Why Are My Tulips White?

Mislabeling

• If the problem is simply that you were expecting to see a different color of tulip this spring but found white tulips growing in your yard instead, you probably picked up a mislabeled bulb. It's possible the seller accidentally mixed in the wrong variety, too. This is obviously disappointing if you had a certain color scheme planned for your home garden, or if you needed the bulbs for a particular public garden design. White tulips aren't bad, though -- they can represent heaven and purity, if you ever need a bouquet of flowers with those meanings. If you're stuck inside on a rainy day, try dyeing the tulips by placing the cut stems in glasses full of water with food coloring and letting them sit for a day or so.

Botrytis Blight

• A more sinister reason for finding white tulips in your yard is botrytis blight, or tulip fire. This is a fungus that creates spots all over your tulips, including the petals. Colored tulips will show a whitish mottling that can eventually take over the whole flower, although the spots will start to darken as they grow bigger. The spots may look like blisters.

Prevention

• Prevention relies on selection and cultural and chemical practices. Look for spot-free bulbs, and the University of Illinois Extension recommends buying the largest bulbs you can find that aren't diseased. Move the bulbs around in your yard every year, ensuring at least three years pass before you plant them in a spot in which you planted them before. Keep bulbs that are indoors at lower humidity levels, and monitor all plants for any signs a disease might be present. Fungicides may also be appropriate, but ensure you follow directions carefully, especially those regarding safety.

Infected Plants

• If a tulip is already infected with botrytis blight, care will depend on how badly the plant is infected. Remove infected parts if you see a few infected spots here and there; if the infection is widespread, remove the entire plant and destroy it or throw it in the trash. Do not use it as mulch because that will just spread the fungus. The fungus can live in the soil even in winter, so do not plant blight-susceptible plants in that area again for at least three years.