Kingsblood Tulip Bulbs, Single Late

Kingsblood Single Late Tulips

Tulips don't get more classic than the shimmering ruby-red goblet that is Kingsblood. Flowering from late April to May, it's classed as a Single Late, bursting into brilliant bloom at the height of spring, rippling rich cherry-coloured shockwaves through your beds and borders in a glorious celebration of the season. The glossy red petals top tall, strong stems reaching 60cm, the egg-shaped buds opening to shapely hourglass flowers rounded at the base with the pointed petals flaring gently outwards. The foliage is subtly glaucous, providing the perfect contrast to those vibrant flowers. An RHS Award of Garden Merit holder, it's a tulip that can be relied on for its strong growth and unwavering performance. Browse the rest of our tulip bulbs and choose some great planting partners to make the most of those saturated tones.

Growing Kingsblood Tulips

Tulips should be planted in late autumn (leave it until October or November and you'll reduce the risk of disease). They grow best in full sun, in fertile, well-drained soil, so when planting in beds or borders, incorporate plenty of well-rotted garden compost if your soil is heavy or sandy. A roomy pot is also great for these tall tulips. Either way, plant around 15cm deep, pointed end upwards, leaving 10-15cm between plants. When planting in border, achieve a natural look by gently tossing handfuls of bulbs into the air and planting where they land.

Deadhead after flowering, then feed weekly with a general-purpose liquid fertiliser for a few weeks, and then finally remove the foliage once it's spent and has died back fully.

It's common, but not always essential, to lift and store tulip bulbs from borders, especially ones that tend to be wet during winter. At this point, pop them in a cool greenhouse or well-ventilated shed, and replant the following autumn.

If you do leave the bulbs in the ground or pot, it is still beneficial to dig them up once in every few years, to separate the groups of bulbs and discard the smallest ones, to refresh the blooming power.

Planting companions for Kingsblood

These early-flowering bulbs look fabulous underplanted with frothy mounds of forget-me-nots, the pale blue a wonderful fresh contrast to the sleek red tulips – it's a combination that works as well in borders as pots. In borders, plant en masse with other rich, jewel-coloured tulips such as burgundy Blackjack deep pink Flyer and flame orange Hermitage, threading multicoloured strands of bulbs through deciduous shrubs and perennial planting.

Features

• Group: Single Late
• Colour: ruby red
• Flower height: 60cm
• Scent: none
• Flowering: April-May
• RHS Award of Garden Merit

Did you know?

This variety was bred by Konijnenburg & Mark in 1952, and became a "go to" late season red tulip in the late 1970s in the UK. Which it has been ever since!

The Netherlands' famous era of 'tulip fever' saw bulb prices soar to absurd levels. At the height of the Dutch obsession, in the early 17th century, a prized tulip bulb could change hands for more than the cost of a big house in a top location.