Tulip Leaves Are Coming Up Badly Misshapen...

[sandyRoe]

I think I read somewhere there's a virus which attacks tulips. Should the bulbs be dug up and burnt?

[Buenchico]

See here:
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=252

[heathfield]

Some tulips are affected by a virus that results in flowers that are striped in different colours. They're attractive, so they're left to grow that way. But if your leaves are being affected as in Chris's link, that's a different matter.

[sandyRoe]

There's only a couple of dozen bulbs. I'll leave them and if they don't flower then I'll dig them up.

[Clanad]

They may flower, sandy, but a little further along in the season, if the leaves (and stems) continue to be misshapen and, especially if they develop brown spots then it's likely they've become infected with "tulip fire" ( Botrytis tulipae ). One site says: "The first evidence of disease in the spring is usually the appearance of scattered stunted shoots, called primary infectors or "fireheads", that emerge with their leaves twisted, tightly rolled, and blighted..."

If you suspect this fungal infection, remove all bulbs, destroy them and do not replant with any bulb type plants for at least two seasons...