Tulipa 'Dutch Dancer'

The 'Dutch Dancer' Tulip is a variety of tulip with flamboyant and fragrant lily-like flowers. Its orange colour mixed with vermilion brightens up spring flower beds. Very long-lasting in a vase, carried by a long, slender, and sturdy stem, it is also a fabulous cut flower. The lily-flowered tulips bloom late, but faithfully come back year after year without degenerating.

Lily-flowered tulips were created in the early 20th century, and they have retained the robustness and simplicity of their ancestor, the magnificent Tulipa acuminata. This botanical species, native to Turkey, became extinct in the wild, but survived, in its red and yellow form, with English and Dutch enthusiasts. On the frescoes and ceramics of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, one can find various acuminated tulips, already adored by the sultans at the time. The flower, depending on whether it is open or closed, undergoes a surprising metamorphosis, changing from a spider to a lily flower in the span of a day.

The 'Dutch Dancer' lily-flowered tulip belongs, like all tulips, to the lily family. It is classified in Division 6 of horticultural tulips, and the main characteristics of this category are as follows: they bear single flowers and bloom in the second half of spring, the cups are narrow and curved, and the pointed tepals open in a star shape. Throughout the day, these flowers become spidery and widely open. This variety, 'Dutch Dancer', will reach a height of approximately 50cm (20in) when in bloom. The flowering takes place at the end of April or beginning of May. The foliage is thinner than that of other tulips. Each solitary flower is supported by a seemingly delicate but weather-resistant stem.

The lily-flowered 'Dutch Dancer' tulip shines in large flower beds, planted in small groups with white varieties ('Sapporo'), green varieties ('Virichic' ), or in orange tones. As its flowering is quite late, it allows for maximizing the duration of flower bed blooming. Pair it with wood hyacinths (Scilla nutans) or Siberian squills to create a highly colourful scene. Or with Alchemillas, Corsican hellebores, and Euphorbias for surprising scenes. It can also be planted in pots and containers to beautify balconies and terraces. It is ideal for creating bouquets full of creative audacity.

When using it in a vase, use very little water, just a bottom is enough! Moreover, if your tulips open too quickly, you can add two to three ice cubes to the vase every day. Many varieties of lily-flowered tulips are grown for forcing and produce cut flowers for a large part of the year.