Apricot Parrot Tulip Bulbs

Apricot Parrot Tulip

Apricot Parrot is a show stopping tulip. The huge open cup-shaped flowers, with waved and fringed margins give the effect of a double bloom. The apricot and yellow petals, are flushed and touched with pink, white and green while the greyish-green, lance-shaped leaves form a perfect backdrop to the blooms.

Just one of our fabulous range of tulip bulbs, the green buds of Apricot Parrot eventually open out almost flat to reveal their exotic plumage! And unlike most tulips, it has a sweet fragrance - just another reason to plant near paths where you can appreciate the amazing interplay of colours, textures and scent.

Apricot Parrot has been given the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit, meaning it's reliable and easy to grow even for new gardeners, despite its exotic appearance.

Spring garden stars

Parrot tulips make ideal subjects for large pots and fit into a contemporary setting well. Imagine the multi-coloured Apricot Parrot planted en masse in big planters so you can appreciate every shade and shape as the flowers change on a daily basis. Place them around a sheltered, sunny seating area to welcome the end of winter.

They would also go well used as a contrast between sleek, dark late single tulips such as Queen of Night, both in beds or in containers.

Parrot tulips are best grown in a sheltered area if you live in a region that suffers from excessive rain, cold or wind, especially around flowering time. The stems are strong but the weight of the flowers can cause them to bend in bad weather.

It's also worth growing a few bulbs just for cutting, as Apricot Parrot makes an excellent cut flower, with a vase life of up to two weeks.

Features of Parrot tulips

• Colour: Apricot and rose petals with yellow and green streaks and blotches
• Height: From 40cm to 60cm
• Scent: Slight fragrance
• Flowering: April to May
• Flowering Group: Parrot Tulips
• Planting Depth: 15cm to 20cm
• Planting Months: September to November
• Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit

Did You Know...

The streaking and blotching of colour that makes parrot tulips so attractive is actually caused by a genetic mutation inherited from the original parent varieties, either other late-flowered tulips or the Triumph Group.

Apricot Parrot Tulips. Plant bulbs from September to December 15-20cm deep and 10cm apart in fertile, well-drained soil. If there is tulip fire virus in your area delay planting until November/December. Add grit to heavy clay soil. Dig in plenty of well-rotted organic material before planting. If planting in containers, you can plant more closely, spacing the bulbs 1-2cm apart in a single layer, or 2-3cm apart if layering them for a showier impact.