Tulip 'Spring Green'

Sun

Full sun; tolerates light partial shade, especially beneath deciduous trees that are still sparsely leafed in spring.

Water

Moderate moisture during active growth; keep dormant bulbs relatively dry in summer. Avoid waterlogged soil.

Soil

Fertile, well-drained sandy or loamy soil. Improve heavy soil drainage or grow in containers with drainage holes.

Height

1.3-1.7 ft (0.4-0.5 m)

Spread

0.3-0.5 ft (0.1-0.15 m) per bulb

Flowers

Mid- to late spring; ivory-white flowers with prominent green stripes through the centre of each petal.

Foliage

Broad, upright, grey-green leaves emerge in spring and yellow and die back after flowering.

Growth

Reaches flowering height in one spring; offsets develop slowly over several years.

Care needed

Medium

• Cold hardy
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.5 ft (0.15 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.1 ft (0.34 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.5 ft (0.45 m)

   full size

About 2 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant in autumn in cool soil, about 6-8 in (15-20 cm) deep and 4-6 in (10-15 cm) apart.
• Water after planting and during prolonged dry spells while leaves are growing; avoid keeping the soil constantly wet.
• Apply a balanced bulb fertiliser as shoots emerge, following the product label.
• In very cold regions, mulch after the ground cools, keeping the planting free of standing water.
• Where winters are too mild to provide sufficient chilling, use pre-chilled bulbs and expect to replace them rather than obtain dependable repeat flowering.

Pruning. Remove spent flower heads before seed pods develop, leaving stems and leaves intact. Cut foliage to ground level only once it has yellowed and withered naturally; do not tie or braid it.

Autumn

Plant firm, healthy bulbs once the soil has cooled; use pots or raised beds where drainage is poor.

Winter

Check that containers drain freely and protect them from prolonged saturation and severe freezing.

Early spring

Feed emerging shoots and check for slug damage.

Mid- to late spring

Water during dry weather and remove flowers as they fade.

Late spring to early summer

Allow leaves to die back fully before clearing them.

Summer

Keep dormant bulbs relatively dry; if lifting them, dry and store them in a cool, airy place until autumn.

• Plant in repeated groups through a white-and-green border for a quiet late-spring display.
• Combine with forget-me-nots or creeping phlox to cover the ground beneath the tall flower stems.
• Grow in deep containers near entrances or seating areas where the green petal markings can be seen closely.
• Place among emerging hardy geraniums or hostas, whose later foliage helps conceal the dying tulip leaves.

Garden styles it suits: White garden, Green on green, Formal, Cottage garden, Modern courtyard and Romantic rose garden.

Plant it with: Forget-me-nots, Hardy geraniums, Hostas, Creeping phlox, White narcissus and Lady's mantle.

Wildlife: Flowers may receive occasional insect visits, but this cultivar is not a strong choice for a wildlife-focused planting. Deer and rodents may eat the plants or bulbs.

• Tulip fire causes spotted, distorted leaves and damaged flowers, especially in damp weather. Remove affected plants and bulbs, clear debris and avoid replanting tulips in that soil for at least three years.
• Bulb rot develops in wet soil. Discard soft or mouldy bulbs and improve drainage before planting replacements.
• Squirrels and other rodents may dig up or eat bulbs. Protect new plantings with securely fixed wire mesh that allows shoots to emerge.
• Weak or absent flowering in later years can follow insufficient winter chilling, wet summers or early leaf removal. Leave foliage intact, improve drainage and replace bulbs where local conditions do not support reliable returns.

Toxic to cats, dogs, horses and people if eaten; all parts contain irritant compounds, with the highest concentrations in the bulbs. Ingestion can cause mouth irritation, drooling and digestive upset, and large amounts can cause serious poisoning. Bulb handling can also cause contact dermatitis; wear gloves if your skin is sensitive.

• Tulip 'Groenland' (Tulipa 'Groenland')

  Also a viridiflora tulip with green petal stripes, but its petals are soft pink rather than ivory-white.

• Tulip 'White Triumphator' (Tulipa 'White Triumphator')

  Has white, sharply pointed, outward-curving petals without the broad green stripes of 'Spring Green'.

Tulipa comes from a word for turban, referring to the flower's shape, while 'Spring Green' describes its green-marked spring flowers.

Propagation. Lift bulbs after the foliage has died back and separate any substantial offsets. Replant in autumn; small offsets may need several years to flower. Seed does not reliably reproduce this named cultivar.

Accepted botanical name

Tulipa

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.