Tulipa kaufmanniana Pink Dwarf

The  Tulipa kaufmanniana 'Pink Dwarf' is a horticultural selection of the Kaufmann's Tulip, a botanical species that grows in the wild. It is also known as the water lily tulip, due to its corolla that unfolds in the manner of this aquatic plant. This variety flowers early, producing elegant flowers with an intense pink colour, between cherry and raspberry, which perfectly complement the slightly greyish green foliage, providing them with a perfect setting. This hardy bulbous plant naturalises easily in the garden, and faithfully blooms year after year. It thrives in the sun and also tolerates light shade.

The Tulipa kaufmanniana is native to the mountains of Central Asia, where it forms colonies in rocky meadows in Kazakhstan. This species was first described by the German botanist Eduard von Regel in 1877. It belongs to the Liliaceae family, like the lily, lily of the valley, bluebell, and fritillary. This species has given rise to numerous cultivars and hybrids with vibrant colours, forming a distinct group within the Tulipa genus. Its bulb is round, covered with a brown tunic, and measures about 3 cm (1in) in diameter. In spring, the plant forms a small clump composed of 2 to 5 lanceolate leaves measuring 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8in) in length, with a slightly undulated edge. Occasionally folded into a gutter shape along the length, the leaves are uniformly green, without marbling like in some species of the group, but with a tint towards grey or bluish depending on sun exposure. The floral stem is short, 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6in) in height and sometimes bears a floral bud as early as the end of January . This bud will open in March to reveal a beautiful flower with a diameter of 5 to 7 cm (2 to 3in), with 6 petals (sepals and petals having almost the same morphology), upright and more or less spread out at their tips depending on the brightness. In full sun, the corolla opens even wider, resembling the flower of the water lily, which gives it its common name (water lily tulip). All bright and cheerful from the beginning of spring, this tulip displays an intense cherry pink colour tending towards raspberry pink, with a touch of yellow in its centre. The low sun in this season creates fascinating play of light by illuminating the corollas and brings joy to the garden.

Kaufmann's tulips are very hardy plants, tolerating temperatures as low as -20°C (-4°F), and can grow in most soils, as long as they are well-drained, as they do not tolerate excess water.

Kaufmann's tulips are suitable for sunny rockeries or at the base of deciduous trees and shrubs with late foliage, or with light foliage. Their low height allows them to withstand gusts of wind. Plant them in masses to enhance their flowering, by installing them in a meadow to create a colourful island. You will simply have to wait for the leaves to turn yellow before mowing. You can also plant them in containers, or in small groups in a rockery, alternating with yellow varieties like 'Goudstuck' to create cheerful contrasts in a still chilly season. You can create beautiful combinations with their cousins, the Bluebells, which often have blue flowers depending on the species. In milder climates, plant the bulbs in the ground under the Albizia julibrissin 'Summer Chocolate', a small silk tree with fabulous finely-cut purple foliage that provides light shade. Further north, a Forsythia 'Mélée d'Or' will create a bright yellow background against which your tulips will appear even more dazzling!