When Do Tulips Bloom in Southern Illinois?

Illinois Hardiness Zones

• Illinois has a wide range of U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones, with a small swath of northern Illinois in zone 4b and the southern edges of the state in zone 6b. Most of southern Illinois is in zone 6a, with winter temperatures rarely dipping below 14 degrees Fahrenheit. The state's cold winters are ideal for tulips, since the bulbs require at least six weeks of hibernation for healthy growth.

Planting Tulips

• Plant high-quality tulip bulbs in soil that is at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit, or from October to November in southern Illinois. Bulbs should be planted 6 inches deep and 5 inches apart, in fertile, well-draining soil and full sunlight. Water thoroughly after planting, but refrain from watering again until the leaves begin to appear in the spring. Fertilize with a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer and two cups of bone meal per 10-square-foot area in the fall. Repeat feeding process in the spring right after shoots begin to appear.

Early Spring Bloomers

• Enjoy tulip blooms through April by planting a Single Early Group variety such as the scarlet-colored "Christmas Dream" or the starkly white "Diana." Other early- to mid-spring varieties can be found in the Double Early Group, Kaufmanniana Group and Greigii Group. Planting a selection of these tulip varieties in combination with later-blooming varieties will keep tulip blooms bordering your beds throughout the spring.

Late Spring Bloomers

• Mid- and late-blooming groups include the Darwin Hybrid, Single Late, Lily-flowered, Fringed, Viridiflora, Parrot and Double Late. Combine the cream-and-red "Burning Heart" blooms from the Darwin Hybrid Group with the sunny "Yellow Tacoma" from the Double Late Group. Plant flamboyant "Apricot" and "Black" blooms from the Parrot Group for a vibrant contrast throughout May and into early June.