Types of tulips, groups and classes of flowers

Thanks to the bright and varied colors, different forms of flowers, tulips are the most distinguished flowers from the riot of spring colors. The genus tulip belongs to the lily family. Even in the XVI century, the tulip was brought to Western Europe.

Throughout history, tulip species have been described many times, but often due to natural variability and easy crossing, plants of the same species have been described as different.

The latest classification in force is the 1981 International Tulip Classification, updated in 1996, where all varieties of tulips are divided into 4 groups and 15 classes belonging to them.

The first three groups, containing 11 classes, are divided by flowering time into early flowering, mid flowering and late flowering. The 4th group includes wild tulips and hybrids derived from them.

Early flowering

Tulips of this group bloom before all in April. These are low-growing flowers with a height of 15-40 cm. Peduncles are strong and durable, enduring strong gusts of spring winds.

Simple early tulips

Class 1 includes tulips with a height of 25-40 cm with flowers in the shape of an ellipse or glass, consisting of 6 petals, which are fully revealed, which is why flowers are not suitable for cutting. The varieties of tulips of this class are predominantly pink, yellow and red in color.

It is characterized by very early and long flowering. Widely used for early receipt, in January-March, flowers in greenhouse conditions, growing in flower beds.

Terry early tulips

Description of tulips class 2: undersized tulips 15-30 cm tall, flowers are large, up to 8 cm in diameter, have 15-20 petals and are mostly yellow-orange and red shades.

Bloom for a long time, different small coefficient of reproduction. It is recommended to use such tulips in the foreground of flower beds, for decorating borders or forcing in pots.

Medium flowering

Medium-flowered tulips capture the period of flowering of tulips of the 1st group and bloom in late April - early May. Peduncles of these varieties are strong, 40-80 cm tall, flowers are simple. All mid-flowered varieties are divided into two classes: triumph-tulips and Darwin hybrids.

Triumph tulips

Triumph-tulips obtained by crossing Darwin hybrids and simple early tulips, displayed in a separate class. Characterized by consistently early flowering from the end of April and are mainly used for early forcing in industrial volumes.

These are medium and tall tulips with the height of a peduncle up to 70 cm, a large flower that does not lose the shape of a glass. Flowers of various colors - from white to purple, including two-color.Ideal for cutting and decorating flowerbeds.

Darwin hybrids

Darwin hybrids are obtained by crossing Foster tulips with Darwin tulips - these are tulips with strong, high - up to 80 cm, peduncle and large - up to 10 cm in diameter, with goblet flowers with a wide bottom.

The flowers are bright, with a predominance of red and yellow colors, mostly monochromatic, but also include two-color varieties with a border or a symmetrical pattern, called a flame, not susceptible to variegation virus.

Most varieties of Darwinian hybrids breed only vegetatively. Darwin hybrids are very popular, tolerate transportation, are used for forcing and cutting on an industrial scale. In nature, bloom in early May. Resistant to frost.

Late flowering

This group includes the largest number of classes of tulips, characterized by a late flowering period - from mid-May.

Simple late tulips

The class of simple late tulips includes varieties having a goblet-shaped corolla with 6 blunt, wide, with smooth edges, petals and a square base. This includes the tallest varieties - up to 80 cm and above.

The color range is the most diverse - from light and delicate to dark and bright. There are two-colored and multi-colored forms. Tulips of this class have a high percentage of reproduction, are very well suited for cutting, but due to the late flowering period only some varieties are used for forcing.

Lily tulips

Flowers of tulips of this class are simple; they are similar in shape to lilies. Their petals are up to 10 cm long with their ends bent outwards. Peduncles 50-65 cm tall, strong.

Flowers of different colors, both monophonic and two-colored. Blooming among the first in their group. Used to decorate flower beds, cutting and forcing.

Fringed tulips

This class includes varieties of tulips, the edges of the petals of which have finely cut needle-like fringe, thanks to which the flowers become more lush and elegant.

Flowers come in different sizes, often simple, but very beautiful terry-fringed varieties are bred. Petals are usually wide, rounded, but they are also pointed.

Fringed tulips come in all sorts of colors: from white to dark chocolate, both plain and very original with contrasting fringe.The height of the peduncle is 50-65 cm. Such tulips are very popular, they are used for growing in gardens, in flowerbeds, for cutting and forcing.

Green tulips

In green (or green-flowered) tulips, the backs of the petals are thickened and are green on the outside throughout the entire flowering period. Petals 5–7 cm high, rounded in shape or with sharp ends, the edges of the petals are slightly bent inward or curved outward, thanks to which these tulips have a very stylish and spectacular look.

Green tulips come in different heights - from 30 to 60 cm, have small narrow leaves, bloom closer to the end of May. The color of flowers is from white to red, including two-color, but light green tulips look the most tender.

The class is not numerous, in the Netherlands in 2014 for commercial purposes only 21 varieties of such tulips were grown. Green tulips are applicable for cutting and decoration of flower beds.

Rembrandt Tulips

This class includes variegated tulip varieties. It is the smallest and according to the 1981 classification includes only three varieties, where the variegation is transmitted genetically. Varieties exposed to the variegation virus are not included.

The height of Rembrandt tulips in the range of 40-70 cm. The flowers are in the shape of a glass, have wide, blunt-pointed petals 7-9 cm in height.

The flowers are white, yellow, red in color with spots and strokes of a contrasting (from bronze to dark purple) color. Bloom from mid-May. Used for flower beds and cutting.

Parrot tulips

Petals of parrot tulips are not evenly shaped, they are deeply cut along the edges, often curved, wavy, twisted and look like ruffled feathers of birds. The flowers look very unusual.

The color of flowers includes the whole range characteristic of tulips, from white to maroon black, as well as two-and three-color. Flowers open wide, reaching a diameter of 20 cm.

Peduncles 40-70 cm tall often suffer from bad weather due to heavy buds. They are used for cutting, planted in the foreground of flower beds for a better overview and assessment of quirkiness.

Terry late tulips

Late terry tulips have many petals and are shaped like peonies, so they are also called peony. Peduncles strong, 30-60 cm tall, sometimes up to 1 m, which in the rain and wind do not always withstand the weight of large flowers.

Late terry tulips differ from early terry tulips in a thicker and rounded shape of the flower and a wider range of shades, including lilac, down to purple-black, and two-tone color.

A distinctive feature of late terry tulips is the latest and longest flowering period - up to 3 weeks, ending in early June. Mainly used to decorate flower beds in gardens and parks.

Types of tulips and their hybrids

The last group includes four classes, three of which are separate species with persistent characteristics of biology in biology (the main features) used to breed new varieties and hybrids, and the fourth is all other types of tulips.

Tulip Kaufman, its varieties and hybrids

Tulips Kaufman bloom among the first, in early April. Peduncles of this species are low - 15-25 cm, flowers of elongated shape, fully opening, have a star-shaped form. The color of flowers is often two-tone, yellow and red, the petals are unequally colored on the inside and outside.

Virtually not susceptible to variegation virus. The leaves of some varieties have specks or stripes of a reddish hue. Because of the small height they are unsuitable for cutting, but they are used for forcing, growing in alpine hills, borders, rockeries, under trees.

Foster tulip, its varieties and hybrids

The flowers of the Foster tulips are larger, goblet-shaped or cupped, with elongated petals up to 15 cm in height and 8 cm in width, they do not open widely and resemble large crocuses.Flowers are bright, orange-red hues, rarely yellow and pink.

Foster's natural tulip forms are absolutely resistant to the variegation virus. Peduncles of medium height - 30-50 cm. Leaves are dense wavy, sometimes with purple inclusions. Foster tulips bloom in late April. Grown under trees, in rockeries, used for forcing and cutting.

Greig tulip, its varieties and hybrids

Greig's tulip flowers are a uniquely shaped double bowl, where the inner petals are closed and the outer ones are deflected to the middle. The color of flowers from red to yellow-orange and pink, often with contrasting edging or pattern, there are varieties with white and terry flowers.

The height of the stem is 20-30 cm, but there are hybrids up to 70 cm tall. Bloom in the second half of April. A distinctive feature are the leaves covered with purple stripes or spots. Used for distillation and decoration of the garden.

Wild types of tulips, their varieties and hybrids

In the last 15th class, all wild-growing types of tulips, their hybrids, as well as species that were not included in the previous 14 classes are combined. This class of tulips is also called "botanical tulips".

They usually bloom in early spring, stunted 20-35 cm, many are characterized by multicolor, have narrow leaves, smooth or wavy. Flowers are more often in the form of asterisks, but there are cupped and with very narrow petals.

Have white, yellow or red color, including lilac and pink shades, monophonic or with a contrasting color of the base of the petals. Wild tulips are completely resistant to the variegation virus and are successfully used in breeding.

Hybrids of wild tulips grow poorly vegetatively. Indispensable for the design of alpine slides and landscaping gardens and parks.

Getting acquainted with the description, the question arises: "How many species of tulips exist?". The botanists of the 21st century disagree because of the complex taxonomy of the genus, so the answer may be approximate - there are about 80 types of tulips, and each of them is very interesting.