Tulipa fosteriana Exotic Emperor

Tulipa fosteriana 'Exotic Emperor' combines the refinement of modern varieties with the robustness of botanical species. This variety bears a large semi-double cup-shaped flower. It is white, set in small green tapered petals at the base. Its sweet fragrance is an additional asset, both in the garden and in a vase. Robust, weather-resistant and undemanding, it will faithfully flower in the garden from mid-March for several years. Ideal in a white garden, this tulip with its understated colour complements all other flowers in the garden.

Tulipa fosteriana 'Exotic Emperor' is a horticultural selection also known as 'White Valley'. Tulips derived from T. fosteriana belong to division 13 and are reliable performers: they are among the first tulips to flower, sometimes as early as March 15th, and they naturalise easily, so there is no need to replace them regularly. 'Exotic Emperor' is a bulbous plant that produces sturdy yet flexible flower stems, measuring 35 to 40cm (14 to 16in), bearing a large semi-double corolla at their tip, which opens and flares in the sun. The deciduous foliage is a light and vibrant green. The bulb enters summer dormancy and tolerates dry soil during this time.

Tulips from the Fosteriana Group work well in flower beds and borders. The taller varieties are ideal for bouquets. Their sparkling yet elegant colours pair well with blue hyacinths, grape hyacinths, forget-me-nots, and with other tulips. When designing your flower beds, you must consider the height and flowering period of the tulips, as these parameters can vary significantly from one cultivar to another. It is wise to plant extra bulbs for bouquets, as they make gorgeous cut flowers that last a long time in a vase. 

About botanical species

Tulip species are found throughout most of the Old World, from Western Europe to China and Japan, including Eastern Europe, Asia Minor, and Central Asia. Their distribution range also includes North Africa and the Indian subcontinent. The centre of diversity for the genus is in the Pamir and Hindu Kush mountains and the steppes of Kazakhstan.

There are various wild species, many of which are endangered. These include large adventive tulips from cultivated fields, the most well-known being the Agen tulip (Tulipa agenensis), as well as small tulips found in wooded areas or among rocks in the mountains. In cultivation, they are called "botanical tulips", and one of the most common is the wild tulip (T. sylvestris), which used to often grow sheltered by vines and whose subspecies, australis, is known as the southern tulip.