User:DavidAnstiss/Tulipa praestans

Tulipa praestans, is a species of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae. It has long reddish (or white) flowers.

Tulipa praestans is native to Central Asia. Genus name comes the Latinized version of the Turkish name tulbend meaning a turban.

Specific epithet means 'distinguished'.

Problems No serious insect or disease problems. Gray mold, stem rot and basal rot are occasional problems.

Garden Uses Rock gardens. Also effective in beds, border fronts or around trees or shrubs. This small tulip is effective in small groupings of at least 12-15 bulbs or massed into large drifts.

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Best in organically rich soils that drain well. Plant bulbs 5-6” deep in fall. Remove flower stems promptly after bloom to prevent seed formation, but leave foliage in place until it yellows. Fertilize in fall and in early spring.

'Fusilier' will establish itself in the garden and perform well over a longer period of years than many of the hybrid tulips sold in commerce today.

Tulipa praestans was introduced into gardens during the latter part of the 19th century by Russian explorers of its home in the wild Central Asian mountains. Tall growing with up to four large flowers to each stem it is one of the most showy of all wild tulips. Tulipa praestans is native of the mountains of the southern Pamir-Alai in Tajikistan where it grows at altitudes up to 3000 metres above sea level.

M. T. Masters was the editor of Gardener's Chronicle from 1865-1907, so authorship of this name is attributed to him under Shenzhen ICN Art. 46.9

Gard. Chron. Vol.33:239. 11 Apr 1903; 33:324, fig. 126. 23 May 1903 6-Aug-2013 GRIN ser. 3, 33: 239 (1903)

Cultivated (also cult.)