The tulip is a very common plant in certain regions of Europe, and there are many varieties of it. However, one of the most striking, the tulipa kaufmanniana, has its origins a little further away, in Asia.
With flowers reminiscent of a water lily, this tulip is able to stand out among the rest of the varieties. Hence, it is a highly chosen plant when designing gardens, since it has a high ornamental value. Let's get to know her a little better!
Origin and characteristics of the Kaufmannian tulip
This plant has its natural habitat in Central Asia, in regions such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. And it owes its name to Aleksandr von Kaufman, who was a botanist who made a great contribution to the study of the flora of Central Asia during the XNUMXth century.
Due to its attractiveness, this is one of the many species of tulips that have been introduced to Europe. Today, it is common for this variety to be planted in groups or in combination with other types of tulips, giving rise to a beautiful spectacle of shapes and colors when spring arrives.
Among the most notable characteristics of this plant, we are going to mention the following:
- Flowers. The flowers of this plant are cup-shaped with petals that bend outward, reminiscent of a water lily or water lily. The usual thing is that the petals are double or semi-double, short and wide. These characteristics give the flower a compact but very robust appearance. Additionally, this variety is available in many colors. We can find tulipa kaufmanniana in white, yellow, pink, red and even orange. In fact, it is common for the petals to have spots or stripes in contrasting tones.
- Size. This tulip is somewhat smaller than other varieties that we are used to seeing in gardens. Each plant can reach a height of between 10 and 20 centimeters, which makes growing them in pots very easy.
- Flowering season. One of the peculiarities that distinguishes this variety from other tulips is that its flowering is earlier. Between March and April we can enjoy its flowers. This makes this plant a very good option to give the “starting signal” to the presence of flowers in our garden.
- Bulbous plant. As a tulip, the tulipa kaufmanniana is a bulbous plant. It grows from small, irregularly shaped bulbs that are not difficult to identify.
What care does the Kaufmannian tulip need?
Tulips are simple flowers, delicate in appearance, and easy to care for. If you have thought about adding this variety to your garden, or planting some bulbs in pots, pay attention to what its needs are.
location and light
The bulb must be planted in a well-lit place that receives direct sunlight or partial light for most of the day. Because only then will we achieve abundant flowering.
If you are in a place where the climate is quite warm, try to give this tulip some partial shade during the hottest hours of the day.
Culture medium
The ideal soil for the growth of this plant is one that has a good drainage capacity, because the accumulation of water around the bulbs can cause them to rot.
The floor must also be rich in nutrients. You can make it a little more fertile by adding organic matter to the soil. Also make sure that the soil used is not too compact, as this will favor the oxygenation of the plant.
Planting the bulbs
The bulbs of this variety are planted during the fall, at a depth of between 10 and 15 cm. It is important to place the pointed end upwards and leave a space of between five and 10 centimeters between bulb and bulb, to facilitate its growth.
Although you can carry out this task with the help of a shovel, it will be very useful to use a specific bulb planting tool, because it will save you time and effort.
Irrigation conditions
Just after planting you have to water, so that the soil settles around the bulbs. Then when the growing season comes, Provide water on a regular basis, but always avoiding excess watering.
Let the soil dry slightly before watering again. In most cases, following this guideline involves watering once or twice a week, but this depends on the weather where you are. Check the condition of the substrate to ensure that you are correct when deciding whether or not it is time to water.
In winter the plant goes into a state of dormancy, so you can space out watering much more without any problems. Watering every 15 days will be more than enough.
Pruning the Kaufmannian tulip
This is not a plant that needs to be pruned. Once flowering is finished, the leaves will die naturally. Do not remove them, as the dead leaves become a natural source of nutrients for the bulb below, helping you prepare for next year's flowering.
What you should do is cut the flowers when they have withered, to prevent the plant from wasting energy maintaining them.
Bulb Propagation
The good thing about bulbous plants is that you can reproduce them in a very simple way. Normally, after two or three years from planting the bulbs, they reproduce on their own.
Dig carefully in the planting area and divide the bulbs. This helps you grow new plants and also rejuvenate the colony.
Try to plant the bulbs in a different place, this way you provide them with new nutrients and prevent them from being affected by possible diseases in the soil in which they have been planted until that moment.
If you have had problems with animals, which tend to dig to remove the bulbs, consider installing a protective mesh.
The kaufmannian tulip is capable of filling your garden with color and beauty right at the beginning of spring. It is also a very easy plant to care for. Do you dare to have it at home?