Albert's tulip

What does Albert's tulip look like?

Albert's tulip grows from an egg-shaped bulb about 4 cm wide. Its upright stem reaches 18–20 cm tall and carries three to four broad, blue-green leaves that may be wavy or curled. Each plant bears a single, cup-shaped flower in mid-spring, with petals in shades of orange, red, pink, or rarely yellow. The petals often have a yellow or dark blotch at the base. The flower stands alone on a sturdy stalk, and after blooming, forms a seed capsule containing brown, angular seeds.

Where does Albert's tulip come from?

This tulip is native to the temperate mountain regions of Central Asia, especially in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. It was first collected in Turkestan by Johann Albert von Regel and his father, Eduard August von Regel, who described the species in 1877. The genus name 'Tulipa' comes from the Turkish word for turban, while the species name honors Johann Albert von Regel. Albert's tulip is found on the Tien Shan mountains, often growing alongside other wild tulip species.

When and how Albert's tulip blooms

Albert's tulip blooms in April, during mid-spring. It prefers gravelly mountain slopes and grows from bulbs. The plant produces a single flower per stem, and after flowering, develops a seed capsule. Like most tulips, it is diploid, with 24 chromosomes. The bulbs contain natural substances similar to cytokinins, which are plant hormones.

How Albert's tulip is used

There is no record of Albert's tulip being widely cultivated or used in gardens or for decoration. It is mainly known as a wildflower of Central Asian mountains. In 1997, it was featured on a set of postage stamps in Kazakhstan, highlighting its local botanical importance.

Kinds of Albert's tulip

The flower color of Albert's tulip varies from orange with a reddish tint to pink, red, and dark claret, with rare yellow forms. The base of the petals may show different blotch colors, such as lemon yellow, red-brown, dark purple, or black. Some sources use the name Tulipa albertii, but Tulipa alberti is the accepted form.

What Albert's tulip means

Albert's tulip is recognized in Kazakhstan, where it appeared on a set of stamps alongside other native tulips. Its presence in the wild is valued as part of the region's natural heritage. The species name commemorates a 19th-century botanist and his son, who collected plants in Central Asia.

Questions people ask about Albert's tulip

Good reading and sources

• Tulipa albertii (15)Royal Horticultural Society, Article
• IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesIUCN Red List, Article
• Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
• Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
• Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database

• Tulipa alberti on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data