Tulipa Willem van Oranje- Double Early Tulip

The Willem van Oranje Double Early Tulip, also marketed as the Guillaume d'Orange Tulip, is a unique variety, with a soft and flamboyant colour, which has a medieval charm. With its large illuminated, double, tousled flowers, in a blend of salmon orange and coppery pink, this beautiful variety deserves a low carpet of light foliage from which it will emerge, like a will-o'-the-wisp, in the first beautiful days of April. This old variety is still loved for its early and original flowers with good longevity.

The 'Willem van Oranje' Tulip belongs to the Lily family. Of horticultural origin, introduced in 1933, this plant is a sport of the famous 'Peach Blossom'. It is currently classified in the group of 'Double Early Tulips', whose main characteristic is to have large double flowers, resembling a gardenia, carried by rather short stems. This variety will reach a height of 25-30 cm (10-12in) when in bloom. The flowers are perched on sturdy stems, just above the broadly lanceolate leaves, at least 7 cm (3in) in diameter and stand out in the garden with their orange colour mixed with copper and pink. The slightly fragrant flowers bloom in April, at the beginning of the tulip season.

Because 'Willem van Oranje' is small and early flowering, it pairs particularly well with small spring bulbs such as muscari, small-flowered narcissus, Siberian squills, chionodoxa, and ipheion. While orange flowers are sometimes difficult to pair in the garden, their combination with acid green plumes of euphorbias or white flowers is often remarkably elegant. Myosotis from the Caucasus, Thlaspi, alyssum, and aubrieta can be chosen to accompany this tulip. Double early tulips are famous for their rich colours and sturdy flowers in vibrant hues, in flower beds and bouquets. They are among the most planted varieties, unmatched for bringing early-season charm to pots or sunny gardens. Do not 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 beautiful cut flowers that last a long time in a vase.