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Tulipa 'Swan Wings'

Image of Tulipa 'Swan Wings'

Jessie Keith

Family

Liliaceae

Botanical Name

Tulipa 'Swan Wings'

Plant Common Name

Swan Wings Fringed Tulip, Swan Wings Tulip

General Description

The large showy cup-shaped blooms of 'Swan Wings' are pristine white with fringed edges. Borne singly atop 22-inch (55-cm) stems in mid- or late spring, they will brighten any border. Like most hybrid tulips, this 1959 introduction is an often short-lived bulb that is sometimes treated as an annual. It won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Merit.

Tulip bulbs are a favorite food of small mammals including voles, and their succulent leaves and buds are favored by deer. Deep planting (at a depth of four to five times the bulbs' width) and underground barriers (such as buried hardware cloth) can discourage bulb predation. Interplanting with daffodils or other pest resistant bulbs may deter both below-ground and above-ground pest damage.

Despite these problems, tulips are generally easy to grow. They prefer full to partial sun and require average to fertile soil with good drainage. Leave the lower foliage of perennial tulips after they bloom, so they can collect and store energy for next spring’s display. Once the leaves start to yellow, cut plants to the ground. Hardiness is cultivar/species dependent, but most (including 'Swan Wings') require winter chill to bloom.

Tulips are unsurpassed for bringing spring color to containers or sunny gardens. Be sure to consider height and bloom time when designing with them as these vary greatly from cultivar to cultivar. It is also wise to plant extra for cutting as they make superb long-lasting cut flowers.

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    8 - 1

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    3 - 8

  • Sunset Zone

    1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

  • Plant Type

    Bulb or Corm or Tuber

  • Sun Exposure

    Full Sun, Partial Sun

  • Height

    20"-24" / 50.8cm - 61.0cm

  • Width

    4"-6" / 10.2cm - 15.2cm

  • Bloom Time

    Spring, Late Spring

  • Native To

    Hybrid Origin

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Neutral

  • Soil Drainage

    Well Drained

  • Soil type

    Loam, Sand

  • Growth Rate

    Medium

  • Water Requirements

    Average Water

  • Habit

    Upright/Erect

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    White

  • Fruit Color

    Green, Tan

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Green

  • Fragrant Flowers

    Yes

  • Fragrant Fruit

    No

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    No

  • Showy Fruit

    No

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    No

  • Foliage Texture

    Coarse

  • Foliage Sheen

    Matte

  • Evergreen

    No

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Usage

    Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    No

  • Self-Sowing

    No