Top Tulips

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I was asked here a while back about my favourite tulip. Since perusing tulip catalogues is a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine or should I say a much loved research task, this is a difficult question for me. There are simply so many that I like, I will share my current favourites with you.

1. Maureen: a tall white cultivar (up to 70cm), blooms late (May). Is brilliant in lightening up a dark scheme, performs well in windy conditions despite the long stems. 
2. Queen of the Night: another tall cultivar (60 cm), blooms late (May), deep purple. A shade quite close to black but with enough purple to avoid a black and white look
3. Angelique: a mid height double tulip (45 cm), peony flowered in soft pink and a hint of cream, flowers early May, pale pink but enough to pack a punch
4. Praestans 'Unicum': something a bit unusual. A bright and warm red veering maybe just a touch to an orange-red. The leaves are pale green with a wide green edge and although I am not that keen on variegated plants, this tulip sings to me. It is a species tulip, so comes back year after year. This is a short variety, about 30cm tall and flowers in April. Also, it produces more than one flower per bulb. There are more unusual aspects: flowers develop early and this tulip flowers with the head at the base of the leaves and the the stems elongate until you have the typical look of a tulip. Stunning in a pot.
5. 'Orange Emperor': a Fosteriana tulip with a long flowering period (3-4 weeks). A mid height tulip with about 45cm, flowers early (March to April), good for pots and the border.
6. 'Prinses Irene': another Triumph tulip in orange but flecked with some deep red. Slightly shorter variety (about 30 cm high) and April flowering. Has RHS award of Garden Merit. 
7. 'Recreado: a Triumph tulip in a dark pink veering towards blackcurrant. Great for cuttiing with a height of 35cm, flowers mid April.  
8. 'Purissima' (White Emperor):  the white flowered cousin of 'Orange Emperor', slightly shorter with about 40cm, April flowering. A good replecement when 'Maureen' is too tall for a border.
9. 'Couleur Cardinal': a single early tulip in cardinal red of ca 30cm, flowers in April and performs well in windy conditions.
10. Tulipa turkestanica: a species tulip. This is an alpine tulip which has nodding flowers, often half a dozen or more to each stem. Flowers very early, often in early March. Apologies for the poor photo quality.

There are no yellow tulips in my list, perhaps I am so spoilt with yellow daffodils that I hanker after a change of colour.

Which are your favourites? 

Praestans 'Unicum'

'Orange Emperor' photo credit: Unwins

'Prinses Irene' photo credit: Sarah Raven

'Recreado' photo credit: Sarah Raven

'Purissima' photo credit: J Parkers

'Couleur Cardinal' photo credit: Unwins

Tulipa turkestanica photo credit: de Jager

'Maureen' and 'Queen of the Night'

'Angelique' photo credit: VanMeuwen