Tulip 'Black Parrot'
Tulipa 'Black Parrot'. Family Liliaceae. Bulb.
Also called Black Parrot tulip.
'Black Parrot' is a late-flowering tulip with deeply cut, twisted petals in dark burgundy-purple, often appearing almost black. Gardeners grow it for its unusually shaped flowers in borders, containers and cutting gardens, although repeat flowering is less reliable than with many smaller species tulips.
At a glance
- Sun
- Full sun; light afternoon shade is useful where spring temperatures rise quickly. Choose shelter from strong winds.
- Water
- Keep soil moderately moist during active growth and flowering, but never waterlogged. Once the foliage dies back, keep dormant bulbs relatively dry.
- Soil
- Fertile, well-drained soil, preferably neutral to slightly alkaline. Avoid heavy soil that stays wet through winter or summer.
- Height
- 1.3-2 ft (0.4-0.6 m)
- Spread
- 0.3-0.5 ft (0.1-0.15 m) per bulb
- Flowers
- Late spring; large, ruffled, deeply cut flowers in dark burgundy-purple with a near-black sheen.
- Foliage
- Broad, upright to arching, grey-green leaves that yellow and die back after flowering.
- Growth
- Fast seasonal growth from an established bulb; slow to form a flowering clump.
- Care needed
- Medium
The year at a glance
- Cold hardy
- Low allergen
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Toughness
- Fairly tough
Will it suit your garden?
Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.
Full sun is 6 or more hours of direct sun a day, part shade 3 to 6 hours, shade under 3.
How it grows
Planting day
0.5 ft (0.15 m)
After 1 year
1.6 ft (0.5 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.
Good to know
- Cats and dogs
- Toxic
- Growth rate
- Moderate
Care
Jobs through the year
- WaterFeb–Mar, every 14 days
- Water established bulbs only when soil dries during emerging growth.
- WaterApr–Jun, every 7 days
- Water during dry spells while leaves remain green; stop once foliage yellows.
- WaterOct–Nov, every 14 days
- Water newly planted bulbs in, then water only if autumn rooting soil becomes dry.
- FeedFeb–Mar
- Apply balanced bulb fertilizer once as shoots emerge, following the label.
- ProtectApr–May
- Support heavy flower stems if wind or rain bends them.
- DeadheadMay–Jun, every 7 days
- Remove spent flower heads before pods form, retaining stems and leaves.
- PruneJun
- Remove leaves only after they have yellowed and withered naturally.
- ProtectJun–Aug
- Lift dormant bulbs if the bed stays wet; store cool, dry and ventilated.
- ProtectOct–Dec
- Use bulb cages or secure mesh where rodents eat or dig up bulbs.
- Plant in autumn with the bulb base 6-8 in (15-20 cm) deep and bulbs 4-6 in (10-15 cm) apart.
- Water after planting and during dry spells while leaves are growing; do not keep dormant bulbs wet.
- Feed with a balanced bulb fertiliser as shoots emerge, following the label rate.
- Choose a sheltered position; support individual stems if wind or heavy rain bends the large flowers.
- Where summers are wet, lift bulbs after the leaves die back, dry them and store somewhere cool, dry and ventilated until autumn.
- In warm-winter areas, buy appropriately pre-chilled bulbs; chilling needs vary with local conditions, and annual replacement is often the most reliable approach.
Pruning. Remove faded flower heads before seed pods develop, leaving the stem and leaves intact. Remove foliage only when it has yellowed and comes away easily.
Through the year
- Autumn
- Plant firm, healthy bulbs once the soil has cooled, using well-drained ground or containers with drainage holes.
- Winter
- Check containers drain freely and protect bulbs from rodents where needed.
- Early spring
- Feed emerging shoots and water during prolonged dry weather.
- Late spring
- Support stems if necessary and remove spent flower heads.
- Early summer
- Let foliage yellow naturally, then remove it and reduce watering.
- Summer
- Lift dormant bulbs if the planting site stays wet; dry and store them until autumn.
In the garden
- Plant in groups among pale forget-me-nots or white spring flowers to make the dark blooms stand out.
- Use in sheltered containers near a doorway or seating area where the petal shapes can be seen closely.
- Repeat small groups through a mixed border, with emerging perennials helping to conceal the dying foliage.
- Include in a cutting garden for late-spring arrangements with pale pink, white or lime-green flowers.
Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, Romantic rose garden, Formal, Modern courtyard, Blues and silvers and Small-space.
Plant it with: Forget-me-nots, Brunnera, Coral bells, Hardy geraniums, White daffodils and Wallflowers.
Wildlife: Flowers may receive occasional insect visits, but this ornamental tulip is not a dependable wildlife food plant. Deer and rabbits may eat the shoots and flowers.
Problems to watch for
- Tulip fire causes spotted, distorted leaves and damaged flowers: remove affected plants and fallen debris, and avoid planting tulips in that soil for at least three years.
- Bulb rot causes soft bulbs or failure to emerge: discard affected bulbs and improve drainage or grow in containers.
- Squirrels, mice and voles may dig up or eat bulbs: protect new plantings with securely fixed wire mesh or suitable bulb cages.
- Weak or absent flowering in later years often follows insufficient winter chilling, early leaf removal or poor bulb recovery: retain foliage until yellow, feed during growth and replace depleted bulbs if necessary.
Safety
Toxic to cats, dogs, horses and people if eaten; all parts contain irritants, with the highest concentrations in the bulbs. Ingestion can cause drooling, vomiting or diarrhoea, and large amounts can cause serious poisoning. Bulb handling may also cause skin irritation; wear gloves if sensitive.
Easily confused with
Tulip 'Queen of Night' (Tulipa 'Queen of Night')
Similarly dark purple, but its flowers have smooth-edged petals and a regular goblet shape rather than deeply cut, twisted parrot petals.
Tulip 'Black Hero' (Tulipa 'Black Hero')
Has densely doubled, peony-like dark flowers rather than the more open arrangement of deeply cut petals found in 'Black Parrot'.
The name
The cultivar name 'Black Parrot' refers to its very dark flowers and the cut, curled petals characteristic of parrot tulips.
Propagation. Separate offsets when dormant bulbs are lifted after the foliage dies back, then replant in autumn. Small offsets may take several years to flower; seed does not reliably reproduce this cultivar.
Checked against open data
- Accepted botanical name
- Tulipa
Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.
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