Tulipa Christmas Dream - Early simple Tulip

Tulipa 'Christmas Dream' flowers early in a light carmine pink colour with a paler pink heart. It blooms at the beginning of the tulip season, in April. Sturdy and exceptionally beautiful, it is an ideal flower for beds and perfect for bouquets.

The 'Christmas Dream' Tulip belongs to the Liliaceae family. Originally horticultural, it is currently classified in Division 1, which is characterized by early flowering. It reaches a height of 30 cm (12in) when in bloom. Perched on sturdy stems, well above the widely lanceolate leaves, the narrow cup-shaped flowers are 6 cm (2in) wide, and a light carmine pink colour with six "petals" (more precisely tepals) with a lighter interior. The flowering takes place in March-April, at the beginning of the tulip season.

Plant the bulbs in autumn, from September to December, at a depth of 12 cm (5in), 10 cm (4in) apart in ordinary, slightly acidic, neutral, or slightly chalky, loose, well-worked, and well-draining soil. Never add poorly decomposed manure or compost to the planting soil, as this could cause the bulbs to rot. Tulips grow well in moist to dry soil. Plant them in a good, sunny or semi-shaded location. Once flowering is over, it is best to remove the seed heads to avoid exhausting the plant.

Early single tulips are well-known and widely planted with a wide range of colours and strong and resistant flowers, suitable for flower beds and bouquets. They are unsurpassed for bringing the colours of spring to pots where they last longer than other tulips, or to sunny gardens. Remember to consider the height and flowering period when designing your flower beds, as these parameters can vary significantly from one cultivar to another. It is a good idea to plant a few extra bulbs for beautiful cut flowers that last a long time in a vase.

About botanical species: Tulip species are found in most of the Old World, from Western Europe to China and Japan, including Eastern Europe, Asia Minor, and Central Asia. Their distribution area also includes North Africa and the Indian subcontinent. The centre of diversity for 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 include large tulips, the most well-known being the Agen tulip (Tulipa agenensis), and small tulips found in wooded areas or among rocks in the mountains. In cultivation, these are called "botanical tulips," and one of the most common is the wild tulip (Tulipa sylvestris), which often used to grow under vines and whose subspecies australis is known as the southern tulip.