Broadleigh Gardens .
European mail-order specialists in small bulbs and herbaceous plants.
Barr House, Bishops Hull, Taunton, TA4 1AE
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Tulips

Tulips are among the most popular spring flowering bulbs. There is a tulips for almost any situation from small flowered species for sunny rock gardens to tall brightly coloured hybrids for borders or pots. They flower from late February to May.

Of all the spring flowering bulbs tulips are the most colourful and versatile . The tall border tulips have been in cultivation in Europe for 500 years and today there are many hundreds of hybrids available and the sky, or your imagination is the only limit. With the exception of true blue every colour imaginable is represented. Many are also splashed or shaded with another colour, sometimes in a subtle way but in others there is a stark contrast. Tulips are classified according to their shape - lily flowered, double, etc. and time of flowering.

These tulips are also suitable for container displays. There are so many shades it is almost like decorating rather than gardening - there is one to match every colour scheme or container. Newly planted tulips will flower almost anywhere in their first year but they need a dry, warm summer dormancy to ripen the bulbs for the successive seasons. They also often split into small,non flowering bulbs. Deep planting (8") or lifting the bulbs after flowering is recommended.

The delicate wild or species tulips may have smaller flowers but they are still among the best for value as many of them are reliably perennial in the garden - often spreading to form large displays. The earliest flowering species - Tulip humils and Tulipa turkestanica -start in late February whist Tulipa sprengeri is the last tulip to flower in late May.

One of the most useful groups of tulips are the Kaufmaniana and Greigii hybrids whose large flowered short stemmed flowers come in a spectacular range of bold colours. They are perfect for container cultivation.

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SPECIES TULIPS Below are some of the most reliable and long lived species tulips for the garden. All need a well drained soil in full sun. Plant 6-8" deep for best results.
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	Tulip Bakeri Lilac Wonder Clear lilac flowers. In growth and requirements it is similar to saxatalis. Excellent AGM	Tulip linifolia Vivid scarlet flowers on green stems with upright narrow grey-green leaves. Height: 8" Flowers: Late Apr AGM

	Tulip Batalinii Apricot Jewel One of a series of reliable hybrid dwarf tulips that increase steadily. Fine apricot flowers above neat grey foliage. Height: 5" Flowers: May	Tulip Little Beauty A new dwarf early flowering variety. Very vigorous and long lasting. Intense pink with blue centre. Stunning in full sun. 4" April

	Tulip batalinii Bright Gem Another lovely hybrid with sulphur-yellow flowers flushed orange. Height: 5" Flowers: Apr-May AGM	Tulip Little Princess Similar to the above with 3 -4 terracotta flowers and yellow 'eye'. 4" April


	Tulip clusiana (The Lady Tulip) At last we have found a source of this most beautiful of tulips. Slender white flowers with striking crimson pink marks on the outside and a central maroon eye. Long lived here on our rock garden. Height: 8" Flowers: Apr	Tulip neustrueva This bulb is relatively new in cultivation and is proving easy and vigorous. Tiny brilliant yellow flowers flushed brown on the outside. Height: 3" Flowers: Mar


	Tulipa clusiana Lady Jane Graceful pointed flowers on slender stems. White, flushed rose - red outside with dark anthers. larger than the species.. Height: 10" Flowers: April	Tulip praestans Fusilier One of the best dwarf varieties with three to five orange-scarlet heads. Long lived bulbs needing no attention. Height: 8" Flowers: Apr


	Tulip fosteriana Concerto Large pure white flowers above grey foliage with striking black base. Recommended for pots or rock garden. Height: 9" Flowers: Apr	Tulip saxatilis This fine Tulip from Crete increases very well with us here in a raised bed. The large pale pink flowers with yellow centres, two to three to a stem, are a striking sight. Height: 12" Flowers: Mar-Apr


	Tulip fosteriana Purissima (White Emperor) The best white Tulip with large long-lasting pure white flowers which are cream when first open. Recommended. Borders, bedding or pots, Early Height: 20" Flowers: Mar-Apr AGM	Tulip sylvestris A rare native of Britain, this lovely Tulip has nodding buds which open to clear yellow. Best planted where left undisturbed. Will naturalise in grass and light woodland. Stoloniferous. Height: 16" Flowers: Apr


	Tulip Greigii Pinocchio Slender red flowers with a white margin to the petals. excellent in pots. Well striped leaves Height: 8" Flowers: Apr	Tulip tarda An excellent garden plant which gives great pleasure. Masses of creamy-white flowers with a yellow eye. Front of border or rock garden. Height: 6" Flowers: Apr


	Tulip greigii Red Riding Hood A most striking variety which always attracts attention. Bright scarlet with black base and beautiful foliage mottled with purple. Height: 8" Flowers: Apr AGM	Tulip turkestanica An outstanding species. The spikes carry five to nine flowers of white with orange-yellow centres. Reliable — still a weed in our irises after ten years! Height: 9" Flowers: Feb-Mar


	Tulip humilis (pulchella) Quite large lilac pink flowers with yellow centres on short stems. Reliably perennial and a must for the spring border. Height: 5" Flowers: Early Mar	Tulip humilis violacea Black Centre Gorgeous flowers of bright purple-violet with black centres. Height: 4" Flowers: Feb-Mar


	Tulip humilis liliput A superb new hybrid with up to three intense pinkish-red, rounded flowers. A good garden plant. Height: 5" Flowers: Mar	Tulip humilis pulchella albocaerulea A most exquisite white form with a striking blue centre. Very desirable. Sells on sight at shows. Height: 5" Flowers: Mar


	Tulip marjoletti Slender primrose flowers delicately edged with orange. Long-lasting in the garden and a popular Chelsea subject. Height: 9" Flowers: Apr	Tulip sprengeri NEW The last of the tulips to flower. Brilliant scarlet flowers. The tiny bulbs are very difficult to harvest, hence the price but they seed freely in a dry, sunny position. Height: 8" Flowers: late May


	Tulip acuminata One of the oldest hybrids, looking just like an illustration on a Middle eastern tile. Slender red & yellow flowers. Needs a very dry, sunny position. Height: 16" Flowers: May	Tulip urumiensis A lovely multi-headed dwarf tulip for the front of the border or rock. Good in pots mixed with grape hyacinths. Height: 6" Flowers: Apr


	Collection 15 Species Tulip Collection After 25 years these species tulips have proved themselves as reliable perennials in our garden. 6 varieties: Bright Gem, humilis, linifolia, saxatilis, turkestanica & urumiensis	clusiana 'Sheila' Slender creamy-yellow flowers with a deep pink exterior mark. Easy on a sunny rock garden & very popular at Chelsea Flower Show. Flowers open wide in the sun. Height: 10" Flowers: April



*LILY FLOWERED TULIPS* Graceful tulips for pots or borders.

	Tulip Ballerina Graceful long stemmed tulip with pointed petals, ideal for containers or for general garden use. Striking tangerine orange. Height 24" Flowers April/May	Tulip Red Shine Graceful long stemmed tulip with pointed petals, ideal for containers or for general garden use. Clear red flowers. Height 24" Flowers April/May


	Tulip China Pink An old favourite of clear pink. Height 24" Flowers April/May	Tulip West Point Graceful long stemmed tulip with pointed petals, ideal for containers or for general garden use. Good strong yellow. Height 24" Flowers April/May


	Tulip Marietta Graceful long stemmed tulip with pointed petals, ideal for containers or for general garden use. Clear salmon pink. Height 24" Flowers April/May	Tulip White Triumphator Graceful long stemmed tulip with pointed petals, ideal for containers or for general garden use. Slender pure white flowers. Height 24" Flowers April/May


	Tulip Alladin's Record Dramatic red flowers edged with yellow. Height 24" Flowers April/May	Tulip Ballade Graceful long stemmed tulip with pointed petals, ideal for containers or for general garden use. Soft purplish-pink, edged in white. Height 24" Flowers April/May



*KAUFMANIANA HYBRIDS* Early flowering tulips with large flowers on short stems. Ideal for pots.

	Collection 12 Kaufmanniana Tulip Collection 10 bulbs each of five Kaufmanniana & Greigii varieties (50 bulbs in individually labelled bags). Perfect for pots.	Tulip Ancilla The flowers are pure white inside with red and yellow centres and shaded with rose on the outside. They seem to sit on the foliage when they open wide like water lilies. Height: 6" Flowers: Mar


	Tulip Heart's Delight An extra good variety. the flowers are ivory-white inside with a golden-yellow base blotched with red. Pale rose exterior. Height: 8" Flowers: Mar	Tulip Shakespeare A very free-flowering variety with most unusual colouring, being a mixture of salmon, apricot and orange. Height: 5" Flowers: Mar


	Tulip Show winner Bright red with well marked leaves. Especially recommended for early flowering. Height: 6" Flowers: Feb-Mar	Tulip Stresa The flowers are a colourful mix of indian yellow and blood-red with nicely mottled leaves. Height: 7" Flowers: Feb-Mar


*MISCELLANEOUS TULIPS FOR BORDERS, BEDDING & POTS*

	Black Parrot (parrot) Amazing crimped & curled petals of the deepest black-purple. Good in pots. Height: 14" Flowers: April	Carnival de Nice (double) Dramatic double white flowers , slashed with rich burgundy, with maroon anthers. Looks just like a small peony. Height: 14" Flowers: May


	Coleur Cardinale (Single Early) Neat dusky red flowers above rather bronzed leaves. Good pots or front of border. Height: 12" Flowers: April	Gavota ( Triumph) Deep, blood-red petals outlined in cream. Resembles a lily-flowered tulip when open Height: 16" Flowers: May


	Mount Tacoma (Double) A pure white double tulip. The flowers are like open roses. 2-3 per stem, excellent in pots. Height: 14" Flowers: May	Weisse Berliner ( Triumph) A compact variety with 3 or more pure white flowers per stem. Height: 14" Flowers: May


	Queen of Night (Single Late) Well rounded flowers of the deepest maroon. The nearest to black there is. Height: 24" Flowers: April-May	Tulipa Princess Irene(Single Early) Rich orange flowers suffused with mahogany red. Short, stiff stems so good for pots Height: 14" Flowers: April


*VIRIDIFLORA TULIPS*

	Viridiflora 'Groenland' (Greenland) Pale pink white flowers with a broad green stripe on each petal. Height:16" Flowers: May	Viridiflora 'Spring Green' One of my favourites- palest creamy white flowers with a broad green stripe on each petal. Height:16" Flowers: May

Tulips are not only excellent in borders it are also a perfect choice for traditional bedding schemes, mixed with winter flowering pansies. As the tulips are early flowering the pansies still look good, rather than past their best as is so often the case with this combination.