Tulipa acuminata

Tulipa acuminata, also known as the horned tulip, has all the splendour and magnificence of its Ottoman origins. This tulip is probably not a species, but one of the oldest horticultural varieties, obtained and cultivated in secret in Turkey. It is unusual in appearance, with red and pale yellow striped flowers which are extremely narrow, with curiously tapered, twisted tepals, which fade into long graceful filaments. Original and rare, their charm has captivated curious gardeners and collectors for centuries, allowing them to survive until today. Welcome them into your garden, as they will thrive in well-drained beds, even dry during summer, in a sunny location.

Tulipa acuminata is a bulbous plant of the lilac family, whose horticultural origin is lost in the mists of time. It has given rise to a whole series of cultivars grouped in the category of lily-flowered tulips. This tulip flowers quite late in spring, with a flower stem 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20in) tall, carrying a unique flower. Its petals form a very thin and elongated cup, each ending in a narrow filament, sometimes a bit twosted. The flowers are pale yellow, striped longwide with carmine red on the upper 3/4. Its foliage is bright green, elliptical, very elongated, and disappears in summer.

Tulipa acuminata deserves a prime location to be admired up close and for its survival, as it has specific requirements. It will thrive in a sunny rockery, on the edge of a well-drained or raised bed, or even in pots. Good drainage is very important as the bulb is susceptible to rot in rainy regions. Where summers are dry, it should perform well and faithfully reflower every year, alongside Crocuses, Allium moly, Ipheion uniflorum, Anemone blanda, small-flowered Daffodils, Muscaris, Puschkinia, Cyclamen coum, Erythronium pagoda, Leucojum vernum, the snowdrop, Scilla sibirica... These tulips are unrivalled in bringing the colours of spring.

Despite the supremacy of the Netherlands in tulip matters, we must not forget that it was at the gates of the Middle East, in present-day Turkey, that they were first cultivated. The sultans of the Ottoman Empire loved this bulb until the mid-18th century and dedicated sumptuous gardens to it. The splendour surrounding the cultivation and worship of tulips incited the peasants, who destroyed the crops and imprisoned Sultan Ahmed III in 1730. This variety is one of the rare survivors that has made it to the present day.