Plant tulip bulbs from October to mid-December, once the weather has cooled. Until then, store them somewhere cool, dry and safely away from mice and squirrels.
Tulip linifolia
flax-leaved tulip
Small is beautiful, and particularly so if you’re talking about Tulip linifolia, lovely flax-leaved tulip. The waxy, cup-shaped scarlet blooms are delicate and upright with pointed petals, so from above they look quite star-like. Forming attractive little clumps that naturalise over the years, these cheery tulips looking up at you each spring are sure to make you smile. Because this tulip variety is low growing and simple, it’s very handy for creating bold pockets of spring colour all around the garden. Whether they’re planted in pots, borders, rockeries or poking through gravel pathways – anything goes!
Originating from the Middle-East, Tulip linifolia has a distinct exotic look about it. And flowering in May just things are starting to hot up in the garden, it’s the perfect way to introduce the bolder colours of summer to your garden.
Tulip linifolia is very easy to grow too – simply plant the bulbs in groups in autumn and then just let them look after themselves!
Quantity
Plant profile
Plant calendar
Choose full sun or partial shade. Improve heavy soil with organic matter and horticultural grit. For containers, use peat-free multipurpose compost with good drainage.
Plant bulbs pointed side upwards, 15–20cm deep and around 10cm apart. You can leave a little more space between them in borders.
Water once after planting to settle the soil. Border-grown tulips rarely need further watering, but containers should be kept lightly moist and never waterlogged.
Remove faded flowers, then allow the foliage to yellow and die back naturally. This helps the bulbs store energy for the following year.
- Botanical name
- Tulipa linifolia
- Tulip group
- Species or Botanical (15)
- Flower colour
- Red
- Bulb size
- 4/+
- Established height
- 10-20cm
- Established spread
- 10-20cm
- Growing skill
- Easy to grow
- Habit
- Upright
- Hardiness
- Fully hardy
- Leaf colour
- Green
- Mouse resistant
- No
- Plant spacing
- 100 bulbs per m2
- Pollinator friendly
- No
- Position
-
Sheltered
Exposed - Rabbit resistant
- No
- RHS Award (AGM)
- Yes
- Scented
- No
- Soil acidity
- Any
- Soil moisture
- Free draining
- Soil type
-
Loam
Sandy
Stony
Multipurpose compost
Loam-based compost - Suitable for
-
Pots
Large containers
Borders
Meadows
Gravel gardens
Coastal gardens
Rockery
Cottage gardens
Low maintenance gardens - Sunlight
-
Full sun
Partial shade - Toxicity
-
Skin/eyes irritant
Harmful if eaten - Years to establish
- 1st year
Expert care from
choice to delivery
Our horticulturalists prepare every bulb and plant with the utmost care. From selection to packing, each one receives expert attention before beginning its journey to your garden.