Plant Library

Group/Class:  Fosteriana Tulip

Description:

Bold and dramatic scarlet red blooms rise above green foliage on tall, sturdy stems; an early blooming variety, perfect for spring garden beds, borders or containers; excellent cut flower quality; low maintenance and easy to grow

Ornamental Features

Red Emperor Tulip has masses of beautiful red cup-shaped flowers at the ends of the stems in early spring, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its sword-like leaves remain green in colour throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Red Emperor Tulip is an herbaceous perennial with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Red Emperor Tulip is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Red Emperor Tulip will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity extending to 18 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 8 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 4 inches apart. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen! As this plant tends to go dormant in summer, it is best interplanted with late-season bloomers to hide the dying foliage.

This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by multiplication of the underground bulbs; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.