Tulipa 'Macarena'
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LILY FLOWERING TULIP
Family: Liliaceae
Pronounced: TEW-li-pa
GROWING GUIDE
Geographic Origin:
Garden.
Plant Group:
Bulbs.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: All zones (chilling requirements may be neccessary in warmer zones).
USDA zones: 3-8.
Mature size:
Height: 14-16 inches (35-40 cm).
Flowering period:
Late April to early May.
Flowering attributes:
An elegant goblet-shaped tulip, with pointed tepals of lemon yellow
margined in white, with some blossoms having flecks of red.
Light:
Full sun to afternoon sun.
Soil:
Light well-drained, fertile soil on the neutral to slightly acidic side.
Feeding:
When planting bulbs in fall, mix a complete organic fertilizer into planting hole.
Propagation Methods:
Lift bulbs after foliage has died down and harvest smaller offsets of bulbs. Plant these in a
seperate bed until they reach blooming size and plant back out in the garden.
Pruning Methods:
Do not prune foliage until it has died back. If flowers are used for bouquets leave as much of the foliage as possible on the plant.
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Rainy Side Notes
Lily flowering tulips reliably come back every year in my raised bed gardens. Soil must be well-drained or our Pacific Northwest wet winters can rot the bulbs in soggy soils. Lily flowering tulips are not only reliable, but they also have a look of elegance. I lift the bulbs about every 5 years or so and replant when they become too crowded. They receive a complete organic fertilizer in the spring for established plantings, or mixed into the planting hole when the bulbs are planted in the fall.
I keep trying to get some good photos of my T. 'Macarena'. Every year just before I get a chance to photograph them, someone in the neighborhood picks the flowers. I suppose these neighbors think they are very special, and that I planted the tulips just for them, to pick for their bouquets. I wish they would at least wait until I get a picture of the clump of 25 tulips. Its time to plant a large clump for me, but this time I will plant them farther away from the street. Next year a hidden camera might be fun to install, just to see who our neighborhood flower thief is.
Debra Teachout-Teashon
Photographed in author's garden.
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