Tulipa Allegretto - Double Early Tulip

Tulipa 'Allegretto' Late Double Tulip has spectacular and fragrant flowers, resembling roses or peonies. The petals, arranged in double rows, are deep purple-red, edged with golden yellow, and the overall effect is cheerful and delightful. The stem is short and sturdy, making it interesting for the garden and in containers and flower pots. Late flowering, in May.

The 'Allegretto' Tulip belongs to the Liliaceae family. Of horticultural origin, it is currently classified in the group of 'Late Double Tulips', whose main characteristic is to have very double and ruffled flowers, resembling peonies. 'Allegretto' is obtained through mutation (the sudden appearance of new characteristics that persist in subsequent generations). It is not very tall (35-40 cm (14-16in)) and its large flower is double and well arranged. Its flamboyant colour palette includes intense red to purple and golden yellow. The original shape of the parrot tulip adds charm, making it a real favourite, especially when its buds slowly open in a vase. It flowers in mid-May, at the end of the tulip season.

With their wide range of colours and stunning and variegated flowers, suitable for both flower beds and bouquets, parrot tulips are well-known. In the 18th century, they were called 'monstrous'; this group developed a lot in the 1930s, when it was discovered that irradiating bulbs with X-rays caused this mutation. Now, they are among the most widely planted varieties, unmatched for bringing fantasy to pots or sunny gardens. Don't forget to consider the height and flowering period when designing your flower beds, as these can vary significantly from one cultivar to another. It is a good idea to plant a few more bulbs for cutting, as they make superb flowers that last a long time in a vase.

Regarding botanical species: tulip species are found in most parts of the Old World, from Western Europe to China and Japan, through Eastern Europe, Asia Minor and Central Asia. Their distribution area also includes North Africa and the Indian subcontinent. The centre of diversity of the genus is in the Pamir and Hindu Kush mountains and the steppes of Kazakhstan. 

There are various wild species, many of which are endangered. These are either large tulips from cultivated fields, the most well-known being the Agen tulip (Tulipa agenensis), or small tulips found in wooded areas or among rocks in the mountains. In cultivation, they are called 'botanical tulips', and one of the most common is the wild tulip (Tulipa sylvestris), which often used to grow sheltered by vine plants and whose subspecies australis is known as the southern tulip.