• Photo of Tulipa fosteriana (Tulipa fosterianas)

Plant Profile: Tulipa fosteriana

Names

Fosteriana Tulips

  • Photo of Tulipa fosteriana (Tulipa fosterianas)

Phonetic Spelling:TOO-li-pa fos-ter-ee-AY-nuh

Genus:Tulipa

Species:fosteriana

Family:Liliaceae

This wild tulip species originates from the mountainous regions of Central Asia. Although it is no longer cultivated, several of its cultivars have gained significant popularity. For a stunning display in spring, plant the bulbs in the fall at a depth of 4 to 7 inches and spaced 4 inches apart. These tulips bloom in early spring, featuring a distinctive black 'eye' and rounded tepals. It's important to note that tulips typically experience a decline in health when exposed to temperatures exceeding 70 degrees Fahrenheit. They thrive best when planted in groups or massed together. The variegation seen in some varieties is a result of a viral infection, leading to considerable variation in their patterns.

Quick Identification

 

For more information on Tulipa.

Tulipa fosteriana Feature Summary

Tulipa fosteriana Image Gallery

Tags

#showy flowers
#cut flowers
#low maintenance
#spring flowers
#mass planting
#flower arrangements
#naturalizes
#rock gardens
#borders
#bedding plants
#fantz
#small group plantings
#spring flowering bulbs
#HS302
#problem for cats
#problem for dogs
#problem for horses
#container plants

Similar Plants

Tulipa fosteriana is often confused with:

Tulipa fosteriana Feature Summary

Attributes
Flowers
Flowers are red, orange, yellow, white or variegated, cup-shaped, erect, faintly scented; tepals 6, to 7 inches, rounded, free, in 2 whorls, marked basally with black fan-shaped or 2-3 pointed blotch, edged yellow; anthers black; stigma 3-lobed, prominent.
White
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Orange
Variegated
7 - 20 petals/rays
> 6 inches
Leaves
Leaves are simple, alternate, lanceolate-ovate, acute, clasping, entire, glossy gray-green, sometimes striped or mottled, 12 x 6 in.
Green
Gray/Silver
Ovate
Lanceolate
> 6 inches
> 6 inches
Stem
Stems are green but tinged pink, 6-20 inches.
Green
Pink
Poisonous to Humans
Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, hypersalivation. Highest concentration of toxin in bulb.
Tulipalin A and B
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Acid (<6.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
3a
3b
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Rock Garden
Cottage Garden
Border
Mass Planting
Small groups
Container
Lawn
Naturalized Area
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses

Tulipa fosteriana Attributes

Tulipa fosteriana: Country Or Region Of Origin

Central Asia

Tulipa fosteriana: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Tulipa fosteriana Flowers

Tulipa fosteriana: Flower Description

Flowers are red, orange, yellow, white or variegated, cup-shaped, erect, faintly scented; tepals 6, to 7 inches, rounded, free, in 2 whorls, marked basally with black fan-shaped or 2-3 pointed blotch, edged yellow; anthers black; stigma 3-lobed, prominent.

Tulipa fosteriana: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
Orange
filter_vintage
Red/Burgundy
filter_vintage
Variegated
filter_vintage
White

Tulipa fosteriana: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Tulipa fosteriana: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Tulipa fosteriana: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Tulipa fosteriana: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Tulipa fosteriana: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Tulipa fosteriana: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Tulipa fosteriana Leaves

Tulipa fosteriana: Leaf Description

Leaves are simple, alternate, lanceolate-ovate, acute, clasping, entire, glossy gray-green, sometimes striped or mottled, 12 x 6 in.

Tulipa fosteriana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Tulipa fosteriana: Leaf Color

spa
Gray/Silver
spa
Green

Tulipa fosteriana: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Tulipa fosteriana: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Tulipa fosteriana: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Tulipa fosteriana: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Tulipa fosteriana: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Tulipa fosteriana: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Tulipa fosteriana: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Tulipa fosteriana Stem

Tulipa fosteriana: Stem Description

Stems are green but tinged pink, 6-20 inches.

Tulipa fosteriana: Stem Color

grass
Green
grass
Pink

Tulipa fosteriana: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Tulipa fosteriana Poisonous to Humans

Tulipa fosteriana: Poison Symptoms

Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, hypersalivation. Highest concentration of toxin in bulb.

Tulipa fosteriana: Poison Toxic Principle

Tulipalin A and B

Tulipa fosteriana: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Tulipa fosteriana: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Tulipa fosteriana Whole Plant Traits

Tulipa fosteriana: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Tulipa fosteriana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Tulipa fosteriana: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Tulipa fosteriana: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Tulipa fosteriana: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Tulipa fosteriana Cultural Conditions

Tulipa fosteriana: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Tulipa fosteriana: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Tulipa fosteriana: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Tulipa fosteriana: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Tulipa fosteriana: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
3a
thermostat
3b
thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Tulipa fosteriana: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Tulipa fosteriana Landscape

Tulipa fosteriana: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Tulipa fosteriana: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Tulipa fosteriana: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Tulipa fosteriana: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy