The infinite charms of species tulips have long been appreciated by specialists and collectors, and now gardeners are awakening to their value as garden plants. A detailed chapter on geography describes the hillsides, gorges, and steppes of Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia that are home to species tulips and provide clues to their cultivation needs in the garden. Further chapters relate the history of tulips, describe their botany, explain how they are related to one another, and give detailed advice on how to grow them. A comprehensive chapter on the species focuses on tulips that are widely available but also includes some lesser-known rarities. Species tulips are the ancestors of the garden hybrids described in the final chapter, and this full account will help gardeners refine their growing skills and enhance their enjoyment of tulips as a whole.