Tulipa Pretty Princess

The triumph tulip 'Pretty Princess' is a delight and a beautiful novelty. This majestic tulip with a narrow corolla has pink petals licked by purple flames at the top of thick and sturdy stems. Its green foliage bordered with white adds an extra touch of originality. It flowers in the middle of the tulip season, in the heart of spring, depending on the climate.

Tulipa 'Pretty Princess' belongs to the Liliaceae family. Of horticultural origin, it is currently classified in the group of 'Triumph', whose main characteristic is flowers with a narrow cup shape. Perched on the tall stems of 30 cm (12in) above the widely lanceolate leaves, the elegant flowers are pink with purple flames, quite square but with a narrow cup shape and have six "petals" (more precisely tepals) which are also flamed on the inside. it will flower in April - May, in the heart of the tulip season.

Plant the bulbs in autumn, from September to December, 15 cm (6in) deep, 10 cm (4in) apart in ordinary, slightly acidic, neutral, or slightly chalky, loose, well-worked and well-drained soil. Never add manure or poorly decomposed compost to the planting soil, as this could cause the bulbs to rot. 'Pretty Princess' will grow well in moist to dry soil, in a sunny or semi-shady position. Once flowering is finished, it is best to remove the seed heads to avoid exhausting the plant.

Triumph tulips are famous for their wide range of colours and sturdy and robust flowers, suitable for flower beds and bouquets. They are among the most planted varieties, unmatched for bringing the colours of spring to pots or sunny gardens. Remember 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.

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 of the genus is located in the Pamir Mountains and the Hindu Kush and in the steppes of Kazakhstan.

There are various wild species, many of which are endangered. These are either large tulips originally from cultivated fields, the best known of which is 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 under the protection of vines and whose subspecies australis is known as the southern tulip.