*Tulipa sprengeri*

This is the latest-blooming wild tulip in your garden! They originate from Turkey, near Amasya. From the seed, a bulb forms that is capable of flowering and has an interesting characteristic: it pulls itself deep into the ground. In nature, they eventually encounter a rock plate, preventing them from sinking further. In our gardens, they just keep going deeper and deeper! If you have flowering bulbs in your garden, dig them up and embed a tile at a depth of approximately 30 cm, then plant the bulbs above it, at about 10 cm deep. These bulbs will also readily self-seed and within a few years create an expanding field of flowering sprengeri's!
Sow the sprengeri in nutritious, loose soil. For sandy soil, add bentonite and humus; for (heavy) clay soil, add sand, basalt meal, and compost. Avoid direct scorching sun on the sprengeri's: the leaves can burn. A dry spot in light shade with early and late sun is best. (text adapted from De Warande)

Names:
Latin: Tulipa sprengeri
Dutch: Sprenger's Tulpje
English: Sprenger's Tulip