Tulipa sylvestris
JFlintoff@aol.com (Sat, 08 May 2004 07:23:18 PDT)

Judy et al

There is another free-flowering clone of Tulipa sylvestris ( ssp.
sylvestris ) called ' Grooteboek ' , found in a churchyard in Grootebroek, Holland
in 1965, according to the Hoog and Dix catalog of 1996. It increases, but
stays in a neat clump. I'll have to check to see if it produces short stolons
or none at all later today. It is one of the most graceful and elegant of the
wild tulips, and its fragrance is lovely too. The leaves do not seem quite so
vulnerable to weather damage and consequent botrytis infection as many of the
earlier flowering species.

Another varient of T sylvestris that I haven't seen mentioned this year is
the plant called T primulina. The flowers are white, flushed a bit with pink
without, and very lovely to my eyes. It increases but slowly, alas. I think,
but I'm not sure, that it is fragrant.

Jerry John Flintoff
Vashon Island,Washington,USA
Zone 8