Exotic Emperor Tulip Bulbs, Fosteriana

bTulipa Exotic Emperor

Exotic Emperor is a delightfully loose, slightly slouchy, but totally classy bloom. Its silky inner petals are ivory white, opening from somewhat twisted buds to full, rounded flowers. Surrounding these rose-like blooms are wisps of green and yellow striated petals, cupping the full white flowers with gentle persuasion. It looks like a peony-flowered tulip but is in fact a Fosteriana, indicating large early flowers and colours that aren't too 'in your face'.
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Features

• Colour: white with slim green-streaked outer petals
• Height: 45cm
• Scent: none
• Flowering: April
• Planting Depth: 10-15cm
• Planting Months: September - November

Growing

If you're planting Exotic Emperor in borders and flowerbeds, it looks lovely combined with other tulips in contrasting colours. The rich colour of Purple Flag with its simple goblet-shaped flowers, makes a wonderful contrast. Thread through a seam of soft lilac Candy Prince, too, for a mix that's at once dreamy and powerful. Or create a pale and interesting combination by planting Exotic Emperor with white or pale lemon hyacinths (a little yellow brings out its green and sulphur stripe beautifully); pure-white Carnegie and primrose yellow City of Haarlem fit the bill perfectly. Add a few drifts of delicate spidery white Thalia daffodils and you have a planting mixture fit for an empress. Wallflowers, too, make regal companions for all kinds of tulips.

Plant tulips such as Exotic Emperor in borders and containers. They like richer soils with good drainage.

Space them quite widely when planting - tulip bulbs can be big so we recommend around 10cm between bulbs. The planting hole should be about three times deeper than the bulb is tall. The pointy end is the top...

If you want to keep them flowering the following year, plant them deep (20cm is fine) and deadhead as soon as the flowers fade. Many varieties multiply happily in the ground, but if in doubt, lift them when the foliage has withered. Dry them in a cool, dark place, remove any dried soil and store (in the dark at a low room temperature) in a tray or net, after removing any diseased or damaged bulbs. Replant the following October/November.

, By all means, apply a high potash fertiliser during the growing season to help bulk up the bulb for next year. Lift and divide clumps of tulips if flowering is poor.