Tulips are said to signal the arrival of spring so it’s no wonder the humble tulip is a real symbol of the season. Widely available from December to April, these cheerful flowers never fail to brighten up the home or garden.
Dispite popular belief Tulips do not originate from Holland but instead they actually come from Central Asia. Originally from Persia and Turkey, tulips were brought to Europe in the 16th century, where the flower earned its name due to its resemblance to a turban (tülbend in Turkish).
Scientific Name: Tulipa
Family: Lilaceae
Availability: October- June, peaks December-April. Some limited availability ou
These cheerful tulips have lovely large, upright flowers in bright red and pure white. Just the thing for creating a bright spring display. They look spectacular planted in groups, especially in pots on a patio, in window boxes or in borders in front of taller spring flowers. They also make great cut flowers, perfect for brightening up your home and as miniature varieties they have the advantage of being much less affected by high winds than their taller cousins which can be blown over in bad weather. Tulips are easy to grow and care for and can be left in the ground after flowering as long as it's well drained, where they will gradually naturalise and spread, giving you more and more flowers year after year. Supplied as 20 bulbs, size 9/10, ready to plant in autumn, growing to a height of 25 cm (10 in) and width of 10 cm (4 in).
These wonderfully bright miniature tulips will definitely give a warm welcome to spring, with their gorgeous sunshine yellow flowers and red striped outer petals they will light up the spring garden! As miniature varieties they have the advantage of being much less affected by high winds than their taller cousins which can be blown over in bad weather. They look spectacular planted in groups, especially in pots on a patio or as a welcome next to the front door, or in borders in front of taller spring flowers. They are also great cut flowers and perfect for brightening up your home. Tulips are easy to grow and care for and can be left in the ground after flowering as long as it's well drained, where they will gradually naturalise and spread, giving you more and more flowers year after year. Supplied as 25 bulbs, size 9/10, ready to plant in autumn, growing to a height of 25 cm (10 in) and width of 10 cm (4 in).
'Pinocchio' are amongst the first tulips to come into flower, beginning in March. A dwarf variety, what they lack in stature they certainly make up for in colour from both their flowers and their foliage. The leaves are grey-green and heavily striped with maroon, creating an instantly unusual and striking appearance. The flowers are stunning, with bright red petals edged in creamy white. The flowers, at about 10 cm (4 in) across, are surprising large in proportion to the plant's height. They are an excellent choice rockeries or borders, where they will naturalise, growing in number year after year. They are ideal in patio pots and window boxes, and as these are a dwarf tulip, they will withstand strong spring winds better that taller varieties, looking perfect throughout their flowering period. Also, they're wonderful cut flowers, perfect for brightening up your home. Tulips are easy to grow and care for and can be left in the ground after flowering as long as it's well drained, so you'll get another wonderful display the following year. Supplied as 15 bulbs, size 10/11, ready to plant in autumn, growing to a height of 20 cm (8 in) and width of 10 cm (4 in).
Tulips are quite possibly the brightest, most colourful flowers in the spring garden, and miniature varieties have the advantage of being less susceptible to high winds than their taller relatives, which can be blown over in bad weather. This mixture of bright colours, some with contrasting splashes, will look spectacular planted in groups, especially in pots on a patio or as a welcome next to the front door, or in borders in front of taller spring flowers. They are also great cut flowers, just the thing for brightening up your home. Tulips are easy to grow and care for and can be left in the ground after flowering as long as it's well drained, so you'll get a vibrant display year after year. If growing in pots, summer bedding can be planted above the bulbs when the tulips have faded. Supplied as 25 bulbs, size 9/10, ready to plant in autumn, growing to a height of 30 cm (1 ft) and width of 10 cm (4 in).
'Pink Impression' is a Darwin hybrid tulip. These were introduced in the 1950s and are a cross between Darwin and Fosteriana tulips, producing the largest, most showy of all tulips whilst still keeping the classic shape. They are very tolerant of cold, changeable spring weather and warm spells too, and will grow just as well in partial shade as in full sun. With its stunning flowers that are the most gorgeous, rich rose pink with petals feather-edged in orangey red, 'Pink Impression' looks absolutely sublime. A very sturdy, tall tulip, it is ideal for creating a mass of warm, spring colour, and it looks great growing with orange and pink varieties. The huge, long lasting flowers and strong, straight stems make them perfect for cutting. Tulips are very easy to grow and care for and Darwin varieties are particularly hardy when left in the ground after flowering, so you'll get another wonderful display the following year as they slowly naturalise and spread, or they can be dug up and stored over winter before replanting the following spring. Supplied as 15 bulbs, size 11/12, ready to plant in autumn, growing to a height of 55cm (22in) and width of 15cm (6in).
'Apeldoorn Elite' is a Darwin hybrid tulip. These were introduced in the 1950s and are a cross between Darwin and Fosteriana tulips, producing the largest, most showy of all tulips whilst still keeping the classic shape. They are very tolerant of cold, changeable spring weather and warm spells too, and will grow just as well in partial shade as in full sun. A very sturdy, tall tulip, 'Apeldoorn Elite' has stunning flowers in fiery colours with golden orange petals that have a broad orange-red stripe along the centre. A very striking combination and ideal for creating drifts of warm, vibrant spring colour. The big, long lasting flowers and strong, straight stems make them perfect for cutting too! Fully deserving its coveted RHS Award of Garden Merit, you can be sure that this is a proven garden performer, guaranteed to be suitable for UK gardeners at every level of experience. You can therefore plant this in the garden with confidence, for stunning displays for many years to come. Tulips are very easy to grow and care for and Darwin varieties are particularly hardy when left in the ground after flowering, so you'll get another wonderful display the following year as they slowly naturalise and spread, or they can be dug up and stored over winter before replanting the following spring. Supplied as 15 bulbs, size 11/12, ready to plant in autumn, growing to a height of 55 cm (22 in) and width of 15 cm (6 in).
'City of Vancouver' is classed as a single late tulip, also known French or cottage tulips, although in practice they're only a couple of weeks later to flower than other tulips, they're still an excellent choice for extending the tulip season in your garden. They'll flower from late April and all the way through May. This extra-large, long lasting tulip has beautifully formed flowers in very pale yellow that gradually fade to creamy white as they age. They are exquisitely simple and look stunning alongside the lush, grey-green foliage. Try them on their own or mixed with other pale-coloured tulips for a lovely, calm effect in planters and borders. They are wonderful cut flowers too for elegant indoor arrangements. Tulips are very easy to grow and care for and can be left in the ground after flowering as long as it's well drained, so you'll get another wonderful display the following year as they slowly naturalise and spread, or they can be dug up and stored over winter before replanting the following spring. Supplied as 15 bulbs, size 11/12, ready to plant in autumn, growing to a height of 50 cm (20 in) and width of 15 cm (6 in).
Tulip 'Lambada' creates a dazzling display with it's fiery colour scheme and frilly petal edges. As the flowers change from red to orange and finally to yellow as you near the top of the flower head, the vibrant display is topped-off with a frilly finale which looks spectacular once the flowers are fully open in April. Plus, like other fringed tulips, such as 'Canasta', they'e one of the longest lasting of all the tulips. Their short and compact large orange flowers will thrive in borders and pots and will also look stunning when cut and brought indoors to create beautiful vase displays. They're incredibly weather resistant for such a delicate looking flower and they're not only easy to grow, so they're great for beginners, but they're easy to look after too - maximum impact for minimum effort. Plant in autumn for stunning spring displays.
Tulip 'Canasta' shows off its frilly petals with contrasting flower colour that starts red at the base, and gradually fades through to pink at the top of the petal, then edges in white. These white frills really add an accent to an already striking spring flower! Like the other fringed tulips, these are one of the longest lasting of all the tulips. Their short and compact large red flowers will thrive in borders and pots and will also look stunning when cut and brought indoors to create beautiful vase displays. Tulips are one of the most popular spring flowers as they're so easy to grow and care for but give maximum impact for minimum effort. They can be can be left in the ground after flowering as long as it's well drained, so you'll get another wonderful display the following year as they slowly naturalise and spread, or they can be dug up and stored over winter before replanting the following autumn. Supplied as a pack of 12 bulbs, size 10/11 ready to plant in autumn growing to a height of 40cm and width of 10cm.
Plant a kaleidoscope of colours with this spectacular mix of double-flowered tulips. Also known as 'Peony tulips' for the close resemblance that the sweetly scented, blousy blooms bear to that early summer favourite, they are perfect for beds, borders, and containers, where they will be the star of any spring-flowering show. In a mix of colours ranging from creamy white to glorious pastel pinks and pinky reds, these multi-petalled blooms will fill the air with delightful perfume. The large, double-cupped, bowl-shaped blooms will also look fantastic in a vase - so make sure you plant enough for armfuls of cut flowers. An easy-to-grow hardy perennial, they will thrive in fertile, well-drained conditions, enjoying full or afternoon sun. Plant in the autumn for long-lasting, opulent, multi-coloured blooms in April and May. Easy to grow, they are suitable for gardeners of every level of experience. Supplied as a pack of 20 bulbs, they are best planted in groups in borders or pots for a beautiful display.
A multiheaded tulip with pointed petals, 'Orange Toronto' opens into cup-shapeded blooms up to 12cm wide, adding a burst of cheerful colour to your garden from early to mid-spring. This versatile botanical variety is an ideal choice for rock gardens, beds, borders and containers, and naturalises easily in grassy areas. Set on sturdy stems, the flowers rise above mounds of swordlike leaves to a height of 20-30cm, the attractive foliage remaining green long after flowering. An easy-to-grow hardy bulb, they thrive in rich fertile, well-drained conditions, enjoying full or afternoon sun. Flowering from April to May, this robust all-rounder tolerates rural and urban environments. Supplied as a pack of 15 bulbs, they are best planted in groups in borders or pots and can be mixed with later-flowering bulbs to extend your spring colour.
A bright pink-red, single-flowered tulip, Tulip 'Van Eijk' will set your garden afire with colour in spring and is perfect if clean, simple blooms are what you want. Colourful enough to brighten even the dullest area of your garden, the strong stems make these tulips perfect for cutting and they make fabulous, long lasting flowers look great when brought into your home. One of the more reliable varieties of tulip, the hardy bulbs will return year after year in a dazzling display and are perfect for growing in pots or for naturalising with other spring flowers. Supplied as a pack of 25 bulbs, plant them in any well-drained soil in a sunny position. Flowers in April-May, reaching approx. 45cm