Did you know that there are different types of tulips? Tulips are divided into 15 groups, and these divisions are based on factors like bloom time, flower shape, hybrid status, and species origin. Botanical tulips, sometimes called ‘species’ tulips, are the category devoted to wild-type tulips and their hybrids. Tulipa praestans is native to the mountains of the Central Asian country of Tajikstan, where they grow nestled in rocky screes and mountaintop meadows.

       ‘Shogun’ is a smaller tulip, characteristic of the botanical type, with dark yellow star-shaped blooms that can cluster in groups of five per bulb. Early to mid-season bloomers, ‘Shogun’ trends earlier in our more temperate climate and requires pre-chilling before being planted in the fall. While botanical tulips are more prone to naturalizing than some other varieties, zone 8 (our zone!) is their upper heat limit, so perennial blooming is not guaranteed. We have installed them in Pattern Garden this year, where they can be admired for the spring!