Tulipa eichleri, as cultivated in the Netherlands, is an unknown species from Central Asia. Clare Benedict is a 1956 hybrid with striking, bright scarlet flowers with a black centre. Great for naturalising in a sunny position in permeable soil.
BELONGS TO THE LILIACEAE FAMILY
The native region of Tulipa lies in Southeast China, where the largest concentration of the Liliaceae is found. From there, they have spread to countries such as Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan.
To a large extent, these are countries with many mountains, such as the Ala Tau mountain range, which extends into China where it is called the Tien Shan. With the fall of the Iron Curtain, it became possible for researchers from the West to study and investigate tulips in their native regions. Hundreds of different species may already have been found, occurring under various conditions. For instance, there are species growing on mountain slopes, on rocky soil, but also in heavy clay up to half a meter deep.
What they generally have in common is: scorching heat in summer and heavy snow in winter.
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