Tulipa clusiana
Tulip, Tulip
(c) peganum, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Liliaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Tulipa clusiana (Tulip) is a non-native California herb in the Liliaceae family, recognized by Introduced ornamental species with very limited naturalized occurrence; distinctive tulip morphology.
Tulip is a naturalized perennial found in disturbed places near Riverside in the Peninsular Ranges bioregion at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from spring to summer, this plant produces white flowers with pink-red tinge or wide central band, featuring delicate perianth parts with a small purple blotch at the base. Growing with a bulb 2 to 3.5 centimeters tall and 1 to 2.5 centimeters wide, it has a distinctive long-wavy-hairy coat forming a felt that protrudes from the top. Its leaves are 2 to 6 in number, linear to lance-linear, creating an elegant slender profile. The flower's outer perianth parts measure 30 to 60 millimeters long, with inner parts 25 to 50 millimeters, presenting a graceful white and pink-tinged appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Introduced ornamental species with very limited naturalized occurrence; distinctive tulip morphology
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed places
Elevation: < 500 m
Outside California: eastern Europe, native Iran to northern Pakistan
Bloom period
Tulipa clusiana blooms Spring-summer.
How to tell it apart
vs Rosa: Tulipa has 6 petals and simple leaves; Rosa has 5 petals and compound pinnate leaves.; vs Freesia: Tulipa has cup-shaped upright flowers; Freesia has tubular flowers in one-sided horizontal spikes.; vs Eschscholzia: Tulipa has 6 petals and parallel-veined leaves; Eschscholzia has 4 petals and finely divided leaves.; vs Hemerocallis: Tulipa has 2-6 alternate stem leaves; Hemerocallis has all leaves clustered at base.; vs Sparaxis: Tulipa has round stems and basal stamens; Sparaxis has flattened stems and versatile anthers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tulipa clusiana native to California?
No. Tulipa clusiana is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Tulipa clusiana bloom?
Tulipa clusiana blooms Spring-summer.
What plant family does Tulipa clusiana belong to?
Tulipa clusiana is in the Liliaceae family, genus Tulipa.
What habitat does Tulipa clusiana grow in?
Tulipa clusiana grows in Disturbed places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.