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Concerns around sustainability – not to mention our increasingly restricted wallets and time – mean that many of us are looking for longer-term, reliably perennial spring bulb displays. Tulips are, of course, a must for spring colour, but hybrids (the tall, showy types that give the best display) have been bred to perform well for just one year. So how can we achieve brilliant spring displays without having to buy fresh bulbs every year?
Naturally perennial tulips
One option is to choose a naturally perennial tulip. These include species tulips and their primary hybrids such as Tulipa greigii, T. kaufmanniana, T. praestans, T. tarda and T. turkestanica. However, they are generally short in stature, with smaller flowers, so tend not to work well in borders. Not all species tulips last well in British gardens, either, thanks to our wet climate – in the wild, they hail from very well-drained spots in hot climates. They therefore grow best where they have good drainage, for example in raised beds, gravel gardens or rockeries, or where they are sheltered from rain, such as under a tree or hedge.
Reliable performers
Viridiflora tulips have chlorophyll in their flowers, which are tinged with green. Because the flower photosynthesises