In the present work, 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) was applied to uncooled tulip bulbs, cultivars Apeldoorn and Gudoshnik, before flower bud formation, at the beginning of July and after flower bud formation, in October and November. Shoot growth and flowering of partially dry-cooled bulbs were substantially stimulated. These results strongly suggest that TIBA partially replaces the cold requirement of the tulip bulbs. In addition, the effect of TIBA is similar to gibberellins applied exogen- ously to the bulbs. Such a gibberellin application partially substitutes for cold treatment. Gibberellin application stimulates shoot growth and flowering of tulips. The mode of action of TIBA is discussed in relation to auxin action in tulips.