This is the first year I have had tulips blooming this early but this is the first year I have planted classes of tulips I had never tried before. I love tulips but they mostly decline or worse yet, don't come back at all after one year. I replant. But I decided to do some research and find some tulips that will come back year after year after year and are not fussy and will not dissapear. That means Species, Emperor, Kaufmanniana and Greigii Classes of tulips.
Yes, others do come back sometimes and in some gardens. But these are tried and true perennials.
Lets start with Species Tulip humilis violacea. I got mine from Colorblends and it has a black base. Scheepers carries a strain with a yellow base. These things are small, as big as a large flowered crocus and only a few inches tall. But the color is outstanding and they really pop.
Planted in my front yard raised bed where they can really be seen well as they are in the very front right off the sidewalk. This bed is just full of daylilies and tulops with daffodils in back. The larger bottom terrace alone has over 500 tulips in it.
