Tulipa Bleu Aimable - Early simple Tulip

Late Single Tulip Bleu Aimable has been grown for over 100 years. Its large flower has the most beautiful shades of mauve and lavender on thick petals surrounding a small white centre with blue highlights. Over the years, this perennial surprising variety multiplies and faithfully reflowers, sometimes in different purplish or bluish shades. It remains unmatched for its ornamental qualities and performance in the garden. It is one of the last to bloom in the garden alongside the most beautiful spring flowers in shades of pink, white or sky blue. It is also a fabulous cut flower.

Tulipa Blue Aimable is one of the old Darwin hybrid varieties. Of horticultural origin, it is currently classified in Division 5, whose main characteristic is to flower late in the season. Among the tallest, it will reach  60 cm (24in) high when in bloom, on sturdy stems well above the broadly lanceolate leaves. The large flowers are elegant, silky and perfectly formed. The colour is not truly blue but somewhere between mauve-grey, lilac and lavender depending on the light, with beautiful ashen highlights that make it look iridescent, especially against the light. The more the flower develops, the more complex its colour becomes. It flowers from May to June depending on the climate, which makes it useful in the garden to transition between early flowers and the first summer ones. This old variety, introduced around 1916, is susceptible to contracting a virus which causes coloured flames and stripes, adding to its charm! It is the mother of the delicious 'Blue Parrot' tulip.

The late single tulip Bleu Aimable finds a place in large, well-drained soil beds, with foliage plants (grasses, fennel, lady's mantle, Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus Cosmopolitan) and late tulips with pastel flowerings, in pink (Angelique), white (Maureen) or mauve (Shirley), or perennials like peonies or wallflowers in pastel tones. They also extend the duration of flowering. They can be installed in borders, rockeries, flower beds, even in pots and containers, put them on your balconies and terraces. When using them as cut flowers, put very little water in the vase, a covering at the bottom is enough. If your tulips open too quickly, you can add two to three ice cubes to the vase every day.