Tulip Apeldoorn

Tulip Apeldoorn is one of the biggest and boldest tulips we have. It is an old variety and perhaps one of the best known names too. The flower is a giant cup of the brightest primary red, with a black base. The distinctive black is only visible when the tulip opens in the warm sun.

Flowering in mid to late spring, Tulip Apeldoorn grows well in borders as part of a large display or featured in containers.

The optimum time to plant Tulip Apeldoorn is October, when the soil has cooled, although you can still expect good results from planting as late as January. You don’t need to prepare tulip bulbs prior to planting, simply plant them 10-15cm deep and around 10cm apart, in well-draining soil. If you want to get the best from them, plant them in a sunny position, but this can use up quite a bit of their energy and shorten their flowering time. Or else, plant them in semi-shade where they are equally happy.

Tulip Apeldoorn stands on a stem of 60cm, so should be sheltered from strong winds to avoid damage. Flowers will usually last two to three weeks, depending on the weather.

What is a Darwin Hybrid Tulip?

Darwin hybrid tulips are a cross between single late and early emperor tulips, they typically bloom between mid-April and mid-May. They are tall, bold flowers, perfect for landscaping, or domestic flower beds and borders. The long, elegant stems also make them one of the best tulip varieties for flower arranging.

These are reliable spring bulbs, as they are tolerant of the unpredictable spring weather. They open wide in direct sun, and will close again in the evening or during spring showers. They produce big classic tulip shaped flowers in a range of colours including white, yellow, orange, red and pink.

Find out more about how to plant tulip bulbs >