Gesner’s tulip (Tulipa gesneriana, Sp. Pl.: 306 (1753))

Family: Liliaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 306 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Tulipa

Vegetable: False

Observations: a cultigen from Türkiye

Description

Gesner’s tulip, known scientifically as Tulipa gesneriana, is a widely admired and cultivated plant that belongs to the Liliaceae family. Originally described in 1753, this elegant flower has its roots as a cultigen from Türkiye, where it has been cherished for centuries.

The tulip’s vibrant, cup-shaped blossoms, which are often large and eye-catching, bloom in a diverse spectrum of colors, ranging from reds and pinks to yellows and whites. Each plant typically produces a single, sturdy stem that supports the flower, making it a favorite for both garden displays and cut flower arrangements.

One of the remarkable attributes of Gesner’s tulip is its ability to adapt and thrive in various environments, contributing to its widespread popularity across the globe. Gardeners appreciate its relatively straightforward cultivation process, which involves planting the bulbs in well-drained soil, ideally in a location that receives full sunlight. With the right care, these tulips can bring vivid color and beauty to gardens from early to late spring.

Notably, the plant has played a significant role in historical and cultural contexts, particularly during the “Tulip Mania” period in the Netherlands during the 17th century, illustrating its longstanding allure and significance.

Gesner’s tulip continues to be a symbol of elegance and botanical excellence, celebrated for its striking appearance and cultural heritage. Its prolific variety and the ease of cultivation ensure that it remains a perennial favorite for garden enthusiasts and floral connoisseurs alike.

Common Names

Lit: darželinė tulpė
Eng: didier’s tulip, garden tulip, gesner’s tulip, tulip
Deu: garten-tulpe, gesners tulpe
Dan: have-tulipan
Ita: tulipano
Fra: tulipe, tulipe des fleuristes
Hun: kerti tulipán
Por: tulipa
Spa: tulipán
Swe: tulpan, trädgårdstulpan
Nob: borøytulipan
Nno: borøytulipan
Cym: tiwlip yr ardd, tiwlipau’r ardd
En: Gesner’s tulip, Garden tulip, Tulip, Didier’s tulip
Da: Have-tulipan
Fr: Tulipe, Tulipe des fleuristes, Tulipe de Gesner
De: Gesners Tulpe, Garten-Tulpe
Hu: Kerti tulipán
It: Tulipano
Lt: Darželinė tulpė
Nb: Borøytulipan
Nn: Borøytulipan
Pt: Tulipa
Pt-br: Tulipa-de-jardim
Es: Tulipán
Sv: Tulpan, Trädgårdstulpan
Cy: Tiwlip yr Ardd, Tiwlipau’r Ardd

Synonyms

• Tulipa sommieri (Levier)
• Tulipa didieri var. billietiana ((Jord.) Baker)
• Tulipa scabriscapa (Fox-Strangw.)
• Tulipa scabriscapa var. rebouliana (Bertol.)
• Tulipa strangulata var. princeps (Reboul)
• Tulipa gesneriana var. dracontia (Redouté)
• Tulipa didieri lutea (Tubergen)
• Tulipa stenopetala (Delaun. ex Loisel.)
• Tulipa didieri var. planifolia ((Jord.) Baker)
• Tulipa rubidusa (Lieser)
• Tulipa perrieri (Marj. ex P.Fourn.)
• Tulipa norvegica (Lieser)
• Tulipa gesneriana var. albo-oculta (Tubergen)
• Tulipa hortensis (Gaertn.)
• Tulipa planifolia (Jord.)
• Tulipa cornuta (Redouté)
• Tulipa serotina var. etrusca ((Levier) Nyman)
• Tulipa passeriniana (Levier)
• Tulipa strangulata var. obtusata (Levier)
• Tulipa didieri (Jord.)
• Tulipa montisandrei (J.Prudhomme)
• Tulipa strangulata var. bonarotiana ((Reboul) Reboul)
• Tulipa didieri var. flavicans (Levier)
• Tulipa strangulata var. neglecta (Reboul)
• Tulipa gesneriana var. rosea (Tubergen)
• Tulipa fransoniana (Parl.)
• Tulipa montana (Raf.)
• Tulipa didieri subsp. platystigma ((Jord.) Nyman)
• Tulipa bonarotiana (Reboul)
• Tulipa didieri subsp. billietiana ((Jord.) Nyman)
• Tulipa saracenica (E.P.Perrier)
• Tulipa media (C.Agardh ex Schult. & Schult.f.)
• Tulipa connivens subsp. obtusata ((Levier) K.Richt.)
• Tulipa scabriscapa subvar. variopicta ((Reboul) Nyman)
• Tulipa mauritiana (Jord.)
• Tulipa variopicta (Reboul)
• Tulipa repens (Fisch. ex Sweet)
• Tulipa neglecta subsp. atroguttata ((Levier) K.Richt.)
• Tulipa connivens subsp. luteoguttata ((Levier) K.Richt.)
• Tulipa gesneriana var. spathulata ((Bertol.) Nyman)
• Tulipa scabriscapa var. bonarotiana ((Reboul) Fox-Strangw.)
• Tulipa connivens (Levier)
• Tulipa stricta (Stokes)
• Tulipa macrospeila (Baker)
• Tulipa didieri var. mauriana ((Jord. & Fourr.) Baker)
• Tulipa scabriscapa var. mixta (Fox-Strangw.)
• Tulipa gesneriana var. albomarginata (Tubergen)
• Tulipa suaveolens var. passeriniana ((Levier) Nyman)
• Tulipa lurida (Levier)
• Tulipa pubescens (Willd.)
• Tulipa strangulata subsp. obtusa ((Levier) K.Richt.)
• Tulipa neglecta var. atroguttata (Levier)
• Tulipa spathulata (Bertol.)
• Tulipa praecox var. mauriana ((Jord. & Fourr.) Douin)
• Tulipa platystigma (Jord.)
• Tulipa scabriscapa var. neglecta ((Reboul) Nyman)
• Tulipa baldaccii (Mattei)
• Tulipa connivens var. obtusata (Levier)
• Tulipa mauriannensis (Didier)
• Tulipa laciniata (Fisch. ex Bellerm.)
• Tulipa strangulata subsp. bonarotiana ((Reboul) K.Richt.)
• Tulipa praecox var. planifolia ((Jord.) Douin)
• Tulipa marjolletii (E.P.Perrier & Songeon)
• Tulipa retroflexa (Baker)
• Tulipa elegans (Baker)
• Tulipa planifolia var. saracenica ((E.P.Perrier) P.Fourn.)
• Tulipa segusiana (E.P.Perrier & Songeon)
• Tulipa neglecta ((Reboul) Reboul)
• Tulipa strangulata subsp. variopicta ((Reboul) K.Richt.)
• Tulipa gesneriana var. rosea-striata (Tubergen)
• Tulipa campsopetala (Delaun. ex Loisel.)
• Tulipa sedunii (Lieser)
• Tulipa connivens var. luteoguttata (Levier)
• Tulipa didieri subsp. flavicans ((Levier) K.Richt.)
• Tulipa turcica var. media ((C.Agardh ex Schult. & Schult.f.) Regel)
• Tulipa scabriscapa var. strangulata ((Reboul) Fox-Strangw.)
• Tulipa viridiflora (Anon.)
• Tulipa scabriscapa var. sommieri ((Levier) Nyman)
• Tulipa fransoniana subsp. mauriana ((Jord. & Fourr.) Nyman)
• Tulipa strangulata var. variopicta ((Reboul) Levier)
• Tulipa mauriana (Jord. & Fourr.)
• Tulipa scabriscapa var. hawardeniana (Bertol.)
• Tulipa grengiolensis (Thommen)
• Tulipa praecox var. platystigma ((Jord.) Douin)
• Tulipa serotina (Reboul)
• Tulipa scabriscapa var. primulina (Fox-Strangw.)
• Tulipa etrusca (Levier)
• Tulipa coronaria (Salisb.)
• Tulipa praecox subsp. didieri ((Jord.) Bonnier & Layens)
• Tulipa bicolor (Raf.)
• Tulipa vitellina (Anon.)
• Tulipa billietiana (Jord.)
• Tulipa praecox var. billietiana ((Jord.) Douin)
• Tulipa fulgens (Baker)
• Tulipa unguiculata (Raf.)

Distribution

• Turkey (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Bulgaria (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• East European Russia (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• Italy (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• North Caucasus (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Romania (introduced)
• South European Russi (introduced)
• Spain (introduced)
• Switzerland (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Apr 3, 2018 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 16, 2017 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 3, 2018 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 3, 2018 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 2, 2019 by Annemarie Ahrens-Stehle (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Mar 8, 2022 by Monteiro Henrique (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 24, 2004 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 4, 2022 by William Coville (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 23, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 23, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Mar 12, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 14, 2020 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 25, 2020 by Elisa Pedroni (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 23, 2022 by Monteiro Henrique (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 3, 2018 by 1 (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken May 5, 2022 by Rosalie Cécile (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 29, 2022 by Dave Flack (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 14, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 25, 2022 by Annemarie Ahrens-Stehle (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 20, 2018 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken May 8, 2021 by Adéla Adéla Levá (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 14, 2020 by S M (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 16, 2019 by giets nele (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 16, 2022 by ジョサエル 123 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 16, 2022 by Morand Pierre (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Mar 25, 2021 by becret lucas (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 6, 2021 by Mariasun Landaburu (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 7, 2020 by Henri Becude (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 22, 2022 by Илья Неткачев (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 22, 2020 by CJL (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5299675)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:542923-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Tulipa gesneriana L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 7.0

Light: 7

Atmospheric humidity: 3

Soil nutriments: 6