[AlaninCarlisle]

I've got quite a large garden, some of which I have naturalised with daffodils, snow drops, blue bells and crocuses - all of which have multiplied. My attempts to naturalise tulips have failed miserable with just a dozen or so left from the hundred I planted about 12 years ago. Am I attempting the impossible?

[AlaninCarlisle]

Sorry to come back to this but is it a vain hope to naturalise tulips as I have done successfully with other spring bulbs?

[mumofstig]

Not that I know much about it, but after their first year, they never seem to flower as well, as explained here - with a few that are supposed to.
https://laidbackgardener.blog/2015/09/24/yes-there-are-perennial-tulips/

[Aunt Sally]

I don’t think you’ll manage it. 

Tulips were native to Turkey, so much warmer and drier than here.   If you try again, put a handful of sand in the bottom of the planting holes to improve drainage and help to prevent the root plate from rotting.

[AlaninCarlisle]

Thanks for that excellent advice. I guess I just got lucky with the few that survived perennially. I'll try again with just a dozen and with deeper planting and sand at the bottom of the planting hole

[New shoot]

I read this earlier and couldn't remember the suppliers name, but it has just popped into my head (once I stopped thinking about it  )

This is a good site for buying in bulk, if you want to naturalise bulbs and they have a section of tulips that are perennial.  The advice to improve drainage is good, but if you start with the tougher varieties, it could give an extra boost to the odds being in your favour 

https://www.peternyssen.com/autumn-planting/tulips/perennial-tulips.html?p=1