Tulipa Greenstar - Lily flowering Tulip

The Tulip 'Greenstar' is a fragrant variety with a green and white colour combination which is sensational for a vase or in borders, alone or mixed with other colours. The flower resembles a 6-branched star, slightly twisted and curved outward, with a long and wide green central flame on a white background. This strange flower is perched on a short, thin, but very strong stem. It blooms quite late, in April-May depending on the climate.

The Lily-flowered tulip 'Greenstar' belongs to the lily family. It is a fairly recent cultivar obtained in 2009 in the Netherlands, with a much more pronounced green than usual viridiflora varieties. It is classified in Division 6 of horticultural tulips, the main characteristics of this category are that they bear single flowers and bloom in the second half of spring with narrow cups and pointed petals, opening in a star shape. Each flower of 'Greenstar' opens white-chartreuse, flamed with bright green and lemon yellow highlights, then matures into a mix of bright white and medium green infused with light yellow. This variety will reach 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16in) high when in bloom in late April or early May. The foliage is thinner than other tulips. Each solitary flower is supported by a stem that appears fragile but is resistant to bad weather.

The Lily-flowered tulips, created in the early 20th century, were very popular with our grandmothers, then fell somewhat into oblivion. They are now being rediscovered and revamped, daring and well-suited to our contemporary settings. The Lily-flowered tulip 'Greenstar' fits in well-ordered large borders. Since it is late flowering, it maximizes the duration of flowering in borders. It pairs well with all the colours of the rainbow, but its green and white hues are enhanced by red flowers such as those of the 'Doll's Minuet' variety. It can be planted in borders and flower beds, but also in pots and containers. It complements large perennials perfectly and is ideal for creating elegant bouquets. In a vase, just a little water at the bottom is enough. If your tulips open too quickly, you can add two to three ice cubes to the vase every day. Many varieties of Lily-flowered tulips are grown for forcing to produce cut flowers for a large part of the year.