You can also add them into rock gardens—they fit right in with traditional rock garden perennials such as dianthus, rock cress, and armeria. Or plant them under deciduous shrubs such as rose of Sharon or roses to add color as the shrubs begin to leaf out in spring. You can also plant Greigii tulips in containers and enjoy them by themselves or with spring-blossoming annuals such as pansies.
Greigii Tulip Care
Plant gorgeous Greigii tulips, like most other spring-blooming bulbs, in early fall as soil temperatures begin to cool. They start developing roots right away and continue developing until the soil freezes. They’re largely unfussy about soil type, but bloom best and live longest in soil that’s moist, well-drained, and rich in organic matter. Avoid soil that has a high clay content; in yards that have a lot of clay, consider planting them in raised beds to avoid Greigii tulips getting waterlogged. In soggy soil they have a tendency to rot out and die over the summer. Greigii tulips do best in full sun (at least six hours of direct sun per day), but they’ll tolerate part shade. Because the plants go dormant in early summer after they’ve leafed out, they’re ideal for growing beneath deciduous trees like oaks and maples; you only have to worry about them getting sun until the foliage starts to turn yellow. After they finish flowering, the foliage will begin to go yellow and die off. You can trim the leaves back once this begins to happen, but avoid cutting it back while it’s still green. The bulbs need their green spring leaves to gather energy for next year’s bloom. Since Greigii tulips go fully dormant by midsummer, growing them with plants that fill out over the summer helps prevent empty bare spots in your beds and borders. See more beautiful blooming bulbs.
Planting Partners
Plant Greigii Tulip with hyacinth; they’re natural companions that complement each other beautifully in spring. Your Greigii tulips will sprout up and bloom as dianthus starts to get going in the garden. As the tulips fade, the dianthus kicks in—and you’ll be able to enjoy dianthus’ fine foliage for the rest of the season.
More Varieties of Tulip, Greigii Hybrids
‘Cape Cod’ tulip
Cape Cod tulip glows with apricot-orange pets edged in a broad band of rich golden yellow. It blooms in midspring and grows 10 inches tall. It has good wind and rain resistance. Zones 3-8
‘Red Riding Hood’ tulip
The classic Greigii tulip variety, this compact plant features purple-mottled foliage and bold, scarlet red flowers in early spring. It grows 12 inches tall. Zones 3-8
‘Rob Verlinden’ tulip
Rob Verlinden tulip is stunning even before it bursts into bloom because the purple-flecked foliage is elegantly edged in creamy white. The flowers are bright red and it grows 10 inches tall. Zones 3-8
‘Toronto’ tulip
One of the few pink-blooming Greigii tulips, Toronto grows 14 inches tall and is extra floriferous. It creates a stunning display even in a small area. Zones 3-8
