Selected cultivar from Tulipa humilis, a bulbous perennial from the Liliaceae family, whose type species is native to southeastern Turkey, Iran, and the Caucasus, on well-drained rocky slopes and high-altitude steppes.
Very low and compact habit, barely exceeding 10 to 12 cm in height. The leaves are wide for the group, glaucous, upright to slightly spreading, of a rather pale bluish-green that accompanies the flower discreetly.
The bud, particularly remarkable, has a creamy reverse with pearly reflections traversed by bright rose-carmine veins, all with a tight and elegant shape. When fully open in the sun, the tepals reveal a strong pink-magenta to purple inner face, with a vividly defined bright yellow central spot and dark brown-violet anthers. The contrast between the pearly exterior of the bud and the colorful interior of the open flower is one of the particular attractions of this cultivar.
In its natural habitat, the type species blooms from March to May depending on altitude. In cultivation, 'Persian Pearl' blooms in March-April, among the first bulbous plants of the season.
It requires impeccable drainage, full sun, and respected summer dryness to ensure proper bulb maturation. It can be grown in rock gardens, garden scree, or in pots under cold shelter, where the different phases of the flower, from the pearly bud to the open cup, can be closely observed.