SKU: 00840369421937 25 Tulip 'Hotpants' (Tulipa 'Hotpants')

Plant Features & Growing Information

• Growth Habit: Upright, clump-forming, bulbous herbaceous perennial belonging to the Triumph Tulip Group. Plants develop sturdy flowering stems above broad, lance-shaped foliage.

• Mature Size: Typically grows approximately 18–20 inches tall, with a narrow upright spread.

• Bloom Color: Produces spectacular white flowers edged, streaked, and feathered with rich magenta-pink to violet-purple. The dark coloration may become more pronounced as the flowers mature.

• Flower Form: Classic single, cup-shaped Triumph Tulip flowers, generally held upright on sturdy stems.

• Bloom Time: Flowers during mid- to late spring, generally from late April into May depending on local climate and seasonal temperatures.

• Fragrance: Little to no significant fragrance. Hotpants is grown primarily for its spectacular bicolor flowers rather than scent.

• Foliage: Produces broad, lance-shaped green to gray-green leaves that surround the lower portion of the flowering stems.

• Fruit Flavor: Not grown for edible fruit. Pollinated tulips may eventually develop dry seed capsules, but these have no desirable fruit flavor or culinary value.

• Culinary Uses: Not recommended for consumption. Hotpants is an ornamental tulip. Flowers, foliage, bulbs, and seeds should not be used as food, garnishes, beverages, or seasoning.

• Medicinal Uses: Hotpants Tulip has no established safe medicinal use. Tulips contain naturally occurring irritating compounds and should not be used in homemade herbal preparations or remedies.

• Possible Toxicity to Pets: Toxic to cats, dogs, and horses if ingested. Tulips contain tulipalin compounds, with their highest concentration in the bulbs. Ingestion may cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and gastrointestinal irritation.

• Possible Toxicity to Humans: Harmful if eaten, particularly the bulbs. Tulip ingestion can cause gastrointestinal upset. Repeated handling of bulbs and plant sap may also cause allergic contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.

• Handling Precautions: Wearing gloves while planting tulip bulbs is recommended, especially when handling large quantities. Keep unplanted bulbs away from children and pets.

• Deer Resistance: Poor. Deer commonly browse tulip foliage, buds, and flowers.

• Rabbit Resistance: Poor to moderate. Rabbits may feed on emerging foliage and flower stems.

• Rodent Resistance: Poor. Squirrels, chipmunks, mice, and voles may dig up and consume tulip bulbs.

• Pollinator Value: Open flowers may occasionally attract bees and other spring pollinators, although Hotpants is primarily cultivated for ornamental and cut-flower purposes.

• Pest Resistance: Generally easy to grow but may occasionally be affected by aphids, slugs, snails, and stem or bulb nematodes. Squirrels and other bulb-eating wildlife can be more troublesome than insects.

• Disease Concerns: Potential problems include tulip fire, gray mold/Botrytis, bulb rot, and tulip viruses. Good drainage and healthy planting stock significantly reduce problems.

• USDA Planting Zones: Generally suitable for USDA Zones 3–8. Tulips perform best where winters provide an extended period of cold temperatures.

• Sun Preferences: Prefers full sun, ideally receiving at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Light partial shade can be tolerated, but excessive shade may result in weaker stems and reduced flowering.

• Wind Protection: Hotpants develops the relatively strong stems characteristic of Triumph Tulips, but a location protected from severe spring winds is still beneficial.

• Drought Tolerance: Moderate during summer dormancy but relatively low during active growth. Maintain moderate soil moisture while foliage and flowers are developing, then allow the soil to become considerably drier once the plant enters dormancy.

• Soil Preferences: Prefers fertile, loose, well-drained soil. Sandy and loamy soils are excellent. Heavy clay should be improved for drainage before bulbs are planted.

• Growth Rate: Rapid during spring. Dormant bulbs quickly produce foliage and flowering stems as temperatures rise.

• Perennializing Ability: Variable. Hotpants may return for additional seasons under favorable conditions, but Triumph Tulips do not always flower as strongly in subsequent years. For consistently spectacular displays, fresh bulbs can be planted periodically.

• Cut Flower Uses: Excellent. Its sturdy stems and unusual purple-and-white flowers make Hotpants an outstanding addition to spring bouquets and floral arrangements.

• Container Growing: Excellent for spring containers and patio planters, provided containers offer sufficient depth and excellent drainage.

• Landscape Uses: Ideal for cottage gardens, formal flower beds, mixed borders, cutting gardens, pathway plantings, spring containers, and mass displays.

When & How to Prune

• Deadheading: Remove spent flower heads once blooming has finished to prevent unnecessary seed production.

• After Flowering: Cut away the faded blossom but retain the healthy green stem and leaves.

• Leave Green Foliage: Do not cut the foliage immediately after flowering. The leaves continue photosynthesizing and transferring energy back into the bulb.

• Final Cutback: Wait until foliage has naturally turned completely yellow, brown, or straw-colored, usually several weeks after flowering. It may then be cut to ground level or gently removed.

• Do Not Braid Foliage: Avoid braiding, tying, or bundling green tulip leaves. Maximum exposure to sunlight helps the bulb store energy.

Planting Instructions from Bulbs into the Ground

• Best Planting Time: Plant Hotpants Tulip bulbs during fall, generally from October through November or until the ground freezes.

• Ideal Soil Temperature: Plant once soil temperatures have cooled to approximately 55°F or below for best root establishment.

• Choose the Location: Select a planting site receiving full sun to light partial shade with excellent drainage.

• Prepare the Soil: Loosen the planting area approximately 10–12 inches deep, removing weeds, stones, and compacted material.

• Improve Heavy Soil: If your garden has dense clay, improve drainage before planting or use a raised bed. Tulip bulbs are susceptible to rot in waterlogged conditions.

• Planting Depth: Plant bulbs approximately 6–8 inches deep, measured from the soil surface to the base of the bulb. A useful general rule is to plant tulip bulbs approximately two to three times their own height.

• Bulb Orientation: Position each bulb with its pointed end facing upward and the broader, flattened root plate facing downward.

• Spacing: Space bulbs approximately 4–6 inches apart.

• Plant in Groups: For the strongest display, plant Hotpants in clusters of 10–20 or more bulbs. Group planting emphasizes the dramatic contrast between its purple and white flowers.

• Backfill: Cover the bulbs with loosened soil and gently firm the surface without heavily compacting it.

• Water After Planting: Water thoroughly immediately after planting to settle the soil and encourage fall root development.

• Fall & Winter Watering: Natural rainfall is usually sufficient. Provide supplemental water during unusually dry periods, but avoid keeping the soil continuously saturated.

• Mulching: Apply approximately 2–3 inches of mulch after the soil cools to help regulate winter soil temperatures and suppress weeds.

• Fertilization: In nutrient-poor soil, apply a balanced bulb fertilizer according to label instructions at planting or when growth emerges in spring. Avoid excessive nitrogen.

• Protecting Bulbs from Wildlife: Where squirrels, chipmunks, mice, or voles are troublesome, protect bulbs with wire mesh or bulb cages.

Warm-Climate Planting

• Winter Chilling: Hotpants Tulips require a substantial period of cold temperatures for dependable flowering.

• Zones 8–9: Plant later in fall after temperatures have cooled. In mild-winter areas, pre-chilled bulbs may produce more dependable results.

• Very Warm Climates: Where natural winter chilling is insufficient, Hotpants is generally best treated as an annual spring bulb and replanted each season.

• Pre-Chilling: When artificial chilling is required, refrigerate bulbs before planting according to supplier recommendations.

• Keep Away from Ripening Fruit: Do not refrigerate tulip bulbs with apples, bananas, pears, peaches, or other ripening fruits. Ethylene gas produced by fruit can damage developing flower buds.

Overwintering & Seasonal Care

• Fall: Plant bulbs after the soil has cooled and water thoroughly.

• Winter: Bulbs remain underground, developing roots while receiving the cold temperatures necessary for spring flowering.

• Early Spring: Broad green foliage begins emerging as temperatures warm.

• Mid- to Late Spring: Sturdy stems produce dramatic white flowers feathered and edged in rich magenta-purple.

• After Flowering: Deadhead faded flowers while retaining all healthy foliage.

• Late Spring/Early Summer: Allow foliage to yellow and die naturally before removing it.

• Summer Dormancy: Once dormant, bulbs prefer warm, relatively dry conditions. Excessive summer irrigation can contribute to bulb rot.

• Following Fall: Healthy bulbs may remain in the ground for another flowering cycle where conditions are favorable.

Additional Growing Tips

Hotpants is particularly striking when planted alongside pure white tulips, dark purple tulips, soft pink varieties, blue Muscari, white daffodils, and purple alliums. Its unusual coloring also makes it a natural focal point in purple, white, and silver-themed spring gardens.

For maximum impact, plant Hotpants in generous groups rather than individually. Large clusters allow its high-contrast bicolor flowers to create a bold, almost painterly effect throughout the garden.

Color Tip: Hotpants can develop increasingly prominent purple coloration as the flowers mature, meaning a single planting may display slightly different combinations of white, magenta, and violet-purple at the same time.

Cut Flower Tip: Harvest stems after the flower buds have developed their distinctive white-and-purple coloration but before they completely open. Tulips continue to grow after cutting and may develop attractive curves in a vase.

Weather Tip: The sturdy stems characteristic of Triumph Tulips help Hotpants withstand ordinary spring conditions, although protection from severe winds and storms will preserve the flowers.

Perennializing Tip: To encourage bulbs to return, deadhead after flowering, allow foliage to remain until completely yellow, and maintain relatively dry conditions during summer dormancy.

Safety Reminder: Tulip bulbs contain the highest concentration of the plant's irritating compounds. Keep unplanted bulbs away from children and pets and wear gloves while handling them.