MARCH 9, 2023

Raygen Bearden

1
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR GARDEN FROM TULIP FIRE

2
Contents
Abstract 3

Tulip Fire and How to Prevent It 3

What is Tulip Fire? 3

History of Tulip Fire 4

What Plants does Tulip Fire Effect? 4

How to Prevent Tulip Fire? 5

Basic Tulip Care Practices 5

Common Tulip Gardening Mistakes 6

How to Dispose of Infected Tulips 6

The Beauty of Healthy Tulips 7

How Tulip Conservation Efforts are Giving Healthy Tulips a Comeback 7

Benefits of Tulips Within the Environment 8

Conclusion 8

Works Cited 9

Figure 1 [Cover images] 1

Figure 2 3

Figure 3 6

Figure 4 7

3
Abstract

Tulips are one of the most popular flowers for commercial use. This is likely due to the unique

shape and color of the species. These flowers brighten up a room with their colorful petals, often

in shades of pink, red, or yellow. Tulips are also great additions to flower beds. They can be a

challenge to maintain, but once they bloom in the springtime, all the hard work is worth it.

There are multiple diseases that can affect tulips. Basal Rot, Tulip Breaking Virus, and Bulb

Nematode are just a few. These varying diseases can harm the roots, bulb, petals, and stem of a

tulip. One of the most well-known diseases that afflict tulips is Tulip Fire (Jaros). This disease is

extremely harmful to tulips and to the soil your tulips are planted in. For gardeners searching for

a solution, look no further! Tulip fire can be prevented if tulip bulbs are taken care of. This

includes planting in the right places, at the right time, and in the right soil. This paper will

expand on what tulip fire is and how to keep it from infecting your flowers.

Tulip Fire and How to Prevent It

What is Tulip Fire?

Tulip Fire, scientifically referred to as Botrytis tulipae, is a

fugal condition that majorly affects the petals of tulips. “The

first signs of this disease are small, twisted shoots called

‘fireheads.’ These shoots appear mottled or blighted and will

eventually collapse” (Jaros). As seen in Figure 2, the

Figure 1 , Image of Tulip Infected with Tulip Fire,

https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=AwrhcYVT1ghkzmoU.HdXNyoA;_ylu=
Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3BpdnM-?p=tulip+fire&fr2=piv-
web&type=E211US105G0&fr=mcafee#id=16&iurl=https%3A%2F%2Fgardening.which.co.uk
%2Fhc%2Farticle_attachments%2F115010112249%2FJL-Tulip_Blight-
infection spreads throughout the plant in the form of white and brown moldy spots, warped

leaves, and holes in the petals. Once the disease has taken over, the flower appears singed by fire,

which is how the condition received its name.

Tulip Fire can infect the bulb of a tulip at the time of planting as well as during the growing

process (Jaros). This is a contagious condition that can spread throughout your tulip garden if not

properly disposed of. Not only can the tulip itself become infected, the dead flower tissue can

also contaminate the soil with seed-like structures called sclerotia (Crossley).

History of Tulip Fire

Many associate tulips with the Netherlands but the tulip flower actually originated in Central

Asia. They were commonly traded on the Silk Road along with livestock, fruit, spices, and of

course, silk. The Turks cultivated these flowers as early as 1000AD and continued to do so into

the Ottoman Empire (Raven). Tulips didn’t make it to the Netherlands until the late 16th century

when they were shipped to Carolus Clusius from Turkey. Clusius, a biologist in Vienna, was

gifted tulip bulbs from Ogier Ghiselain de Busbecq, the ambassador of Constantinople

(University of Missouri). Clusius planted the bulbs and the flowers’ popularity spread.

Unfortunately, as popularity began to grow, so did the number of tulip diseases. As tulips were

planted in different countries and even continents, the flower was introduced to different types of

soil, levels of humidity, and temperatures. People caught on to the fact that the flower grew best

when planted in the winter, in acid soil, and in the shade.

5
What Plants does Tulip Fire Effect?

Tulip Fire is a “threat to all commercially grown tulip species and cultivars” (Jaros). Though the

effects are confined to the tulip species, according to Better Homes & Gardens, there are “more

than 3,000 varieties of tulips worldwide. Of those 3,000 varieties, tulips can be divided into

approximately 150 species” (Krane). This number includes both hybrid tulips as well as natural

ones. Both lilies and dahlias fall into the tulip category which means they can suffer from Tulip

Fire as well. If the condition is not handled, the disease will quicky spread throughout a garden’s

soil and spoil all existing and future tulips planted in the area.

How to Prevent Tulip Fire?

Basic Tulip Care Practices

To prevent Tulip Fire in your garden, there are some things to keep in mind. The most important

thing is to find a good spot to plant the tulips. You need to choose an area that is slightly shaded

and has sandy soil with a pH of 6 to 6.5 (Barkan). Planting your tulips in fairly dry soil is vital to

ensure your tulips don’t drown or contract mold. Tulips should be planted in the fall (6-7 weeks

before winter). Before planting, check the bulbs for unusual spots and decay which can turn into

Tulip Fire. Tulip bulbs should be planted “three times as deep as the bulb” (Barkan). The bulbs

should also be planted at least half of a foot away from each other to ensure airflow. Once

planted, the tulips must be watered. Watering the tulips won’t be necessary again until leaves are

visible or if it hasn’t rained in multiple weeks. Once the spring months arrive, fertilizing your

6
tulips will allow continuous growth (Barkan). As long as you are following these rules of thumb,

your tulips stay healthy and free of tulip fire.

Common Tulip Gardening Mistakes

Growing tulips requires planning and continuous effort which is the reason some people fall

victim to failed gardens. Common mistakes when it comes to planting tulips include

overwatering, underwatering, planting during the wrong time of year, not planting deep enough,

and not testing your soil. Each of these can cause your tulips to die and not bloom at all. It’s also

important to observe each bulb before planting. If you plant a tulip bulb that has already

contracted diseases such as

Tulip Fire, the infection can

spread to the rest of your healthy

tulip bulbs. To avoid this, ensure

the tulip bulbs do not show

Figure 2, Tulip Fire Leaves,
https://www.whatgrowsthere.com/grow/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Tulip-Fire1-
signs of infection which can 768x512.jpg

appear as white and brown

spots, mold, and decay.

How to Dispose of Infected Tulips

If your tulips bloom with signs of Tulip Fire, they need to be discarded. Though chemical

controls and natural sublimates can often reverse the damage done to infected flowers, this is not

7
the case with Tulip Fire. If your tulips are in a pot, remove the soil and clean it out well. If

planted in a garden, the soil could be spoiled. This is when the dirt becomes contaminated with

sclerotia or when toxic mold travels through airborne spores (RHS). In this case, the infected soil

needs to be buried below planting level and replaced with non-contaminated soil. If your tulips

have contracted Tulip Fire, do not plant tulips in the same area until after a three-year period.

The Beauty of Healthy Tulips

How Tulip Conservation Efforts are Giving Healthy Tulips a Comeback

Though tulips are popular household flowers, they are beginning to dwindle in number. This is

because of human interference, disease, and

according to Brett Wilson, researcher from

Cambridge University, climate change.

According to Wilson, “many [tulips] will have

no suitable habitat left by 2050 at all”

(Cambridge University).

“Tulips rely on seasonal triggers to initiate

their short growing season and struggle with

waterlogged soil, so changes in temperature

and rainfall may have serious negative effects

on yield and quality of flowers” (Cambridge

University). Changes in rainfall and

Figure 3 , Healthy Tulips,

8 https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/pictures/10000/velka/purple-
tulips-11283968304Xt5J.jpg
temperature due to global warming will certainly cause diseases like Tulip Fire to spread

dramatically. Conservation efforts are being put into place to protect these beautiful flowers. One

conservation effort benefiting tulips is Fauna & Flora International. As a society, there are two

main things to do to help preserve this species. The first thing is to take good care of the tulips

we have. The second thing is to support conservation and botanical non-profits that advocate for

tulips. If we advocate for these plants, hopefully they will flourish for years to come.

Benefits of Tulips Within the Environment

The tulip species is a captivating plant. For the beauty factor alone, it would be tragic for them to

die off because of disease. Though these colorful beauties are pleasing to the eye, they also serve

many other purposes. The oil from tulips can be repurposed for skin products, essential oils,

moisturizers, and beauty products. Products like these can’t be created from infected tulips.

Additionally, tulips are within the lily family which includes garlic and onions. The petals of

tulips are edible and can be used as a substitute for onions and to make wine (Better Homes &

Gardens). If tulips are infected with Tulip Fire, they cannot be ingested.

Conclusion

Tulips are incredible plants with a rich oriental history. With diseases like Tulip Fire, it can be a

challenge to maintain healthy tulips. However, their beauty makes the hard work worth it. If

properly taken care of, tulips are a great addition to your garden. These lovely flowers can be

used simply as yard decorations or for more practical things like essential oils and wine. It’s

9
important to perform the proper steps to ensure your tulips grow properly. By caring for tulips

and preserving their beauty, the world will be a much more colorful place.

10
 Works Cited

Barkan, Ben. “How to Care for Tulips: 15 Steps (With Pictures) - wikiHow.” wikiHow, 19 Nov.

2022, www.wikihow.com/Care-for-Tulips.

Helen. “Wild Tulips Under Threat. - Cambridge Botanic Garden.” Cambridge Botanic Garden,

29 Apr. 2021, www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/wild-tulips-under-threat.

Krane, Jenny. “7 Facts Every Tulip Lover Should Know.” Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Aug.

2022, www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/facts-about-tulips.

https://www.reviewmentor.com/miraculous-benefits-and-uses-of-tulips-that-you-should-know/

Division of Plant Sciences, plantsciweb@missouri.edu. Tulip: A Brief History (David Trinklein).

ipm.missouri.edu/MEG/2016/10/Tulip_A_Brief_History.

“The History of the Tulip.” Sarah Raven, www.sarahraven.com/articles/the-history-of-the-tulip.

BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine. Tulip Fire. 8 Sept. 2022,

www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/solve-problems/tulip-fire.

“Tulip Fire / RHS Gardening.” Royal Horticultural Society, www.rhs.org.uk/disease/tulip-fire.

Crossley, Holly. “What Is Tulip Fire and How Do You Prevent It?” gardeningetc.com, 4 Oct.

2022, www.gardeningetc.com/advice/tulip-fire.

Jaros, Liz. “8 Different Tulip Diseases: Identification, Prevention, and Treatment.” All About

Gardening, 18 Feb. 2023, www.allaboutgardening.com/tulip-diseases.

Gardener, Matt. “17 Tulip Growing Problems and Gardening Mistakes You Should Avoid.”

GardeningBank, 26 Oct. 2022, gardeningbank.com/tulip-growing-problems.

Title Page Figures:

11
https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/IuuisHGSO72m4wbgoV1r7wd0-zg=/4288x2848/

filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/tulips-planting-and-growing-tulips-1402137-08-

aee8737736d848ef95f0a340705d9bf9.jpg

https://www.wallpaperup.com/uploads/wallpapers/

2014/08/24/428132/591fc8268b8e692636e603f4bd10c61a.jpg

https://publicdomainpictures.net/pictures/40000/velka/pink-tulip-flower.jpg

http://rawedibleplants.blogspot.com/2014/02/tulips-tulipa-species.html?m=1

12