranova) W

Petunia ‘Coral Wave™'
Wildly popular ‘Wave' makes another big splash with rich new Coral. Spreads to an amazing 4 feet. Takes hot, cold, rain. Flourishes everywhere. Super-easy to grow! Visit http://wave-rave.com for more details. (PanAmerican) W

Salvia horminum (viridis) ‘Marble Arch Rose'
Uniform bushy plant having colored bracts with green veins. Improved color intensity and ornamental value of the colored bracts make the ‘Marble Arch' Rose a good cut flower. (Kieft) W

Sunflower ‘Kong' Hybrid
Is a monster of a sunflower! Giant plants tower up to 15 feet over the garden with strong, thick branching stems that are topped with large yellow flowers. Fun and easy to grow. (NK Lawn & Garden) R

Vegetables

Eggplant Hybrid ‘Cloud Nine'
What if someone told you they had developed a pure white bitter-free variety that required no soaking? And the flavor is not only mild, it is sweet? That's ‘Cloud Nine.' Produces beautiful oval fruits in about 75 days. (Seminis) W

Pepper ‘Colossal'
Enjoy meal-sized stuffed peppers of ‘Colossal,' a new large to extra-large hybrid bell pepper. Outstanding yield and versatility. Thick walls and tall vigorous plant provide good cover all season delivering high quality red and green fruit. (Novartis) W

Sweet Corn Hybrid ‘For Heaven's Sake'
Finally an SE sweet corn bred specifically for home gardening. A wonderful quality yellow sweet corn that produces big, luscious ears that all look and taste alike, but mature at diferent times! (Seminis)W

Sweet Corn Hybrid ‘Legend'
Exclusively from Park Seed, this SE type combines creamy consistency, amazing sweet flavor and excellent holding ability. In 68 days 7-9 inch ears are tightly packed with rich yellow kernels. Early, durable and delicious. (Park) R

Source: National Garden Bureau, August 1999

Evergreen Needles Turn Yellow

Don't be alarmed if you notice the interior needles of evergreens turning yellow. Pine, spruce and arborvitae are referred to as "evergreens" because of their habit of retaining needles throughout the winter, but needles don't last forever. Depending on the species, needles remain on the plant for several years until they reach maturity.

Once sufficient new growth has taken place at tips of branches, the older needles toward the center yellow and drop off having served their purpose of photosynthesis. Needles on white pine typically drop at the end of their second season. Red pine needles persist until the fourth or fifth season.

If you notice needles turning yellow on evergreens, take a closer look. If the yellowing is occurring on the interior of the plant and the current season's growth, at the tips of the branches, is healthy and normal, don't become alarmed. Check the plump green buds at the tips of the branches for next year's growth.

If new growth is weak or turning brown, root injury or canker disease may be involved. This summer's growing conditions placed trees under lots of stress resulting in browning of needles. There's no need to rake needles that fall. They serve as a mulch to keep weeds down if the soil is moist. The best thing you can do for your evergreens is provide a deep soaking to help them survive the winter.

 

Autumn 1999
Fall Garden Chores | Tips on How to Avoid Plant Diseases | Diagnosing Tree Root Problems | Bacterial Wilt of Vine Crops | Pesticide Shelf Life | Lawn Care Calendar | Boxelder Bugs | Cybergarden Sites | Hort Shorts | Hort Tips | High Blood Pressure | A Good Night's Sleep | Peaches | Health & Household Tips | Did You Know?

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