Tulip Cretica ‘Hilde’

Tulip ‘Hilde’ is a strain of the Cretan tulip (Tulipa cretica). It is one of the smaller and less blowsy tulip species, with a charm all of its own. It’s a dainty-looker, and so beautiful, yet it is tough enough to withstand extreme winter cold. Producing up to three star-shaped flowers per stem, ‘Hilde’ starts by opening white, with a blush-pink interior with a deep cadmium yellow throat, and a pale pink exterior accented with darker purple-pink markings. It is rarely seen for sale!

This delightful low-growing tulip is ideal for the rock garden, or front of the border in full sun. It is also well-suited to growing in small pots in an Alpine House or cold greenhouse. Tulipa cretica ‘Hilde’ likes a gritty, well-drained compost, and will take quite a degree of neglect, although it will do far better, and will increase nicely, if it is fed and watered. As this is a naturally small tulip variety, the flowering sized bulbs are much smaller than normal hybrid tulips.