Tulipa fosteriana Pirand

Tulipa 'Pirand' is an early-flowering variety known for its longevity in the garden, and its ability to naturalise in favourable soil. It bears large cherry-red flowers edged with white. The flowers are beautiful at every stage, until it fully opens into a star shape with a golden throat. The abundant foliage serves as a backdrop to the flowering. This vibrant tulip brings life to the garden from the early days of spring. It multiplies spontaneously and faithfully blooms every year.

Tulipa fosteriana is a hardy botanical species native to Turkestan. Tulips derived from T. fosteriana belong to division 13. They are reliable performers. They are among the first tulips to bloom, sometimes as early as March 15th. They naturalise and multiply easily, so there is no need to replace them regularly. This 'Pirand' variety was registered in 1997. It produces strong but flexible stems, 35 to 40cm (14 to 16in) tall, bearing at their tips a cup-shaped corolla, 12cm (5in) wide, fully bordered with white on a red background. It opens and broadens in the sun to reveal a deep and wide golden yellow throat. The foliage is dark green and wide. It dries up a few weeks after flowering, indicating the start of the bulb's summer 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 cutting, as they make gorgeous cut flowers that last a long time in a vase. This variety's bicolour flowers blend well with white, red, or pink tulips.