Miniature Tulips...

[Chipchopper]

Never been a big fan of tulips (a bit too formal looking for my liking) but back in the dark days of winter, whilst picking up some wild bird food at the garden centre, I saw these miniature tulips, that didn't look one bit like the usual tall varieties, you usually see.
I planted some in pots and dotted a few more around the garden, the more or less forgot about them.
Over the last couple of weeks they made an appearance and to my delight the flowers opened out yesterday and boy! are they stunning!
The flowers open about noon, then close up again, before sunset.
What I like about them, is the flowers open fully, like yellow stars and several flowers adorn the tops of each stem. its my thinking that these are what the original wild tulips must have looked like in their native Turkey.
I've forgotten the name of them now but they are a pleasant surprise!

[woofgang]

Tulipa Tarda?

[Chipchopper]

Thanks Woofgang,
I've just googled some images T. tarda and they look very similar, mine have about 3 or 4 flowers per stem.

Very delicate looking about 6 inches high.

[woofgang]

They are perrennial if treated well, they need a sunny spot and feeding after the flowers die. leave the leaves alone. This year I have also got a very pretty plum one with a white overlay but can't find a pic anywhere.

[hammerman]

Lots of varieties of "species" Tulips. Go to the J. Parkers website and have a butchers....i grow most of them on there

http://www.jparkers.co.uk/bulbs-tubers/out-of-season-bulbs/tulips/species-tulips

[lady-janine]

I agree. I got several varities - turkestanica, praestans yari, saxatils - and some tete a tete and put them in pots round front door. I am delighted with them. so very attractive. lovely to see every time I open the door.

[julia-mag]

Has anyone grown the tulips that look like ice cream cones? I bought some but as I never have sucess with tulips I gave them to my daughter who says as of yet they are not showing through the soil. Would love to know if anyone has grown them.