Parrot Tulips Blue Parrot

Not quite as blue as its namesake suggests but definitely at the blue end of the spectrum. At different times of the day you will see more blue in the petals but it is mostly mauve! Don't let that sway you though, it is stunning and for colouring and form it is hard to go past. Plant them in swathes to add some fantastic colour to your beds. Flowers open mid season.
True extroverts. Parrot Tulips are colourful, frilled and flamboyant. They will always create a stir in the garden. Their ravishing bicolored, frilled petals are nothing short of decadent. Yet they remain reliable, tough and hardy.
The Tulip is truly an extraordinary flower. With a past steeped in romance it has been a muse for art, poetry and passion. The Tulip has obsessed nations taking flower power to the extreme. It is known as the Queen of Bulbs.
Tulips have a bit of a Prima Donna reputation. And while they are a little more work than some bulbs, they do put on an amazing show. Once you know how though they are easy as pie!
An easy way to remember when to plant your Tulips is Mother`s Day, by this time of year the soil has cooled sufficiently for planting.

If you are lucky enough to live where the weather is warm, you will need to chill your bulbs. To do this place them in a paper bag, egg carton or similar breathable containment, then pop them into the crisper (don`t confuse them with onions!) and leave them for a 4-6 weeks (for Tulips some say up to 8 weeks but it is a long time taking up valuable fridge space so just do your best). Chilling your Tulips brings their flowering time forward and converts the carbohydrates to sugars stimulating growth in the bulb. By bringing your flowering forward, the flowers will open before the warm weather and last longer. If you live in an area that gets at least two frosts a year you do not need to refrigerate your Tulip bulbs.
During this down time you can prepare the soil for their arrival by adding some delicious organic matter. Tulips need good drainage and at least six hours sun a day to flower at their best. Plant the bulbs 15-20cm deep with the pointed end up. Space your Tulips 10-20cm apart. Plant closer for a bigger show.

In most areas it is recommended you lift and store your Tulip bulbs once their foliage has browned. You don't need to do this if you live in an area with frost, the soil is shaded or mulched through summer and the ground does not become soggy during their dormant period. In every other case it is recommended.

Supplied as: Bulbs
Size: na