[Objective] In all the plants life-history features, mating patterns may be the most important factor affecting macroscopic evolution. Under uncertain pollination environments, bisexual flowering plants often possess potential self-pollination ability. Given the mating cost of self-pollination, how to balance the two mating patterns, and what is self-pollination strategies are two key issues in deeply understanding the evolution of mating systems. [Methods] To explore the selfing strategies of plants under unstable pollination environments in early spring, we studied the flowering habits, pollinators groups, pollen dispersal dynamics, self-pollen transfer patterns, and mating systems in a natural population of Tulipa sinkiangensis, an early spring ephemeral plant. [Results] (1) T. sinkiangensis bloomed in early or mid-April, with a single flowering period of 5-6 days. They opened during the day and closed at night. The pollen dispersal started from the outer and appears in a zippered order from bottom to top. (2)The pollinators were mainly bees and syrphids. The visiting frequencies were significantly low, with great fluctuation among years, but the fruiting rates were generally higher in natural population. (3) Based on the unstable pollination environment in early spring, a mixed mating system with outcrossing as the main form and partial self-compatibility was presented in the population. The autonomous stamens movement during the closing of flowers in the evening promoted the autonomous self-pollination, and the massive deposition of self-pollen occurred on the 4th day after flowering, accounting for 50.22% of the total autonomous self-pollen deposition amount. It was a delayed self-pollination pattern, although also promoted the occurrence of competing selfing. (4) Under limited pollination, the competing and delayed selfing promoted the pollen deposition in T. sinkiangensis. This mating strategy that combined outcrossing, competing selfing, and delayed selfing flexibly responded to the unstable pollination environment in early spring. It is an adaptation to uncertain pollination services under low temperature conditions in early spring, and also a reproductive assurance strategy for early spring ephemeral plants.