Tulips normally start to emerge from the ground in late winter or early spring. Unless incredibly mild weather causes premature growth in winter, the danger is not as great as it may seem. Tulips (and daffodils) are also fairly cold tolerant. If freezing winter temperatures return, however, it can delay growth. Snow is actually helpful in this case, as it can insulate the foliage from extreme cold.
Plant in fall for spring flowers!
Tulip bulbs are planted in the fall before the ground freezes. By planting varieties with different blooming times, you can have tulips that bloom from early to late spring. Some types are good for forcing flowers indoors and most are excellent for use as cut flowers as well.
Tulip flowers are usually cup-shaped with three petals and three sepals. There is a tulip for every setting, from small “species” tulips in naturalized woodlands to larger tulips that suit formal garden plantings from beds to borders. The erect flowers can be single or double and vary in shape from simple cups, bowls and goblets to more complex forms. Height ranges from 6 inches to 2 feet. A tulip grows on each stem, with two to six broad leaves per plant.
