Tulipa humilis 'Alba Caerulea Oculata' is said to have been collected (as a clone) in 1927, in mountainous northwestern Iran. Diana Everett, in /The Genus Tulipa/, writes that it is "best grown under glass." I suspect that is to give it a dry summer in England, Everett's home. It grew well for me outdoors in the foothills of the Cascade mountains, northwestern Oregon, with frequent frost and some winter snow. I don't have it now as I haven't wanted to introduce commercial tulips into the garden since undertaking growing Tulipa species from seed, and hoping to maintain a virus-free collection of them. It would be worth trying in southern California, whence Gastil writes, but might need more winter chill to thrive. Another tulip marketed as T. humilis 'Lilliput' is probably Tulipa kurdica, classified by some botanists as a synonym of T. humilis. This is a wonderful little, dark red flower that was spectacular on a sand berm in my former garden. I'm badly tempted to order some more, viruses or not, and keep it well away from the species seedlings, which is feasible here. McClure and Zimmerman offered it this past year. It's not surprising that Tulipa saxatilis does well in southern California, as it's from Crete, growing at moderate elevations in rocky places. Tulipa bakeri, regarded mainly as synonymous with the former, appears to favor richer soil, flourishing in upland cultivated fields and pastures. Jane McGary, Portland, Oregon, USA On 10/31/2020 11:18 AM, M Gastil-Buhl via pbs wrote: > A local garden friend here asks if we can grow "Blue-Eyed Tulip" here. > > On the PBS wiki the photos are from two gardeners in cold climates. > https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/… > I am wondering if anyone has had good results growing this in a climate > like mine, approximately USDA zone 10a with a bit of occasional light > frost. I am sure it would bloom the first year but I suspect then it would > never bloom again, lacking winter chill. The Tulipa saxatilis (or bakerii) > 'Lilac Wonder' is the only tulip I have grown well here. That one > multiplies and thrives without any special care other than protection from > gophers. > > Gastil > Santa Barbara, California > where I really cannot complain about the climate other than not growing > Tulipa well > _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net>