Fire Flame Tulip

Tulipa acuminata, the fire flame or horned tulip, is one of the most distinctive tulips grown, with narrow, sinuous petals that twist and taper to fine points, streaked red and yellow in a way that reads more like a cluster of flames than a classic tulip cup. It has been in cultivation since at least 1813 and, unlike most named species tulips, has never been found growing wild — its true origin is unknown, and it is thought to be a very old garden selection, likely Ottoman Turkish, that predates modern records. Because it is a true species rather than a modern hybrid, it is a favorite for cottage, heirloom, and cutting gardens that want something a hybrid Darwin or parrot tulip can't provide.

Culture is the same as any hardy tulip: plant bulbs in late fall once the soil has cooled, in full sun and sharply drained soil, and let the foliage die back completely after bloom before removing it. Unlike many modern hybrids bred to be replaced yearly, species tulips like this one tend to persist and even naturalize modestly over years in a well-drained bed, rather than declining after a single season — division of offset bulbs every few years keeps a planting going indefinitely.