Flamboyant small tulips with pointed red petals and contrasting yellow rims. One of the first tulips to flower, bravely showing glowing colour in early spring. Each bulb produces a ring of foliage over which the flowers burn brightly.
Native to Crimea, Kazakhstan and Iran. Considered the oldest cultivated tulip in the world, already mentioned as early as 1595. Clusius – who introduced the tulip in Holland - is known to have grown and admired it in his garden. Brings drifts of colour to the front border long before other plants are awake. Delightful in pots. Synonym: T. suaveolens. Height 10-15cm.
