Tulipa Christmas Marvel

Tulipa Christmas Marvel is a variety that has been around for a while but is still highly appreciated and lovely in bouquets. It has early and fragrant flowering, in a deep cherry pink, unfolding a perfectly shaped corolla with silky reflections. It blooms at the beginning of the tulip season, in April. It is a very beautiful flower with exceptional visual appeal and resistant to bad weather. Ideal for spring flowerbeds, mixed with other colours.

The 'Christmas Marvel' Tulip belongs to the Liliaceae family. Of horticultural origin, it is currently classified in Division 1, which gathers varieties with single flowers that bloom very early in the season. It reaches a height of 30 to 35 cm (12 to 14in) when in bloom. Perched on sturdy stems, well above the broadly lanceolate leaves, the narrow cup-shaped flowers are 6 cm (2in) wide in intense cherry pink with six "petals" (more precisely tepals) with a lighter interior. The flowering takes place in April, at the beginning of the tulip season.

Single early tulips are well-known for their range of colours and solid and resistant flowers, suitable for flowerbeds and bouquets. They are among the most planted varieties, unmatched for bringing the colours of spring to pots where they last longer than other tulips, or in sunny gardens. Remember to consider the height and flowering period when designing your flowerbeds, as these can vary significantly from one cultivar to another. It is a good idea to plant a few more bulbs for gorgeous 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, through 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 in the steppes of Kazakhstan.

There are various wild species, many of which are endangered. These are either large tulips from crops, 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, these are called "botanical tulips," and one of the most common is the wild tulip (Tulipa sylvestris), which often used to grow sheltered by vines and whose subspecies australis is known as the southern tulip.