How to Plant and Grow Greigii Hybrid Tulips

Greigii hybrid tulips are shorter than other tulip types. They have large, colorful flowers in warm shades of red, orange, yellow, pink, and white. Most have foliage that is playfully variegated with purple spots. Blooming in early to midspring, these tulips are relatively long-lived compared to other hybrid tulips. Although Greigii tulips have a more limited color range than many of their hybrid cousins, the flower size is sure to bring a wow factor to your spring yard.

Where to Plant Greigii Tulips

There are many ways to enjoy Greigii tulips in your yard or garden. Mix them with summer-blooming perennials in beds and borders, especially those near paths and walkways where you can enjoy the large flowers up close. As the tulips go dormant in early summer, the perennials around them will fill in. These tulips are winter-hardy in USDA Zones 3–8.

Add tulips to rock gardens; they fit right in with traditional rock garden perennials such as dianthus, rock cress, and armeria. Plant them under deciduous shrubs such as rose of Sharon to add color as the shrubs begin to leaf out in spring.

You can also plant Greigii tulips in containers and enjoy them alone or with spring-blossoming annuals such as pansies.

How and When to Plant Greigii Tulips

As with most other spring-blooming bulbs, plant Greigii tulip bulbs in early fall as soil temperatures cool. Plant the bulbs 5–6 inches deep in the soil. They start developing roots right away and continue developing until the soil freezes. They’re mostly unfussy about soil type but bloom best and live longest in soil that’s moist, well-drained, and rich in organic matter. Avoid soil with a high clay content; in yards with clay, plant them in raised beds to prevent Greigii tulips from becoming waterlogged.

Greigii Tulip Care

Light

Greigii tulips do best in full sun (at least six hours of direct sun per day), but they tolerate part shade. Because the plants go dormant in early summer after leafing out, they’re ideal for growing beneath deciduous trees like oaks and maples. Tulips need sufficient sun only until the foliage turns yellow.

Soil and Water

These tulips thrive in moist, well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. In soggy soil, they tend to rot and die over the summer.

Temperature and Humidity

When tulips start growing in early spring, they do best when the temperature is below 55°F. However, temperatures lower than 30°F can kill the plants. They are not particular about humidity levels.

Fertilizer

In spring, no additional fertilizer is needed, as the bulbs are planted in well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. A single application of a slow-release granular fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, in the fall is sufficient. Scratch it into the soil around the tulip, following the product instructions.

Pruning

After tulips finish flowering, the foliage turns yellow and dies off. Trim back the leaves after this happens, but don’t trim the leaves while they are still green. The bulbs need their green spring leaves to gather energy for next year’s bloom.

Potting and Repotting

Hybrid tulips are excellent choices for container gardening. In the fall, choose a pot that is 18 inches across and 15 inches deep (or larger) and fill it with a lightweight potting mix. Space the tulip bulbs in a tight circular pattern and bury them at the same depth you would plant them in the ground. You should be able to fit about 20 bulbs in an 18-inch container. Water the container once and not again until spring. Place the container in an unheated garage or a similar structure that prevents the bulbs from freezing and thawing. In spring, begin watering them again. When you see emerging leaves, move the container outdoors.

Pest and Problems

Aphids, slugs, and snails can attack Greigii tulips. Aphids can be removed by a blast of water from a garden hose or a treatment with neem oil. Slugs and snails can be hand-picked or enticed into a saucer of beer and then disposed of.

Deer and rabbits are known to munch on tulip beds. If you have critters determined to eat your tulips, you may need to try several remedies to thwart the local wildlife.

How to Propagate Greigii Tulips

In summer, after the tulips bloom and all the green foliage has died, carefully dig up the tulip bulbs. Most likely, they will have offsets—small attached bulblets that have formed. Leave the bulbs in a warm place for several days to dry. Gently pry the offsets from the larger bulbs. Store the bulbs and offsets separately in a dry place until fall planting time. Then, plant the original large bulbs as usual. If any of the offsets are large and have roots, they can be planted at this time, too.

Put the offsets in a nursery bed filled with well-draining soil and located in an area with plenty of sunshine and good air circulation. Plant them shallowly, just deep enough to stand up with a thin layer of soil covering them. Space them generously apart so they have plenty of room to grow. Watch them closely and water sparingly when the soil appears dry, but don’t overwater or root rot may kill them. Over the winter, the offsets will grow into larger bulbs. However, they are unlikely to flower for two or three years.

Types of Greigii Tulips

A range of popular Greigii tulip varieties is available, including the following.

‘Cape Cod’

Tulipa ‘Cape Cod’ glows with apricot-orange petals edged in a broad band of rich golden yellow. It blooms in midspring and grows 10 inches tall. Its sturdy stalks provide good wind and rain resistance. Zones 3-8

‘Red Riding Hood’

The classic Greigii tulip variety, Tulipa ‘Red Riding Hood’, is a compact plant that features purple-mottled foliage and bold, scarlet red flowers in early spring. It grows 12 inches tall. Zones 3-8

‘Rob Verlinden’

Tulipa ‘Rob Verlinden’ is stunning even before it bursts into bloom because the purple-flecked foliage is elegantly edged in creamy white. The flowers are large and bright red. This Greigii tulip grows 10 inches tall. Zones 3-8

‘Toronto’

One of the few pink-blooming Greigii tulips, Tulipa ‘Toronto’ grows 14 inches tall and is extra floriferous. It creates a stunning display even in a small area. Zones 3-8

Greigii Tulip Companion Plants

Plant Greigii tulips with other spring-blooming plants for a colorful welcome to the season. Greigii tulips go fully dormant by midsummer, so growing them with plants that fill out over the summer prevents empty, bare spots in your beds and borders.

Hyacinth

Fragrant hyacinths unfurl their colorful flowers in early spring, perfuming the garden for two weeks or more. They are available in almost every color except black. The sweet, spicy scent of these spring bulbs is a pleasant way to start the gardening season.

Dianthus

Greigii tulips sprout and bloom as dianthus starts to get going in the garden. As the tulips fade, the dianthus kicks in—and you can enjoy this classic cottage garden flower and its delicate foliage for the rest of the season.

Rock Cress

Rock cress is a perennial that forms mats of color in the spring. As the name implies, it is at home in a rock garden and its associated well-drained soil. Rock cress works exceptionally well along walls, borders, and underneath spring-blooming bulbs to add color to a garden.