In 1592 Charles de l’Ecluse planted the first tulips in the sandy Dutch soil, where an enormous bulb industry now produces more than 2 billion tulips a year.

There are 100+ species of Tulip most of which are small, delicate and usually less than 8 inches tall.

There are 15 divisions or classes of tulips plus a section for multiflowered tulips.

Small flowered botanical or species types such as Tulipa tarda, Tulipa batalini, Tulipa marjoletti and Tulipa acuminata should be planted in autumn before other tulips.

Species Tulip are also sometimes called Botanical Tulips. Most are small. Some are tiny. Many, given the right conditions, will spread like wildfire.

Sources
Tulips by ComùnicaTI, on Flickr
Tulips by Xerones, on Flickr

Tulipa batalinii ‘Red Gem’ growing under the castle wall at Clitheroe Lancashire