Description
(T. berkariense)
A dwarf relative of T. kaufmanniana discovered by Janis Ruksans in 1976 in the Ber-Kara gorge, within the Kara-Tau mountains. This makes dwarf plants but it bears large, star-shaped white flowers with an intense, deep yellow patch in the centre. In some forms (but not in the form offered) there is a small red spot towards the base of the petals. The flowers are held with (and above) the plain, blue-green, glaucous leaves early in the year.
The bulbs are notably small and very rounded and from these arise the most amazingly long stolons, which bear small bulbs at their tips. Despite this wandering habit, it seems perfectly happy in an alpine house pot under glass and it will probably do well in a bulb frame or even in a well-drained, sunny soil outside, as long as you are prepared to see it wander.
Seemingly a valid and distinct taxon and certainly a gorgeous dwarf Tulipa, though the name berkariensis itself appears to be invalid, as it is a nomen nudum (i.e. one not effectively published since it has neither a Latin description, nor a type specimen). Some websites relegate T.berkariensis to a synonym of kaufmanniana (without any research seemingly backing this up) others such as the IPNI are content to point out that the published name should have actually been berkariensis (not berkariense) whilst leaving the status of the plant distinct. Horticulturally it is outstanding.
