Tulip 'Angélique'

Sun

Full sun; light afternoon shade can help flowers last longer in warm spring weather.

Water

Keep soil moderately moist during active growth, without waterlogging. Keep bulbs relatively dry during summer dormancy.

Soil

Fertile, well-drained soil; neutral to slightly alkaline soil is ideal. Avoid heavy ground that stays wet through winter or summer.

Height

1-1.5 ft (0.3-0.45 m)

Spread

0.3-0.5 ft (0.1-0.15 m) per bulb

Flowers

Mid- to late spring; double pale pink flowers with cream or near-white edges, sometimes showing green on the outer petals.

Foliage

Broad, smooth, grey-green leaves emerge in spring and die back after flowering.

Growth

Moderate; reaches flowering height during one spring growing season.

Care needed

Medium

• Cold hardy
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.5 ft (0.15 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.2 ft (0.38 m)

   full size

About 1 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Moderate

• Plant in autumn with the bulb base 6-8 in (15-20 cm) deep and bulbs 4-6 in (10-15 cm) apart.
• Choose a position sheltered from strong wind; heavy double flowers can bend in rain.
• Water during dry spring spells, but do not keep dormant bulbs wet in summer.
• Apply a balanced bulb fertiliser as shoots emerge, following the label rate.
• If summer soil stays wet, lift bulbs after the leaves yellow, dry them, and store somewhere cool, dry and airy until autumn.
• In warm-winter areas, use pre-chilled bulbs or chill them for about 12-14 weeks before planting; keep them away from ripening fruit and expect to replace them annually.

Pruning. Remove faded flower heads before seed pods develop, leaving the stems and leaves intact. Cut foliage off at ground level only when it has yellowed and died naturally; do not tie it into knots.

Autumn

Plant sound, firm bulbs in well-drained soil or containers with drainage holes.

Winter

Check containers drain freely and protect exposed pots from prolonged severe freezing.

Early spring

Feed as shoots emerge and water if the soil becomes dry.

Late spring

Remove spent flowers and check heavy blooms for wind or rain damage.

Early summer

Allow leaves to yellow completely before removing them or lifting bulbs.

Summer

Keep dormant bulbs dry and inspect stored bulbs, discarding any that are soft or mouldy.

• Plant in generous groups near the front of spring borders for a soft pink focal point.
• Combine with forget-me-nots, violas or white narcissi for layered spring colour.
• Grow in deep containers beside a doorway or seating area where the flowers can be seen closely.
• Plant among emerging perennials whose foliage will conceal the tulips' dying leaves.
• Use in a dedicated cutting bed for late-spring bouquets.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, Romantic rose garden, English country, Formal, Pastel border and Small-space.

Plant it with: Forget-me-not, Pansy, White narcissus, Lady's mantle, Hardy geranium and Catmint.

Wildlife: The densely doubled flowers offer little accessible pollen or nectar. Deer and rabbits may eat the shoots and flowers, and rodents may eat the bulbs.

• Tulip fire causes distorted shoots and spotted or scorched-looking leaves and flowers: remove affected plants and bulbs, clear debris, and avoid planting tulips in that soil for at least three years.
• Bulb rot develops in waterlogged ground: discard soft bulbs and improve drainage or grow in raised beds or pots.
• Squirrels and other rodents dig up or eat bulbs: cover newly planted areas with securely fixed wire mesh, removing it before shoots are obstructed.
• Poor flowering in later years often follows insufficient winter chill, premature leaf removal or weak bulb recovery: retain leaves until yellow, feed during growth, and replace bulbs if flowering declines.

Toxic if eaten by cats, dogs, horses or people. All parts contain irritant compounds, with the highest concentration in the bulbs; ingestion can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea and, with larger amounts, serious illness. Bulb handling can also cause skin irritation, so wear gloves if sensitive and keep bulbs away from children and animals.

• Tulip 'Mount Tacoma' (Tulipa 'Mount Tacoma')

  Another double late tulip with peony-like flowers, but its blooms are predominantly creamy white rather than soft pink.

Tulipa comes through Turkish from a Persian word for turban, referring to the flower's shape.

Propagation. Separate offsets when lifting dormant bulbs after the foliage dies back, then replant in autumn. Small offsets may need several years to flower; seed does not reliably reproduce this cultivar.

Accepted botanical name

Tulipa

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.