Tulip Tulipa 'Taco' (15)

☠ Toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

The Tulipa 'Taco' is commonly known as the 'Taco' tulip. It is a unique and striking cultivar characterized by its distinctive flower form and coloration. The blossoms are cup-shaped with a classic tulip appearance and showcase a vibrant color palette that usually features a bold red, possibly edged or accented with contrasting colors such as yellow or white. The outer petals may exhibit a more pronounced color compared to the inner petals, which often add depth and dimension to the flower's appearance. As typical of tulips, the 'Taco' tulip has a smooth, green stem that provides an elegant support to the showy flower atop it. The leaves are lance-shaped or oblong and also have a rich green color, which forms an attractive backdrop for the colorful blooms. This variety blooms in the spring, offering a pop of color to gardens after the winter season. The overall appearance of the 'Taco' tulip reflects the classic beauty associated with tulips but with its own distinctive twists that make it stand out among other cultivars. The blooms are often seen as a symbol of the springtime and are commonly used in garden beds, borders, and as cut flowers due to their eye-catching and long-lasting nature.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Liliaceae
- Synonyms
  Taco Tulip
- Common names
  Tulipa 'Taco'
Toxicity
- To humans
  The Tulipa 'Taco' is a variety of tulip. Tulips are known to contain allergenic lactones and other compounds that can be toxic if ingested in large quantities. While poisoning is generally rare, accidental ingestion can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and dizziness. In severe cases, it might also lead to difficulty breathing and an accelerated heart rate. It is advisable to seek medical attention if any parts of the tulip, particularly the bulb, are consumed in significant amounts.
- To pets
  The Tulipa 'Taco' refers to a specific variety of tulip. Tulips can be toxic to pets, especially cats and dogs, due to compounds such as allergenic lactones and glycosides found in the bulbs, stems, and leaves. If a pet ingests part of a tulip, symptoms of poisoning may include vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, and depression. In more severe cases, it can lead to an increase in heart rate and changes in breathing. If you suspect your pet has eaten any part of a tulip, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Mixed
- Height
  1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
- Spread
  0-1 feet (0-30 cm)
- Plant type
  Bulb
- Hardiness zones
  3-8
- Native area
  Central Asia

Benefits

General Benefits
- Aesthetic Appeal: Tulip 'Taco' adds vibrant color and beauty to gardens and landscapes with its striking flowers.
- Pollinator Attraction: It attracts bees and other pollinators, supporting local ecosystems.
- Seasonal Interest: Offers a distinct change in scenery with its spring bloom, signaling the change of seasons.
- Versatility: Suitable for planting in flower beds, borders, and containers for varied garden design.
- Easy Propagation: Bulbs can be easily divided and shared, making it cost-effective and community-friendly.
- Low Maintenance: Once established, requires minimal care apart from watering and occasional fertilization.
- Durability: Demonstrates good resistance to common plant diseases and pests, reducing the need for chemical treatments.
- Cut Flower Use: Sturdy stems and vibrant blooms make it an excellent choice for cut flower arrangements.
- Symbolism: Often associated with perfect love and happiness, which can provide personal satisfaction beyond its physical beauty.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Tulip petals as natural food coloring: The vibrant petals of the Tulip can be used to add a pop of color to dishes and pastries.
- Eco-friendly dyes for fabrics: The pigments from Tulip flowers can be used to create natural dyes for textiles.
- Photography subject: Unique varieties of Tulip like 'Taco' are often sought after by photographers for their striking appearance.
- Designer floral arrangements: Tulips are a popular choice for high-end floral designs and can often be found in luxury hotel lobbies and premium event centerpieces.
- Educational tool in botany: Tulips can be used by educators to demonstrate different parts of a flower and explain pollination processes.
- Craft materials: Dried Tulip petals and bulbs can be used in various crafts, such as in making potpourri or decorative wreaths.
- Biodegradable confetti: Dried and crumbled Tulip petals can serve as a natural and eco-friendly alternative to traditional confetti.
- Theme gardens: Tulip varieties can be arranged to create visually themed garden displays, such as color-coordinated sections or patterned designs.
- Culinary garnish: Though not widely known, certain types of Tulip petals are edible and can be used to garnish salads and desserts.
- Garden competitions: Tulip growers may cultivate rare and beautiful varieties like 'Taco' to enter into garden and flower show competitions.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Tulip is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Tulip is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Perfect Love: The Tulip 'Taco' is often associated with perfect and deep love. Its bold, cup-like flowers and vibrant colors represent the passion and intensity found in true love.
- Renewal: Like most tulips, the Tulip 'Taco' symbolizes new beginnings and renewal, as tulips are some of the first flowers to bloom in the spring, representing the awakening of nature after winter.
- Royalty: The striking appearance of the Tulip 'Taco' is seen as regal and dignified, often representing nobility or a royal bearing.
- Fame: Tulips in general are associated with fame and being recognized for one's achievements due to their eye-catching nature and the historical tulip mania where they were highly prized.
- Charity: The 'Taco' variant, with its wide bloom resembling open arms, can be a symbol of charitable feelings and the sharing of one's wealth or knowledge selflessly.

💧

Every 7-10 days

Water

☀️

500 - 2500 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Annually

Repotting

🌱️

Early Autumn

Propogation

✂️️

Not needed

Pruning

Water
Tulips, including the 'Taco' variety, should be watered thoroughly when planted and again if there’s a dry spell. After planting, give them a good drink, soaking the soil with about 1 gallon of water per 10 square feet. Once established, tulips typically require about 1 inch of water each week, depending on weather conditions. Avoid overwatering as tulips do not like wet feet and can rot if the soil is too moist. During the growing season, particularly in the absence of rain, water them weekly to maintain moisture but allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.
Light
Tulips, such as the 'Taco' tulip, thrive in a location that receives full sun to light shade. The ideal spot is one where they receive at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. Planting them in a south-facing area can ensure the most sun exposure, but they can also tolerate partial shade, especially in the afternoon.
Temperature
Tulips like 'Taco' perform best when they experience cool winter temperatures between 35 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit for an extended period, which stimulates proper root development and flower bud formation. They can survive short periods of colder weather down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, but prolonged exposure below this can be damaging. The ideal growing temperatures in spring are between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day.
Pruning
Pruning tulips like 'Taco' is primarily about deadheading spent blooms after flowering to prevent seed formation, which can drain energy from the bulb. Cut back the flower stem but leave the foliage intact until it turns yellow and dies back naturally, usually about six weeks after flowering. No regular pruning is needed throughout the rest of the year.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The best soil mix for Tulips is well-draining, fertile soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH of 6.0 to 7.0. A mix of 2/3 topsoil with 1/3 well-rotted compost or organic matter is ideal for bulb health and flower production.
Repotting
Tulips do not typically require repotting as they are grown from bulbs; replace the bulbs every 3-5 years or when they stop producing flowers.
Humidity & Misting
Tulips prefer moderate humidity levels but are fairly adaptable; they thrive without needing specific humidity adjustments.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place bulbs in well-lit area, cool temperatures, and ensure good air circulation for indoor Tulips.
- Outdoor
  Plant bulbs in fall, full sun to partial shade, in well-draining soil for outdoor Tulips.
- Hardiness zone
  3-8 USDA.
Life cycle
Tulipa 'Taco', commonly known as the Taco Tulip, begins its life cycle when a bulb is planted in the ground, usually in the fall before the first frost. As winter comes and goes, the bulb undergoes a period of vernalization, chilling that's necessary for the development of the flower. With the arrival of spring, the bulb sends up shoots and leaves, followed by a stem that eventually bears a single, vibrant flower, characteristic of taco tulips. After the tulip blooms, it enters a stage of senescence; the petals wilt and drop, and the plant focuses energy on replenishing the bulb for the next season. During summer, the foliage dies back, and the bulb goes dormant underground, surviving through the heat and lack of water. This cycle repeats annually, with the bulb re-emerging each spring to produce a new flower.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Early Autumn
- Propogation: The Tulip 'Taco', like other tulip varieties, is typically propagated through its bulbs. The ideal time for propagating tulips is in the fall, several weeks before the ground freezes. During this period, the soil temperature should be cool to encourage root development but not so cold that it could damage the bulb. To propagate, select healthy, mature bulbs and plant them about 8 inches apart and 6 to 8 inches deep, with their pointed ends up. Cover the bulbs with soil and water them thoroughly to initiate growth. New shoots will emerge from the bulbs in the spring, leading to the development of the distinct ‘Taco’ blooms once favorable temperatures return. This method of bulb division and planting is the most popular and reliable way to propagate Tulips 'Taco'.