Xela's Garden

Tulip dwarf Red Riding Hood [V]

Genus: Tulipa.

Species: Tulipa greigii.

Planted 12.08 Vistabile bird feeder/planter
12.12 Vistabile front footpath borders
Bought 08.08 at Wilkinsons for £2 per pk of
09.12 from Wilkinsons @ £2.99 per pack of 10

Genus: Tulipa
Cultivar: 'Red Riding Hood'
Skill Level: Beginner
Exposure: Full sun
Hardiness: Hardy
Soil type: Well-drained/light
Height: 30cm
Spread: 20cm
Time to plant: November to November
Flowering period: March to May

Source:www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/plant_pages/943.shtml

This variety is low-growing, between 15-35cm (6-14in), with long-lasting bright flowers and very often leaves stained or striped with brown or crimson. Varieties bloom between late March and May. 'Red Riding Hood' is a typical instance of a vividly coloured and large-flowered dwarf hybrid, perfect for planting in rock gardens and at the front of borders. Greigii hybrids are more robust than many other tulips, and may be left permanently in the ground to multiply. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Tulipa greigii 'Red Riding Hood' is in bloom through much of April, when the daffodils have already been up for a while. It is a pretty presence in the garden well before blooming, as by February the red-striped leaves are decorative in & of themselves.

The species is native to Turkistan. The whimsically named 'Roodkapaje' i.e., 'Red Riding Hood,' was introduced in 1953 by a Dutch firm. It has remained much the most popular greigii tulip offered. The blazing crimson blooms are underscored by the red strips of the leaves.
Though full sun is recommended as for all tulips, T. greigii does do surprisingly well in a lightly shaded area where most other tulips might feel a bit light-deprived. The blooms last about three weeks, but the colorful foliage makes it decorative before & after bloom.
In order to insure that the bulbs are strong through their dormancy period, so that the plant will return year after year pretty much indefinitely, the yellowing leaves should not be trimmed back until they have fully browned, & seedheads should be removed before fully formed, permitting it to naturalize rapidly by bulb offsets rather than slowly by seed. Because Greiggis are not really pure-bred botanicals, the seeds never grow true.
Source: www.paghat.com/tulips.html

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