The Species Tulip or Wild Tulip, sometimes called the Botanical Tulip, is an amazingly diverse group, found growing in the wild areas of Europe and Central Asia.

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The Wild or Species Tulip

above: Tulipa sylvestris, the woodland tulip. Its native range extends from Portugal and Morocco to western China. Photo: Wikipedia

There has been a resurgence of interest in species tulips, going back to the ‘unimproved’ forms of our garden flowers. They are best adapted to their native gorges and rocky slopes. However, many are suitable for pot cultivation or as rockery plants; and are becoming more available from commercial suppliers.

Although species tulips are generally much smaller than their bolder garden cousins they are far from dull. If planted in the right spot they can also be treated as perennials.

Above: Tulipa tarda, the late tulip or tardy tulip. Grows in rocky alpine meadows in the Tian Shan mountains. Photo Wikipedia

Above: Tulipa turkestanica, the Turkestan tulip. Photo Wikipedia