Tulipa fosteriana Easter Parade

Tulipa 'Easter Parade' is an old hybrid variety resulting from a cross-breeding with an early single tulip. It is appreciated for its longevity in the garden, its sturdy flower, and its ability to naturalise easily in any well-drained soil. This radiant variety blooms in April, celebrating the arrival of spring. Each flower is bright yellow tinged with red on the outside. They reveal an interior of the same yellow spotted with dark brown at the core. The beauty of the flowers is enhanced by ample glaucous green foliage. 

Tulipa fosteriana is a very hardy botanical species originating from Turkestan. Tulips derived from T. fosteriana belong to division 13 and are reliable performers: they are among the first tulips to flower, sometimes as early as March 15th, and they naturalise easily, so there is no need to replace them regularly. 'Easter Parade' was selected in 1954. It produces short, sturdy but flexible stems, 30cm (12in) in height when flowering, bearing at their tip a cup-shaped corolla, 12cm (5in) wide. It is fully open and flaring in the sun to reveal a deep and wide yellow throat adorned with very dark macules. Its broad foliage is strongly tinged with grey. The foliage dries up at the end of spring, marking the bulb's entry into dormancy.

Tulips from the Fosteriana Group work well in flower beds and borders. The taller varieties are ideal for bouquets. Their sparkling yet elegant colours pair well with blue hyacinths, grape hyacinths, forget-me-nots, and with other tulips. When designing your flower beds, you must consider the height and flowering period of the tulips, as these parameters can vary significantly from one cultivar to another. It is wise to plant extra bulbs for bouquets, as they make gorgeous cut flowers that last a long time in a vase.