Tulipa linifolia 'Red Gem'

Selected cultivar from Tulipa linifolia Regel, a bulbous perennial of the Liliaceae family, whose type species originates from Central Asia, mainly Tajikistan and adjacent regions, where it grows on rocky and arid steppe slopes, well-drained and sunny.

This cultivar reaches 15 to 25 cm in height. The leaves are narrow, glaucous, with wavy and ciliated edges, characteristic of the species. A well-established bulb produces several flowering stems simultaneously, giving the plant a remarkable mass effect for such a small tulip.

Compared to the type species, 'Red Gem' is distinguished by slightly larger flowers and broader, rounded tepals, of a deep, satin scarlet red. The central blotch is purple-black, surrounded by stamens with dark anthers and a pale yellow pistil. The photos show that some flowers display orange stamens at maturity, and that the red hue may vary slightly depending on sunlight and the stage of blooming.

Its flowering in cultivation generally extends from April to May.

It requires the same conditions as the species, perfect drainage, full sun, and a well-marked summer drought. It thrives equally well in rocky scree or in pots under cold shelter, and gradually multiplies by bulbils.