Tulipa 2025

[Christian G.]

Tulips are late this year, March started very cold.
The first one to flower was Tulipa orthopoda on Mar 12th

[Gail]

I've had a few days in Amsterdam visiting my son and we went to the Hortus Bulborum in Limmen on Saturday. The Kaufmanniana tulips were looking good and I particularly liked the Duc von Tol (Group 1) type which are very short and cute.

[Christian G.]

Oh nice!
I have never been to Limmen, I'd miss my own if I go there during flowering time. The tulips there are clearly ahead of mine. But the Kaufmannianas and Duc Van Tol also opened in the last days here.

[Christian G.]

Some insects are eating my tulips, probably beetles. T. albertii has holes in the flower.

[Christian G.]

Tulipa humilis and kurdica

[Christian G.]

Tulipa aitchisonii / clusianoides
I have 2 clones. 'aitchisonii' from Janis has broad petals, 'Chitral' from Rareplants has narrower petals and flowers a few days later. These plants are incredibly popular with Oxythyrea funesta, the white-spotted rose beetle. The beetles are attracted to the unpleasant earthy smell of this tulip species and buzz around the flowers in dozens. They eat the anthers, so flowers are devastated soon after opening.