Wildflower Miniature Tulips with Their Diverse Colors

Pink and white Lady Jane miniature wildflower tulips in early spring.

Not to be left out of the early spring bloom party are the array of Wildflower, Botanical and Species Tulips. Unlike many of the early spring bloomers like Dwarf Iris, Pasque Flowers and Grape Hyacinths – which are in shades of purples, their colors are as diverse as their varieties. They may be miniature in size, but they are little beauties to behold. I love their whimsical nature and just LOVE photographing them!

Yellow miniature Candlestick tulip.
A group of little Candlestick tulips.

Given room to roam, they do – forming drifts and growing randomly. Quite a contrast to the often perfectly orchestrated rows of their conventional brethren.

Since these little fellas naturalize on their own, these easy to grow tulips multiply every year. And they can pop up in different spots in the Xeriscape gardens each season.

Given the nature of the xeric gardens where I photograph them, you see jus how this unfolds and why they are perfectly suited for the rocky gardens!

With my camera and the lens I prefer to photograph them with, the results can be lovely. When the lighting and a good angle obliges, the results cane be more life a watercolor than a photograph.

This year there have been some newbies for sure. Or perhaps I’ve missed them previously based on timing. Or the conditions were ideal for them this year. Hard to say? Nature is full of surprises which makes the flower photography journey unique each year.

Let the Wildflower Tulips Show Begin…

Other than the Red Riding Hood tulips – which will be a separate post, this year I will be grouping the Wildflower Tulips together again. I’ll begin with a quick review with some background info on these tulip varieties.

“Wildflower tulips, also know as species tulips are hardy tulips that can withstand stormy, spring weather conditions. These Mediterranean and Asian natives are a petite, shorter variety that stands 4” to 6” tall.. Originating in rocky, mountainous terrain, species tulips are made to deal with droughts and won’t tolerate wet soils.”

First on deck are some of my favorite: Persian Pearls. FYI, in this next of the woods in Colorado, they begin to make their appearance in early April. With their deep magenta color, they are hard to miss. And they are the first ones to bloom – often braving the spring snow! This year I missed them in their full opened state because I was off to Arizona in search of blooming cactus plants! More on that with photos in a soon to be published post. But you can see how at home they are in the rocky gardens.

Magenta Persian Pearl tulips in rocky garden.
Magenta Persian Pearls wildflower tulips are often the first to bloom in the rocky gardens in early spring.
Magenta pink Persian Pearl native tulips.

Next to showcase are the little yellow Candlestick tulips. In different shades of yellows and hints of oranges and pinks, you can see how they get their name. Small but standing up straight, they do look like little candlesticks! Truth be told, they were not as prolific this year as in season’s past. But they are a welcome sight just the same.

A cluster of little Candlestick miniature tulips about to open.
Little Candlestick tulip in early spring.
Candlestick tulips about to open on the left and this little one opening to the morning sun.
Bright yellow Candlestick miniature tulips.
Candlestick miniature tulips in shades of bright and pale yellows.
Little yellow Candlestick tulip in xeric garden.

Lady Janes Loving Life

While the Candlesticks may not have been as numerous this season, the Lady Janes however appeared to be on a roll! They were blooming happily and en mass. I believe it’s safe to say the conditions were favorable for them to expand and drift – much to my delight! With their pretty pink and white flower petals, they are equally as beautiful in their budding form. Then when they open, they reveal bright yellow centers with dark purple colored stamens.

Pink and white Lady Jane tulips getting ready to open.
Lady Jane miniature tulips with their bright yellow centers.
Lady Jane tulips with their bright yellow centers.
White and pink Lady Jane miniature tulips.
Pink and white Lady Jane miniature tulips growing happily in the xeriscape gardens.

Primo Real Estate by the Prickly Pear Cactus

If you notice one feature of these miniature tulips, it’s not just their size but their little, pointy flower petals. Very different from the large conventional tulips. Those tend to have more rounded and sometimes frilly looking flower petals.

White tipped and yellow miniature tulips.
White tipped and yellow miniature tulips growing right in with the prickly pear cactus.

Anywho, speaking of pointy, there appears to be some primo real estate by this prickly pear cactus. Residing under an expansive pine tree perhaps there is the right balance of sun and shade? Well this season, it’s been a bumper crop of previously unseen flowers growing there. From the magenta colored Dwarf Iris (which I had not seen before) to these white-tipped yellow tulips. These little tulips were thriving and right at home by the cactus. Have no idea of the name of this variety as it was a newbie to me. Then about a week later after these white tipped tulips were done, another variety of yellow tulips popped up right in the cactus. Never a dull moment by this prickly pear!

White tipped little yellow tulips by prickly pear cactus.
Miniature tulips growing within the prickly pear cactus.
Little yellow tulip next to prickly pear cactus.
White tipped yellow tulips growing within a prickly pear plant.
A wider view of these little yellow tulips growing within the prickly pear cactus covered in pine needles.

I suppose you just never know who your neighbors are going to be? And these little wonders looked right at home within their prickly neighbor! For anyone who thinks a xeriscape garden may be boring or bland, they’ve never spent time around one especially in the spring 🙂

If you like these little tulips, check out these other posts with accompanying photos:
Wild Species Tulips Brighten Up Rocky Gardens in Spring
Tulips – Spring’s Colorful Contributions