Tulipa turkestanica, commonly known as Turkestan Tulip, is a deciduous perennial bulb native to rocky slopes and alpine meadows of Central Asia, particularly in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. It typically grows 10 cm to 15 cm tall, with 2–4 thin glaucous leaves up to 15 cm long on each stem. The foliage may exhibit margins and tips with a pinkish hue. Each plant can produce between one and twelve star-shaped flowers, arranged in a loose raceme. The flowers are ivory white to pinkish red, featuring a distinctive yellow to orange basal blotch that extends to about a third of the petal’s length. Notably, the flowers only open in direct sunlight and emit an often unpleasant smell. In its native habitat, Turkestan Tulip blooms from March to May, with the timing influenced by altitude.

The Turkestan Tulip is valued for its early spring bloom and adaptability to rock garden settings. It is a low-maintenance plant that adds a unique charm to garden displays, especially when planted in groups. It has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, signifying its reliability and performance in gardens. For successful cultivation, it requires full sun exposure and well-drained soil with moderate moisture levels. While generally disease-free, it can be susceptible to bulb rot if planted in overly wet conditions. It is not known for being invasive and can be propagated by seed or bulb offsets.CC BY-SA 4.0